What did Jesus mean when He said, “I never knew you. Depart from me"? | GotQuestions.org

Got Questions Ministries
22 Jun 202206:28

TLDRIn the biblical context, Jesus' statement 'I never knew you. Depart from me' refers to a lack of a true relationship with Him, not a lack of intellectual knowledge. This phrase is part of His Sermon on the Mount, warning about false faith. Jesus differentiates between those who merely claim to follow Him and those who truly do the Father's will. The key to salvation, according to Jesus, is faith in Him, producing good works as a result. Those who do not genuinely follow Jesus will face eternal separation from Him.

Takeaways

  • 📜 Jesus' statement 'I never knew you' refers to a lack of relational knowledge, not intellectual knowledge.
  • 🚨 The context is Jesus' warning about false faith in the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount.
  • 🐺 False prophets may appear as 'wolves in sheep’s clothing', using religious language and demonstrating power, but they do not belong to the Lord.
  • 🗣️ Many will claim to have performed great works in Jesus' name, but only those who follow the Father's will will enter heaven.
  • 🔑 The Father's will is to believe in Jesus, as faith in Christ is the work of God.
  • 🌟 Good works are a result of true faith in Christ, leading to a life that glorifies God.
  • 💔 Jesus' words signify that He never recognized the false disciples as His true followers or friends, as they lacked a true relationship with Him.
  • 📊 At judgment, Jesus will reveal the hearts of those who claim to know Him, exposing the hypocrisy of those who do not truly follow Him.
  • 🚫 Those who are not true Christians and do not produce the fruit of the Spirit will face eternal separation from God.
  • 📖 The importance of knowing God personally and not just having a nominal or superficial relationship is emphasized, as it is the genuine believers who will be acknowledged by Jesus.
  • 📌 The ultimate message is the necessity of genuine faith and obedience to God's will, rather than relying on external religious activities or claims.

Q & A

  • What does Jesus mean by saying 'I never knew you. Depart from me' in Matthew 7:23?

    -When Jesus says 'I never knew you. Depart from me,' He refers to a lack of relational knowledge, implying that despite the outward appearances or claims of some individuals, He does not recognize them as His true followers or have a personal, approving relationship with them.

  • What is the context of Jesus' statement in Matthew 7:23?

    -The context is Jesus' warning at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing the difference between true and false disciples. He cautions about false prophets who appear righteous but are inwardly deceitful, illustrating that mere verbal claims or miraculous deeds do not equate to genuine discipleship.

  • What does it mean to 'do the Father's will' as mentioned in Matthew 7:21?

    -To 'do the Father's will' means to genuinely believe in Jesus Christ and live according to His teachings. True faith in Jesus manifests through obedience to God's commands, which is contrasted with merely performing religious acts or professing belief without true faith.

  • How does Jesus define true discipleship?

    -Jesus defines true discipleship through a genuine relationship with Him, characterized by belief in Him and adherence to His teachings. True disciples are known by God and demonstrate their faith through their actions, which align with God’s will.

  • What are the implications of the terms 'evildoers' in Matthew 7:23?

    -The term 'evildoers' refers to those who, despite possibly engaging in activities like prophesying or performing miracles in Jesus' name, ultimately live in ways contrary to God's commands and lack a true relationship with Christ, leading to their rejection.

  • What does it signify when Jesus claims He 'never knew' certain individuals?

    -It signifies that there was never a genuine, reciprocal relationship between Jesus and those individuals. They lacked true faith and did not live according to God’s will, leading to their rejection on the day of judgment.

  • How does personal faith in Jesus relate to salvation according to the transcript?

    -Personal faith in Jesus is crucial for salvation. The transcript emphasizes that salvation comes not through works or religious displays but through genuine faith in Jesus Christ, as commanded by God.

  • What is the ultimate consequence for those whom Jesus does not 'know'?

    -Those whom Jesus does not 'know' are ultimately rejected from entering the kingdom of heaven. They are described as being sent away from His presence, indicating eternal separation and exclusion from God’s blessings.

  • How does Jesus' statement relate to the broader biblical theme of true versus nominal Christianity?

    -Jesus' statement highlights the biblical theme that true Christianity involves a heartfelt faith and relationship with God, contrasting with nominal Christianity which involves merely outward religiousness or formal affiliation without genuine faith or obedience.

  • What does the term 'the work of God' refer to, as mentioned in John 6:28-29?

    -In John 6:28-29, 'the work of God' refers to the act of believing in Jesus Christ, whom God sent. This underscores the biblical teaching that faith, rather than mere human efforts or accomplishments, is central to fulfilling God's requirements.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Understanding Jesus' Words 'I Never Knew You'

This paragraph delves into the biblical interpretation of Jesus' statement, 'I never knew you.' It clarifies that Jesus is not speaking of a lack of knowledge but rather a lack of a relational connection. The context is His Sermon on the Mount, where He warns against false prophets who may appear righteous but are not truly followers of God. Jesus emphasizes that it is not mere verbal claims or demonstrations of spiritual power that grant salvation, but rather doing the will of God, which is to believe in Him. The paragraph also explains that the 'works of God' are to believe in Jesus Christ, and those who are born again through faith will produce good works. It concludes by stating that Jesus' words signify a rejection of those who claim to follow Him without genuine faith or relationship, highlighting the importance of being known by God rather than merely knowing about God.

05:05

🔥 The Consequences of Rejecting God's Plan

The second paragraph discusses the dire consequences for those who reject God's plan and choose to live in darkness despite the light of the gospel. It explains that while God does not take pleasure in sending people to hell, those who are told to depart have made a conscious choice against His purpose for their lives. The paragraph highlights that at the judgment, people may try to justify themselves based on their works, but true salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ. It also mentions that those who Jesus says He never knew are not true Christians but rather hypocrites who will not receive the blessings of the kingdom. The paragraph concludes with an invitation to learn more and engage with additional resources for spiritual growth and understanding.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡I never knew you

This phrase by Jesus in the context of Matthew 7:23 expresses rejection of false disciples. It emphasizes a lack of relational or intimate knowledge rather than simple awareness. Jesus uses it to distinguish those who have genuine faith and a relationship with Him from those who merely perform religious actions. In the transcript, it highlights the serious consequences for those who appear religious but lack true faith.

💡Depart from me

This command signifies ultimate rejection and separation from the presence of Jesus. It's directed towards those who have failed to live according to God's will despite possibly appearing righteous or performing miraculous deeds. The script stresses this as the final statement to those who do not genuinely follow Jesus, indicating eternal separation.

💡Evildoers

Evildoers, as mentioned in Matthew 7:23, refers to individuals who commit acts contrary to God's commands, despite possibly claiming to follow Him or performing deeds in His name. In the video script, 'evildoers' are those who, despite their prophesying, exorcising demons, and performing miracles, fail to truly know Jesus and do the Father's will.

💡Sermon on the Mount

This refers to a collection of teachings by Jesus found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5-7, which includes the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer. It's foundational for Christian ethical teaching. The context given in the video script surrounds the conclusion of this sermon, emphasizing true faith over mere verbal claims or outward appearances.

💡True faith

True faith, according to the script, is characterized not merely by acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord but by doing the will of God the Father. It contrasts nominal Christianity, where individuals may claim to be Christians but lack a life-transforming faith that produces good works and genuine obedience to God's commands.

💡Nominal Christianity

This term describes a superficial or in-name-only adherence to Christian beliefs without a deep, personal commitment or transformation. The script criticizes nominal Christians who engage in religious activities but fail to have a heart changed by and committed to Jesus, thus leading to their rejection.

💡Father’s will

In the Christian context, the Father’s will refers to God's desires and commands as revealed in the Bible, particularly as it pertains to belief in Jesus Christ and following His teachings. The video script identifies doing the Father's will as essential for true discipleship and contrasts it with performing acts not aligned with God's commands.

💡Born again

Being 'born again' is a foundational Christian concept referring to a spiritual rebirth through faith in Jesus Christ, leading to a transformed life. The transcript mentions that those who are truly born again by faith in Christ will manifest good works, as opposed to those who only profess faith superficially.

💡Works of the flesh

In Christian theology, the 'works of the flesh' refer to behaviors and actions driven by sinful human nature, as listed in Galatians 5:19-21, including sexual immorality, idolatry, and jealousy, among others. The video underscores that false Christians produce these sinful behaviors rather than the fruit of the Spirit.

💡Fruit of the Spirit

This term refers to the qualities or virtues that are produced in the life of a person living in accordance with the Holy Spirit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The transcript contrasts these virtues with the works of the flesh, marking the true signs of a believer.

Highlights

Jesus discusses the importance of relational rather than intellectual knowledge of Him.

False prophets are predicted, appearing as wolves in sheep's clothing.

True faith is emphasized over verbal claims or demonstrations of spiritual power.

Nominal Christianity is criticized as insufficient for salvation.

Jesus defines God's will as having faith in the Son, whom He has sent.

Good works are presented as a natural outcome of genuine faith.

Jesus explicitly denies knowing false disciples, indicating no relationship.

Christ's unfamiliarity with the evildoers is explained as a lack of relational connection.

Genuine disciples are distinguished by their obedience to God's will.

The consequences for those not known by Jesus are detailed as exclusion from heaven.

The importance of being known by God as a mark of true discipleship.

Jesus' omniscience is reconciled with His statement of not knowing the evildoers.

The final judgment involves a rejection of those who rely solely on their deeds.

The video emphasizes the necessity of faith over works for salvation.

Jesus' words serve as a warning to all regarding the sincerity and authenticity of their faith.

Create Stunning AI Art Instantly

No login. No cost. Just incredible AI images !

Create Stunning AI Art InstantlyGenerate Now