I Never Knew Who?
Notes
Transcript
Recap
Recap
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
This is the second to last sermon for this Series on the Sermon on The Mount. It could honestly be named Heart Matters. From the beginning we read how Jesus, like an orthopedic setting a bone in place, begins to reset the heart of His disciples to read the scriptures and know God, not just outwardly, but inwardly. In order to understand Jesus’ closing statements we have to remember what He has said leading up to this.
Jesus starts by flipping the economy of the time on its head. From rich to poor, first to last, mourning to comfort and persecuted to blessed.
Then Jesus encourages His disciple to be the salt and light of the earth as they point to Christ, who fulfills the law.
Next, Jesus asserts His authority, an authority that is greater than those of the pharisees and the commentators that they often taught from. He does this by saying, “You have heard it said…but I say to you...” He uses this to show them the true aim of the commandments, our heart’s condition, not our external works.
Jesus continues by teaching us how to pray and how not to pray, fasting and the glory of forgiving others.
Then He has us focus on some practical issues. Where and what our treasure should be, How to calm our anxieties and how to treat others rightly.
Last week Nohan walked us through what Jesus said concerning false prophet/teachers and how to know them by their fruits. Nohan then challenged us to protect The Church the way we protect our families and our money.
To that effect John Calvin said:
A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.
Now we come to this weeks text to which JC ryle says:
“He [Jesus] turns from false prophets to false professors, from unsound teachers to unsound hearers.”
Lord, Lord
Lord, Lord
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
In verse 21 we see the words “Lord, Lord”. In Jesus time and in OT times we see a repeat in names. God to Abraham at mount Moriah, God to Jacob, God to Moses, God to Samuel; the list goes on. The repetition of someone’s name was a sign of intimacy in Hebrew culture. To say it twice was to say, “I know you. Like, really really know you.” Beyond bestfriends mode and into a sibling type of knowledge.
So for this false professor to say “Lord, Lord” is to say:
“Lord I know you. I love you. You know me. We are ride or die.”
And we see that Jesus points out at the fact that, like the previous chapters, it’s not about what you say, but what is actually true, what you do. Also, What about:
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
We see these things and read them as a chronological certainty. but, the reality that our profession is a result of the faith set in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
A lot of times this portion of scripture is turned into a section used to demand more “authenticity” in your actions, and more authenticity in your faith. These verses are used as a call to action. When we compare it to what Jesus has been saying throughout the sermon, this would not be the meaning. Later in Matthew 11:28 Jesus calls the weary to Himself to find rest. How can we rest if we are working to “maintain” our status with God. So, then the question remains what is the will of God?
“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
We often tack in so many extras the way the pharisees did. Pray more, serve more, spend time in devotions, read more. Though these things are beautiful and useful things to help grow in Godliness and Christlikeness they are consequential to the will of God. The will of God is to have faith, believe in Christ and His finished work on the cross. How authentic and how much faith is enough?
And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
The requirement is faith the size of a mustard seed. So, when someone says that you need more faith, you ask back, how much?
I never knew you...
I never knew you...
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Jesus here continues to look forward to what many believe is Judgement Day. We see a cause and effect relationship between the first verse we looked at and this one. Because the professor did not do the will of the father, believe in Jesus, his works were empty. Here we’re experiencing the indicting conversation between Jesus and those who relied on their works to save them. Though in theory it looked like they were believers. They prophesied, casted out demons, healed people, went to church, evangelized; they were an all around good person, a polite person who was nice to everyone. “Jesus you know me! I lived a good life. Went to church and was kind to everyone. Isn’t that enough?”
They, effectively, were like the mango that nohan talked about last week, beautiful on the outside, dead on the inside.
You might know all the right words and do all the right works, but the question is, do you know Jesus?
“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
“I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.
Nohan brought something up in our meeting last thursday and it was this idea that hearing this brings conviction and comfort. The challenge as believers is to hear these words and know that Christ will not turn us away because we are kept by His work and not our own. We know that our filthy rags are made clean by His blood. But we are challenged to check our fruit, not for salvation’s sake, but for Christ’s sake. That his name be made much and that we may disappear in His Glory.
There is a common thread that runs through this sermon on the mount. Jesus is tearing down the misconceptions that were built around God’s Word and His commandments. The professors in this story, like the pharisees, lived and worked “in my name” but they did so in deed and not in faith. They relied on their works, but not in Christ.
Last week we heard about false teachers, this week false professors, next week false hearers.
Believer take refuge and rest in Christ for in Him it is finished. Unbeliever, hear that the Good Shepherd is calling, hear His voice and harden not your hearts. Come to him, repent and believe.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus' name
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand