Lord, Lord

2021-08-24

Consider two adjacent parables in Matthew 7:21-27. As a refresher, the first is where Jesus says this:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21)

The second is where Jesus says this:

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 (Matthew 7:26)

In the first part, notice that those who have “wonderful works” (Matthew 7:22) are denied entrance into the kingdom. In the second, we see those who do not have works are the ones rejected. The first are appealing to their good works as the basis for their acceptance, not knowing that “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

The second are appealing to their knowledge of the word (they heard Jesus’ words). These are likely to have some intellectual assent that the Lord’s words are true. They have knowledge of the Bible, and appeal to that knowledge as their basis for their acceptance. “They sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them” (Ezekiel 33:31).

The solution is being born again, trusting only in Christ’s death to save us from our sin. The foundation must be right. The Christian has “built his house upon a rock” (Matthew 7:24). The foundation is Christ, and the believer therefore “is a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). As a result, “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). His work in you is what matters.