Matthew 7:21: Additional Thoughts

In past blog posts i had said that the false prophets spoken of by Christ (in Matthew 7) were, in part, expecting to be welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven because of their works (rather than grace alone). I had allowed the past teachings of others i had listened to in previous years influence my thinking on that. But, in retrospect, i now see clearly that the false prophets were actually claiming a spititual relationship with Jesus Christ. It wasn’t really about them trusting in their works. It was about the supposedly supernatural aspect of those “many wonderful works” (KJV). They will claim to have had a supernatural relationship with the Lord. And Christ’s answer will be that He never knew them. They had no spiritual relationship with Him. They prophesied falsely and did not truly follow Him in discipleship even though they had done seemingly supernatural things in Jesus’ name. The “iniquity” (KJV) was the false miracles with no supernatural power behind the deceptive acts. Christ likened them to ravenous wolves. Hungry wolves attack and scatter the sheep. They follow their own lusts rather than the good Shepherd. Those who don’t truly kmow the Lord walk in darkness rather than the light. Their fruits will be selfish in nature rather than giving. This sort of false convert / practicing charlatan will be asking for money and enriching themselves rather than doing acts of charity towards the needy. The good Shepherd knows His sheep who take up their crosses and follow Him in word and deed. He does not know those with, not only no fruit of the Spirit, but bad fruit (iniquity).