One of the most sobering statements Jesus ever made is found in Matthew 7:23:
And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ — Matthew 7:23
These words remind us that not everyone who claims to follow Christ truly belongs to Him. It’s a call to examine our hearts, faith, and obedience.
The Context of Matthew 7:23
This verse appears near the end of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He warns about false prophets and false disciples who look genuine but lack true faith.
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. — Matthew 7:21
Jesus isn’t rejecting people who once knew Him; He’s revealing that some never truly did. Their actions—no matter how impressive—were not rooted in relationship with Him.
Relationship Over Religion
Many people try to earn God’s favor through good works or religious activity. Yet Jesus makes it clear that outward acts don’t guarantee salvation. What He desires is relationship, not performance.
| Religion Says | Jesus Says |
|---|---|
| “Do more good things.” | “Abide in Me.” — John 15:4 |
| “Follow the rules.” | “Follow Me.” — Luke 9:23 |
| “Earn God’s love.” | “Receive My grace.” — Ephesians 2:8–9 |
When Jesus says, “I never knew you,” it shows that eternal life is about knowing Him personally, not just knowing about Him.
The Danger of Empty Works
Jesus describes people who preached, cast out demons, and performed miracles in His name, yet were still rejected. Their works lacked genuine faith.
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. — Titus 1:16
Their actions may have appeared righteous, but their hearts were distant. God sees past appearances and looks directly at the heart.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7
Knowing Jesus Personally
To truly know Christ means to have a living, ongoing relationship with Him—built on trust, obedience, and love. Jesus says:
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. — John 10:27
That kind of knowing comes from spending time in prayer, reading Scripture, and living out His commands daily.
The Call to Examine Ourselves
Paul encourages believers to test their faith:
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? — 2 Corinthians 13:5
This isn’t about living in fear but about living with genuine faith. True followers of Christ will show fruit in their lives—evidence of transformation.
Grace and Obedience Working Together
Salvation is by grace alone, through faith. Yet that faith naturally produces obedience.
Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. — James 2:17
Good works don’t save us—they prove that we are saved. The heart that knows Christ desires to obey Him out of love, not obligation.
Lessons from “Depart from Me, I Never Knew You”
- Words Aren’t Enough — Saying “Lord, Lord” means little without surrender.
- Good Deeds Don’t Guarantee Salvation — Works can’t replace faith.
- True Faith Bears Fruit — The evidence of knowing Christ is seen in how we live.
- Jesus Knows His Own — A real relationship with Him is built on love and obedience.
Living with Eternal Purpose
Jesus’ warning isn’t meant to scare—it’s meant to wake us up. Every believer should ask: Am I living for Jesus, or just living around Him?
If you love Me, keep My commandments. — John 14:15
When we walk in His truth, we can have peace knowing that He knows us by name.
