And then I will say to them plainly, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawless ones.”
In these verses Jesus reveals the dreadful truth of the day of judgment: even outwardly impressive spiritual works do not guarantee God’s acceptance if a person’s heart has not lived by His will. The repeated “Lord, Lord” shows an outwardly warm faith, and prophesying, casting out demons, and doing miracles show great ministries. Yet Christ makes it clear that His acknowledgment of such people is not based on the size of their works or imagined success, but on a living relationship with God and obedience. The phrase “I never knew you” does not mean that the Lord was unaware of them, but that they were never joined to His will and shaped by His righteousness. The title “lawless ones” reveals that their life was not directed by God’s law. Thus, this word is a weighty warning that true faith must necessarily be expressed not only in works, but also in a life that is in harmony with God’s will.