Obedience Is More Important Than Confession - 10/08/2023

Jesus makes a rather frightening statement in His sermon when addressing those who claim He is their Lord (Matthew 7:21-23). He states there will be people who think they are serving Him, but at the judgment day Jesus will say to them “depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” Why? Because they had not obeyed the will of the Father.

Attempting to show high esteem and respect for Jesus, many people will address Him as, “Lord, Lord.” They will tell Jesus all the things they have done “in [His] name.” Thinking they will “enter the kingdom of heaven,” Jesus says they will not enter. Jesus is emphasizing that obedience is more important than confessing Jesus as Lord.

Many observing these people will conclude, along with the people themselves, that they were doing the will of God. However, unlike us, Jesus knows the true intentions of a person’s heart. He is able to see that they are only masquerading to be followers of Jesus, but in reality they never belonged to Him.

From the outward appearance it appears these people were among the most religious of all people. After all, they were prophesying, casting out demons and performing many miracles. But notice, “I never knew you” is what Jesus will “declare to them.” What a shock that will be!

Also in these verses Jesus tells the listener how to avoid this catastrophe. He says that by doing “the will of My Father who is in heaven [the obedient person] will enter” the kingdom of heaven. It is important to observe from this passage that the will of God can be known because it can be obeyed. If the will of God is not knowable, then one cannot be obedient to this will of God.

Appearing to be doing things in harmony with the will of God is not what is important. Confessing that one is doing the will of God is not what is important. The primary point of this message is that obedience is most important. The supreme idea is that we must be obedient. Our righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, as Jesus stated earlier.

Rather than be frightened by this statement, the Christian should be focused on doing the will of God and not doing things in an effort to appear to be righteous. Our obedience to the Father is more important than what we confess with our mouth to other people. Doing the will of the Father is mandatory for one to enter the kingdom of heaven. Confession is important; however, obedience to the will of the Father is more important and demonstrates we are living God’s way. - cgm

Scriptural quotations from the NASB1995.