Jesus warns unbelieving Jews that their lineage doesn’t automatically qualify them for the kingdom of heaven. “Depart from me” is not written to Christians.
Matthew 7:21-23 “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. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
“I never knew you” was written to unbelieving Jews
At first glance we may be tempted to think this passage is written about Christians who aren’t obedient. We see that they performed miracles and said, “Lord, Lord.”
But this passage as with most passages in Matthew was written to Jews not Christians.
Matthew 15:24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Christians consist of Jews and Gentiles, however Jesus was strictly preaching to Jews.
Matthew 6:7 And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Jesus differentiates between the Jews he was speaking to and Gentiles who were excluded.
Matthew 5:23-24 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Jesus does not believe offering gifts at the altar is a rule for Christians. So why would he give this instruction here? Because he is defining what it means to be an obedient Jew, not an obedient Christian. This verse is in the same setting as the passage we are studying above.
Jesus is concerned with Jews, not Christians in these passages.
The Jews had also performed miracles
But, how can this passage be talking about Jews if he says they performed miracles, cast out demons, and prophecied in God’s name?
It was not uncommon for Jews to perform miracles in the name of Yahweh, the sacred name for God. In that day, when the Romans found a demon possessed person they would hire Jews to cast the demon out. This was because only a Jew could correctly pronounce the name “Yahweh,” at which sound the demons would leave.
Luke 9:49-50 “John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.”
Acts 19:3-15 3 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
…14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
It was the unbelieving Jews who said, “Lord, Lord” but did not listen to Jesus and instead crucified him. The Jews were the ones with prophets that performed many miracles in the name of the Lord. Remember Elijah? Certain Jewish individuals were empowered by the Holy Spirit to perform miracles. They were not Christians. They were hoping their lineage would guarantee them entry into the kingdom of heaven, but Jesus was letting them know simply being a Jew doesn’t qualify you, you must listen to and believe Jesus.
Christians will never be told “I never knew you.”
Romans 5:10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Galatians 4:9 But now that you know God–or rather are known by God–how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?