The words of Jesus in Matthew 7:21 provide an important warning: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” This verse makes it clear that just professing Jesus as Lord is not enough to guarantee salvation. There must be sincere obedience and a lifestyle that aligns with God’s will.
To properly understand this verse, it is helpful to examine the context. In Matthew 7, Jesus is teaching His disciples about true and false religion. He warns them to “beware of false prophets” (v. 15) who appear spiritual but inwardly are “ravenous wolves.” Jesus then explains that people can identify false religion by looking at the fruit it produces (vv. 16-20). Good trees bear good fruit, while bad trees bear bad fruit. Likewise, true disciples of Jesus will live changed lives that reveal a heart transformed by God.
After the teaching on fruit inspection, Jesus contrasts two religious groups: those who merely profess Christianity versus those who actually practice it. In Matthew 7:21-23, He describes those who profess faith in Christ (“Lord, Lord”) but practice lawlessness. Despite their words, Jesus will tell these false followers to depart because they are evildoers whom He never knew.
In contrast, those who hear Christ’s words and put them into practice demonstrate the fruit of an authentic relationship with Him (see Matt. 7:24-27). Their lives are characterized by wholehearted obedience to the Father’s will from the heart.
There are several important truths we can take away from Matthew 7:21:
- Merely professing faith in Jesus (“Lord, Lord”) does not guarantee salvation. Words alone are not enough.
- Authentic faith produces obedience to God’s Word and alignment with His will. True saving faith transforms how a person lives.
- Judging other’s hearts is not our job. Only God fully knows if someone’s profession of faith is genuine or not. But we can examine lives for spiritual fruit.
- The evidence that we belong to Christ is a changed life lived under His lordship. If He is truly Lord, our actions will align with His will.
This verse is a sobering reminder that not all who claim to follow Jesus truly know Him. It should compel self-examination to see if our lives match our lips. Do we profess Christ but walk in darkness? Or does our lifestyle demonstrate His power to save and transform?
At the same time, this verse should not produce paranoia or constant doubt about our salvation. Scripture gives assurance to those whose lives are marked by repentance, faith, and love for God and others. But lip service alone does not make one a child of the Kingdom. A changed heart will inevitably produce changed actions.
In summary, Matthew 7:21 teaches that mere intellectual assent to Jesus’ lordship does not secure eternal life. To enter the Kingdom, we must surrender to Him as the ruler of our lives. Have we received Christ not just as Savior but also as the Lord of our thoughts, behaviors, values, priorities, and purposes? Is He enthroned and active within our hearts?
This verse is an invitation to examine if our life trajectory matches our confessed allegiance to Christ. It should drive us to our knees to seek Him wholeheartedly, obey Him fully, and allow Him to reign in every area. As we yield to Him as Lord, we can have confidence that He knows us and we will dwell with Him forever.
1. The danger of empty professions of faith
The words “Lord, Lord” imply more than a casual association with Christ. To call Him “Lord” means the person believes Jesus is divine, sovereign, and worthy of worship. Two repetitions of “Lord” suggest emphatic acknowledgment of His deity and authority. Many of those turned away practiced some form of Christianity and ardently championed Jesus as Lord. Yet their words rang hollow because they did not back up their verbal profession with heart obedience (Luke 6:46).
A mere intellectual knowledge or verbal profession does not guarantee salvation. The Bible repeatedly warns against empty, hypocritical religion:
“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.” (Matthew 7:21)
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46)
“They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” (Titus 1:16)
The danger is real. Speaking Christ’s name, getting baptized, attending church, and doing religious deeds mean nothing if not accompanied by true repentance and faith. God desires truth within the inner person (Psalm 51:6), not just external actions.
2. The necessity of doing God’s will from the heart
Jesus says only those who “do the will of my Father” will enter heaven. Notice it is not sufficient just to know God’s will. There must be follow-through in action and obedience. Of course, this obedience is only possible by God’s grace through the indwelling Spirit.
Throughout Matthew’s gospel, doing God’s will is emphasized:
“Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:50)
“The one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (John 4:34)
True salvation transforms us to delight in obedience from the heart:
“I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3)
While we will never perfectly obey in this life, the redeemed aim to align with God’s will from the inside out. This heart-level submission to God is the fruit of genuine saving faith.
3. Judging oneself but not others
Based on Matthew 7:21, some argue we cannot know with certainty if anyone is truly saved. After all, we cannot see the heart. Only God knows a person’s spiritual state for sure. There is truth in this principle.
We should avoid judging other’s hearts because only God can see what is in a person (1 Samuel 16:7). We are called to inspect fruit, while leaving final judgment to God. However, the emphasis in Matthew 7:21 is on self-examination, not finger pointing.
Scripture exhorts us to test ourselves:
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
“Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” (2 Peter 1:10)
We cannot judge another’s relationship with God, but we can and should judge our own. The aim is not to instill constant doubt but rather to encourage sincere self-reflection and perseverance.
4. Evidence of belonging to Christ
While we cannot infallibly judge another’s heart, Jesus says there are observable fruits that provide evidence of belonging to God (Matthew 7:20). Without these markers, one’s profession of faith appears suspect.
What are the fruits that indicate our lives align with Jesus as Lord? Elsewhere in Scripture, we learn:
“By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God.” (1 John 3:10)
“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar.” (1 John 2:3-4)
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
As James explains, faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26). Work does not save us but invariably flows from real, life-changing faith.
Fruit such as repentance, faith, humility, love, righteousness, obedience, and perseverance confirm regeneration. While imperfect, they testify to the authenticity of one’s relationship with Christ.
5. Assurance through abiding in Christ
For those genuinely abiding in Christ, we can have full assurance of salvation:
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)
“We have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.” (1 John 4:16)
If we walk in the light and confess sin, the blood of Christ cleanses and restores fellowship (1 John 1:7, 9). While willful disobedience should produce doubt, true believers repent and seek restoration when they sin.
We gain assurance by abiding in Christ through faith, cherishing His Word, obeying His commands, resisting sin, and producing spiritual fruit. Our confidence rests not in ourselves but in Christ’s finished work for us and in us.
6. Call to examine ourselves
Matthew 7:21 serves as a sobering warning not to coast through a profession of faith. It compels us to examine if we are believing God’s Word, following Christ’s commands, pursuing holiness, and sowing spiritual fruit.
Thankfully this verse is not aimed to produce anxiety or constant uncertainty. Scripture repeatedly affirms that good works flow from true faith. While imperfect, the overall trajectory of a changed life confirms salvation. The redeemed life looks different.
At the same time, many call Jesus “Lord” but tragically will be turned away in the end. Nominal adherence cannot save. May this verse spur us to wholehearted surrender to Jesus as Lord of our thoughts, behaviors, priorities, and all we are. May our lives affirm what our lips profess.
7. The need for Christ as Savior and Lord
A right understanding of Matthew 7:21 highlights our need for Christ – both as Savior to rescue us from sin and as Lord to reign over our lives. Mere mental assent cannot save. There must be repentance and submission.
Have you received Jesus not just as Savior from the consequences of sin, but also as the Master over every area of life? Is He truly Lord of your thought patterns, habits, activities, values, ambitions, schedule, and relationships? Or do you compartmentalize your Christianity?
The gospel calls us to enthrone Christ as the supreme ruler who guides all we are. We bow to His will, obey His Word, and depend on His Spirit to transform us. Is He your functional Lord who actively reigns over your heart?
“Lord, Lord” rolls easily off the tongue. But Jesus wants to be Lord of all within, not just Lord in name. May the words of Christ compel us to renew our allegiance to Him today as both Savior and Lord.
8. Other relevant Bible passages
Several other passages reinforce the theme that mere profession of faith is inadequate:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46)
“They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” (Titus 1:16)
“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17)
“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)
These verses indict empty religion that does not produce heart transformation. Mere association, knowledge, or professed belief do not guarantee salvation. Authentic faith reveals itself through a changed life of obedience and fruit.
9. Questions for reflection
Matthew 7:21 provides valuable self-reflection:
- Is my faith in Christ merely intellectual assent or heart-felt trust that transforms how I live?
- Is there evidence of spiritual fruit such as repentance, love for others, desire to obey God, distaste for sin, etc?
- Is Jesus truly Lord of my time, relationships, priorities, schedule, use of money, thought patterns, and all I am?
- What areas of my life do not align with complete submission to Christ’s lordship?
- Do those closest to me see tangible evidence that I belong to Jesus?
This verse is an invitation for introspection. It reminds us that Jesus wants to be Lord not just in title but also in practice. May God grant us grace for hearts that fully follow Him.