Bible Study on Matthew 7, verses 21 to 29, depart from me, ye that work iniquity

 

Matthew 7:21 ¶  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

 

This is a continuation of the last passage in this sermon. The fate of false prophets and those who deliberately counteract his teachings is given in metaphor.

 

Notice these interesting cross-references to verse 23 in regard to working iniquity calling these false teachers wicked.

 

Psalm 141:4  Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

 

Isaiah 31:2  Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.

 

Isaiah 32:6  For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

 

Here is underscored that an outward profession of religious faith, no matter how impressive, will not lead us into Heaven without a saving relationship with Christ. American churches are filled with people who do wonderful works in assisting the poor and downtrodden, who make great sermons about helping one’s fellow man, but fall short of salvation by denying the Saviour who purchased them with His own blood. They have built their house on sand.

 

The Christian who bases his works for God on His trusting in Christ’s righteousness and not His own has a far surer rock to stand on than the person who bases his works for God on his own principles and goodness.

 

This ends, perhaps, the greatest sermon ever made. Hearing Christ’s words and obeying them, keeping them in one’s heart is the key to the Christian’s happiness. We underestimate how God’s standard of righteousness can make us happy.