Matthew 7:22 kjv

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?

Matthew 7:22 nkjv

Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'

Matthew 7:22 niv

Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?'

Matthew 7:22 esv

On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'

Matthew 7:22 nlt

On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.'

Matthew 7 verses

Matthew 7 22 Meaning

This verse paints a striking picture of the Day of Judgment, where many individuals, having performed seemingly impressive spiritual acts, will stand before Jesus with an expectation of acceptance, only to be rejected. They confidently declare their powerful deeds done "in His name"—prophesying, casting out demons, and doing many miracles. However, these external actions, even when powerful or seemingly godly, are revealed as insufficient for true salvation when they are not rooted in genuine relationship with Christ and obedient submission to His Father's will. The verse underscores that visible manifestations of spiritual power do not equate to true spiritual standing or eternal salvation.

Matthew 7 22 Context

Matthew 7:22 stands at the culmination of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, particularly within His concluding warnings regarding true discipleship. Chapters 5-7 unveil the Kingdom ethics that transcend mere external obedience to the law, emphasizing internal transformation, righteousness of heart, and genuine relationship with God. Verses 15-20 warn against "false prophets," instructing listeners to discern them "by their fruits," implicitly suggesting that external religious actions can be deceptive. Verses 21-23 then directly challenge the assumption that merely invoking Jesus' name or performing powerful deeds in His name will guarantee entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. The crucial criterion is doing "the will of my Father who is in heaven" and being truly known by Jesus. This verse directly refutes contemporary beliefs that religious observance, miraculous powers, or even prophetic declarations were automatic tickets to divine favor or messianic acceptance, emphasizing Jesus' unique authority as judge. Historically, Jewish thought acknowledged the Day of the Lord as a time of divine judgment and vindication, but Jesus expands this concept to include a judgment specific to those who claim to follow Him.

Matthew 7 22 Word analysis

• Many (πολλοί - polloi): Implies a significant number, not just a few isolated cases. This emphasizes the widespread nature of the self-deception and misplaced confidence. It serves as a potent warning against popular religious activity.
• will say to Me (ἐροῦσιν μοι - erousin moi): Future tense. This points to a definitive, unavoidable, and future event—the final judgment. The direct address to Jesus ("to Me") highlights His ultimate judicial authority.
• in that day (ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ - en ekeinē tē hēmera): This phrase is a common Old Testament idiom referring to the "Day of the Lord," signifying God's eschatological intervention, judgment, and the ultimate consummation of His plan. For Jesus' audience, it evoked a clear image of ultimate accountability.
• Lord, Lord (Κύριε, Κύριε - Kyrie, Kyrie): The repetition emphasizes intensity, perhaps of desperation, pleading, or even earlier fervent, but ultimately hollow, profession. Kyrie can mean 'sir,' 'master,' or 'Lord.' Here, it signifies recognition of Jesus' authority, yet this recognition, even combined with supernatural deeds, is insufficient without true submission and relationship. It highlights an outward form of respect that lacks inward reality.
• have we not prophesied (οὐκ ἐπροφητεύσαμεν - ouk epropheteusāmen): Ouk introduces a rhetorical question expecting a "yes" answer, demonstrating their firm conviction in their righteous deeds. Propheteuō (prophesied) means "to speak forth" or "proclaim divine messages." This was a highly esteemed spiritual gift, seen as directly from God.
• in Your name (ἐν τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι - en tō sō onomati): This crucial phrase signifies acting by someone's authority, representing them, or invoking their power. They claim their actions were sanctioned and empowered by Jesus. The irony lies in the fact that while they used His name, they did not abide in His will or possess a genuine, saving relationship with Him.
• cast out demons (δαιμόνια ἐξεβάλομεν - daimonia exebalomen): Ekballō (cast out/drive out) is a strong verb indicating forceful expulsion. Exorcism was a definitive sign of divine power, demonstrating victory over evil forces. Even Judas, despite his later betrayal, was given authority to cast out demons (Mt 10:1, Lk 9:1), showing that gifts can operate independently of a converted heart.
• done many wonders (δυνάμεις πολλὰς ἐποιήσαμεν - dynameis pollas epoiēsamen): Dynameis (wonders) refers to powerful deeds or miracles, signifying supernatural ability. This indicates not just isolated acts, but a consistent pattern of performing "many" impressive works. These are signs often associated with genuine divine authentication.

• "Lord, Lord... in Your name": This combination highlights the dangerous deception of operating under Jesus' authority for ministry while failing to live under His Lordship in personal obedience. They knew of Him and used His power, but did not truly know Him intimately as His own. Their "name-dropping" of Jesus was transactional rather than relational.
• "Prophesied... cast out demons... done many wonders": These actions represent significant spiritual manifestations. The emphasis is not on the nature of the actions, which are good and God-honoring when genuinely flowing from Him, but on the heart and relationship of the one performing them. This challenges the popular assumption that power or public religious success automatically signals divine approval or salvation. Spiritual giftedness is distinct from spiritual fruit or eternal salvation.

Matthew 7 22 Bonus section

The concept presented in Mt 7:22, where divine power is manifested through individuals who are ultimately not saved, highlights the sovereignty of God's Spirit. God can work through imperfect or even unsaved vessels to achieve His purposes, such as conveying His word through prophecy or displaying His power through miracles, even if the person lacks a saving relationship. This should caution against equating spiritual gifts or even signs and wonders with the validation of a person's eternal standing or theological soundness. Furthermore, this passage is a direct polemic against reliance on "works righteousness" in any form—whether that be reliance on meticulous adherence to Jewish law, the performance of outward piety, or even charismatic expressions. Jesus makes it clear that the ultimate arbiter is Himself, and His judgment will be based not on what one claims to have done for Him, but on whether one truly did the will of the Father, indicative of a true relationship with the Son. This passage emphasizes a key theme from the Sermon on the Mount: true righteousness comes from the heart, manifest in obedient living, rather than from external acts or mere vocal declarations of faith.

Matthew 7 22 Commentary

Matthew 7:22 serves as a stark warning within Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing that true discipleship and entry into the Kingdom of Heaven are not predicated on external religious performance, spiritual gifts, or even miraculous abilities, but on a deep, personal, and obedient relationship with Christ. The individuals in this verse confidently cite powerful spiritual deeds, genuinely believing these acts are their passport to eternal life. However, their reliance on these achievements reveals a fundamental misunderstanding: they used Jesus' name and power for outward ministry but failed to submit to His will and genuinely know Him. The tragic revelation will be Jesus' declaration: "I never knew you" (Mt 7:23). This is not about failing to recognize who Jesus is, but rather Jesus never having a saving, personal relationship with them. This verse confronts the delusion that activity for God is equivalent to intimacy with God, highlighting that even Spirit-empowered actions can occur outside of true salvation if the heart is not yielded to Christ's Lordship. The critical takeaway is that authenticity of faith is measured by the heart's posture towards obedience to God's will, not by the outward display of spiritual power or impressive achievements.

• Example 1: A church leader who establishes a large, thriving ministry and performs visible acts of service, but secretly lives in unrepentant sin or nurses pride and self-interest.
• Example 2: An individual who fluently speaks of spiritual truths or organizes successful outreach events, yet rejects core biblical commands regarding humility, forgiveness, or love for enemies.