Luke 13:27 kjv
But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
Luke 13:27 nkjv
But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.'
Luke 13:27 niv
"But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'
Luke 13:27 esv
But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!'
Luke 13:27 nlt
And he will reply, 'I tell you, I don't know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.'
Luke 13 27 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Mt 7:21 | “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter... | Professing faith alone is not enough. |
Mt 7:22-23 | “Many will say to Me on that day...‘I never knew you... | Direct parallel, "I never knew you, depart from Me." |
Ps 6:8 | Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity... | Old Testament echo of the phrase "workers of iniquity." |
Ps 101:3-4 | I will set no worthless thing before my eyes...evil will depart from me. | Commits to righteousness and departure from evil. |
Isa 52:11 | Depart, depart, go out from there, Touch no unclean thing... | Call for separation from unholiness. |
Lk 13:24 | “Strive to enter through the narrow door... | Immediate context emphasizing diligent effort for entry. |
Lk 13:25 | Once the master of the house has risen...and you begin to stand... | Immediate context of knocking on a closed door after time is up. |
Mt 25:10-12 | those who were ready went in with him to the wedding...‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ | Parable of the wise and foolish virgins, rejection based on readiness. |
Mt 25:41 | “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire... | Judgment resulting in eternal separation. |
Jn 10:14-15 | I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and am known by My own... | Illustrates intimate, saving knowledge between Shepherd and sheep. |
2 Tim 2:19 | “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord must depart from iniquity.” | God's perfect knowledge contrasted with requirement for disciples. |
Tit 1:16 | They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him... | Outward profession without corresponding inward change. |
Jer 17:10 | “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the result of his deeds.” | God's judgment is based on inner motives and actions. |
Rom 2:6 | who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS... | God repays according to deeds. |
Rom 6:13 | do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin... | Call to dedicate oneself to righteousness, not sin. |
Gal 5:19-21 | Now the deeds of the flesh are evident...those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. | Warning that those living in sin will not inherit the Kingdom. |
Eph 5:5-6 | For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person...has an inheritance in the kingdom... | Similar warning regarding immoral behavior and kingdom inheritance. |
Rv 21:27 | and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it... | Heaven's gates are closed to those living in unrighteousness. |
Rv 22:14-15 | Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life...Outside are the dogs... | Distinction between those granted entry and those outside. |
Mt 16:27 | For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. | Jesus' return involves judgment based on deeds. |
2 Cor 5:10 | For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds... | Universal accountability before Christ's judgment seat. |
2 Pet 2:19 | promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. | False teachers claiming freedom but living in corruption. |
Col 3:5-6 | Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality...Because of these things the wrath of God will come... | Urges putting to death unrighteous deeds, consequences of disobedience. |
Luke 13 verses
Luke 13 27 Meaning
Luke 13:27 conveys a powerful and stern warning from Jesus regarding ultimate judgment. It depicts a master, symbolizing God, decisively rejecting individuals who claimed acquaintance or association with Him but whose lives were characterized by unrighteousness. The phrase "I do not know where you come from" signifies a profound denial of intimate, saving recognition, while "Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity" pronounces an irreversible expulsion from the divine presence and the Kingdom of God, based on their active unrighteousness. This verse underscores that mere profession or superficial connection to Christ is insufficient for salvation; true discipleship necessitates a life of genuine obedience and righteousness.
Luke 13 27 Context
Luke chapter 13 focuses on themes of repentance, judgment, and the urgency of responding to God's call. Jesus begins by addressing current events (the Galileans killed by Pilate, and the collapse of the tower of Siloam) to emphasize that disaster should provoke repentance, not just provoke questions about the victims' sins (Lk 13:1-5). He reinforces this with the parable of the barren fig tree, highlighting that divine patience has a limit and judgment will come if no fruit is produced (Lk 13:6-9).
The specific verse, Luke 13:27, is part of Jesus' response to a question posed by someone, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" (Lk 13:23). Jesus' answer moves directly into a warning, urging His listeners to "strive to enter through the narrow door" (Lk 13:24), implying that salvation is not a passive inheritance but requires earnest effort and commitment. He then presents a scenario (Lk 13:25-27) where the master of the house has shut the door, and those outside, who were formerly familiar with him, are denied entry. The master's rejection "I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!" emphasizes that mere casual acquaintance, shared meals, or even proximity to Jesus during His ministry are insufficient. What truly matters is an authentic relationship validated by a righteous life. This segment directly challenges the Jewish contemporary belief that merely being a descendant of Abraham or having religious affiliation guaranteed salvation.
Luke 13 27 Word analysis
- But he will say (ἀποκριθεὶς ἐρεῖ – apokritheis erei): The phrase uses the future indicative for certainty. It's a definitive, authoritative pronouncement by the "master" (symbolizing Jesus/God) that will happen. It signifies a point of no return.
- I tell you (λέγω ὑμῖν – legō hymin): A characteristic emphatic phrase used by Jesus, often preceding a solemn or crucial statement. It underscores the truthfulness and gravity of what follows.
- I do not know (οἶδα οὐκ – oida ouk): The Greek word "oida" implies an intimate, experiential knowledge, not just intellectual information. Thus, "I do not know" signifies a complete lack of saving recognition, approval, or relationship, despite outward familiarity or claims of acquaintance. It's a statement of permanent, relational disconnection.
- where you come from (πόθεν ἐστέ – pothen este): This question expresses rejection of their spiritual origin and affiliation. It highlights that their claimed relationship or assumed spiritual "home" is not acknowledged by the Master, exposing their fundamental outsider status.
- Depart from me (ἀπόστητε ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ – apostēte ap’ emou): "Apostēte" is an aorist active imperative, a strong, decisive command for immediate and complete separation. It is an irreversible expulsion, echoing commands for separation from evil in the Old Testament (e.g., Ps 6:8).
- all you workers (πάντες ἐργάται – pantes ergatai): "Pantes" means "all," universalizing the judgment to encompass every individual categorized thus. "Ergatai" refers to "workers" or "laborers," emphasizing that unrighteousness isn't merely an occasional slip but the defining characteristic, practice, or fruit of their lives. It suggests a persistent engagement in these deeds.
- of iniquity (ἀδικίας – adikias): This word means "unrighteousness," "lawlessness," or "injustice." It describes a life marked by deeds that contradict God's moral and spiritual law. It's not just the absence of good deeds, but active wrong-doing or a rejection of God's ways, regardless of outward religious veneer.
- Words-group Analysis:
- "I do not know where you come from. Depart from me...": This pairing directly links the lack of divine recognition with a command for banishment. The absence of an intimate relationship (not knowing them) is the basis for their expulsion. Their "origin" is revealed as separate from God's household.
- "all you workers of iniquity!": This final damning identifier encapsulates the reason for their rejection. Their consistent actions, their very nature as "laborers" in unrighteousness, mark them as unsuitable for entry into God's presence, highlighting that one's lifestyle, not just profession, determines destiny.
Luke 13 27 Bonus section
This passage is not only a warning about the end times but also an ongoing call for introspection. It forces listeners to examine the quality of their relationship with God, challenging them to move beyond superficial familiarity to genuine, life-transforming knowledge that issues forth in obedience and holiness. The urgency implied by the "closed door" (Lk 13:25) further emphasizes that there is a defined time to respond to God's call to repentance. This concept of being "known" by God for salvation is profound; it implies an adoptive recognition and belonging, which is contrasted sharply with being deemed a "worker of iniquity" whose origin is unknown or rejected.
Luke 13 27 Commentary
Luke 13:27 stands as a profound theological statement, clarifying the conditions for entering the Kingdom of God. It shatters any illusion of automatic salvation based on ethnic heritage, superficial religious activity, or even historical association with Jesus' earthly ministry. The "master" represents Christ as the ultimate judge, and His declaration, "I do not know where you come from," reveals that true saving knowledge is reciprocal and deeply relational, an intimate approval, not mere acquaintance. Many will approach confidently, perhaps citing their shared experiences ("we ate and drank in your presence"), only to face utter rejection.
The reason for their condemnation is crucial: they are "workers of iniquity." This describes individuals whose lives are consistently characterized by a pattern of lawlessness, moral compromise, or self-righteousness that contradicts God's righteous standards. Their external religious acts were not accompanied by internal transformation or genuine obedience. This verse underscores that grace does not negate the necessity of righteous living; rather, genuine faith in Christ inevitably produces the fruit of repentance and righteousness. The solemn command, "Depart from me," signifies eternal separation from God's presence, highlighting the ultimate, irrevocable consequence of unrepentant sin and a life devoid of true righteousness.
Practical examples might include someone who attends church faithfully but habitually practices deceit in business, or someone who publicly praises Christ but harbors malice and unforgiveness towards others, demonstrating that external religious acts without internal alignment with Christ's righteousness are futile for eternal life.