“I never knew you! Depart from me!” These are the most frightening words anyone could hear on the lips of Jesus, yet they are central to the conclusion of his ‘Sermon on the Mount.’ His Discourse was never a program for reforming or governing civil society, but instructions for his disciples on how they must live as faithful citizens and representatives of his Kingdom and message. There is no bypassing the Cross.
His teachings are not optional,
and he gave a stern warning. Disobeying or ignoring his words will result in
catastrophe and attempts to circumvent them or dilute their meaning may end
with the faithless disciple cast into “outer darkness.”
 |
| [Photo by Sean D'Auria on Unsplash] |
On the day when it truly matters, many individuals who ministered in his name will be driven from his presence. “Not every man who calls me ‘Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens, but only he who does the will of my Father… Many will say, ‘Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name did many works of power?’ Then will I confess to them, I never knew you! Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness!” - (Matthew 7:21-23).
He did not
classify those he rejected as pagans or purveyors of immorality. They even called
him “Lord,” and they prophesied, exorcised demons, and did many other
mighty deeds in his name.
The
emphasis is on the term “many”
- the “many” things they did in his name. The warning is not just applicable
to a tiny minority of disobedient believers, and he did not call their impressive
miracles counterfeits.
Not only did
he not acknowledge them, but he also called them “workers of lawlessness.”
On the day when he judges his people, he
will command these men and women to “depart” from his presence. Fortunately,
Jesus provided us with an explanation of how one becomes a “Worker of Lawlessness”
rather than a disciple:
- “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be likened to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock; and the rain descended, and the streams came, and the winds blew, and rushed against that house, and it fell not; for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these my words and does them not will be likened to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand; and the rain descended, and the streams came, and the winds blew and lashed against that house, and it fell, and its fall was great” - (Matthew 7:24-27).
The Greek word translated
as “wise” or “prudent” (phronimos) indicates someone thoughtful,
intelligent, and astute. In contrast, the man who fails to heed his words is
compared to a foolish man. The Greek term for “foolish” is môros,
denoting one who is dull, witless, and heedless.
What
determines if a man enters the Kingdom is whether he heeds and does the words
of Jesus. Both hearing AND obeying are mandatory. The man who acts
correctly on his words is “wise” and therefore welcomed into his Kingdom.
HIS WORDS
Which “words”
did he mean? In his concluding remarks, the “words” that matter are the
ones found in the ‘Sermon on the Mount’; ALL of them, without
exception. Thus, his disciples must live a life characterized by humility,
hunger for righteousness, mercy, a pure heart, peacemaking, honest
communications, and a willingness to endure unjust suffering - (Matthew 5:3-12).
He must be
a light shining in a dark world. Not only is he forbidden to kill, but he must not
harbor any anger towards another man. Instead, reconciliation is his priority -
(Matthew 5:13-26).
The disciple
must not lust after someone who is not his spouse and keep a lifelong
commitment to his wife. Rather than swear oaths, he should speak plainly with
true words - Let your “yea be yea, and nay, nay” - (Matthew 5:27-37).
To inherit
the Kingdom, it is necessary to eschew retaliation and violence. The disciple
is summoned to love and do good to his “enemy.” By showing mercy to his
foes, he will become “complete” just as the “Father
in Heaven” - (Matthew 5:44-48).
The man who
seeks loopholes in his words does not have the mind of a disciple and risks
rejection as a “worker of lawlessness.” The true disciple will not do works
of righteousness for the adulation of others. Hypocrisy is incompatible with
discipleship.
The
disciple must center his life on the “Kingdom of God” and “lay up
treasures in heaven” rather than in this world. His allegiance to Jesus must
be absolute, and he must stay on the narrow path rather than the “broad”
avenues of this age. Veering off course could prove everlastingly fatal - (Matthew 6:1-24, 7:1-6, 7:7-20).
Much is at stake in how we respond to his words. Men who do not heed and do them will be rejected. It is unwise to ignore his words, and utterly foolish to choose which ones we will obey, and which ones we will ignore or twist.
His ‘Sermon
on the Mount’ provides instructions and patterns for how we must live regardless
of the values, demands, and expectations of the surrounding culture. Following them
is difficult, and many theologians, pastors, and Bible students have worked
diligently to domesticate his more challenging sayings, often by cleverly
parsing them.
By
claiming that “only he who hears these words of mine and DOES them will
enter the Kingdom,” Jesus placed absolute authority in his teachings, an authority
that exceeded even that of the “Law” and the “Prophets.” We put
ourselves in great jeopardy if we ignore, modify, or refuse to obey them.
SEE ALSO:
- Servant or Caesar? - (Satan offered Jesus unlimited political power to achieve his messianic mission if only he acknowledged the Devil as his overlord)
- His Authority - (He is the Son of Man foreseen by Daniel, the Messiah who has absolute authority from Yahweh over all things)