Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples, “Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.” Jesus continued, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.” Jesus added, “Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven”, and in chapter seven and verse twenty-two of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples,“many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord” where we read:
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name?
and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?
The verse reads, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name?” Matthew began with the word, “many” or “large amounts of people” “will say” or “shall utter, declare, proclaim and question” “to me” which refers to “Jesus” “in that day” or “in the last day of this present age and the day Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment and perfect his kingdom”, “Lord” which means “the One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”, “Lord” which again refers to “the One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”, “have we not prophesied” or “have the ones who say, Lord, Lord not spoken forth by divine inspirations, predicted, foretold future events pertaining to the kingdom of God” “in your name” which means “in Jesus' name which covers everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering”. Jesus referred to the multitude of people who will call Jesus “Lord” and then question Him concerning their practice of “forth-telling and foretelling” events within the “Kingdom of God”.
The verse goes on to say, “and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?” Matthew added the words, “and in your name” or “and within Jesus' name which covers everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering” “have cast out” which means “have thrown out, scattered and driven out” “devils” or “the evil spirits or the messengers and ministers of the devil”? “and in your name” which refers to “and within Jesus' name which covers everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering” “done many” or “performed, produced, rendered and constituted large amounts of” “wonderful works” which refers to “powerful influences, resources and miracles”? Jesus shared how a large number of people will refer to the way they have “cast demons” out of people and performed “powerful miracles” as evidence that Jesus should allow them into the “Kingdom of Heaven”.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus referred to the “works” of these who are appealing to Him for entrance into His “Kingdom”. Though they proclaim that He is “Lord” and perform many “great works”, they are not allowed into the “Kingdom of Heaven”. God desires to have every person be with Him in His “Kingdom”, however, entrance not gained by “works” no matter how great those “works” may be. Only those who have a relationship with God through “faith and trust” in Jesus shall be allowed into the “Kingdom of Heaven”, and all other attempts to satisfy and please God come short of His requirement to enter in.
Next time Jesus tells His disciples how He will tell these people, “I never knew you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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