Matthew 7:23 kjv

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 7:23 nkjv

And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

Matthew 7:23 niv

Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Matthew 7:23 esv

And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

Matthew 7:23 nlt

But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.'

Matthew 7 verses

Matthew 7 23 Meaning

Matthew 7:23 presents a powerful and sobering declaration from Jesus concerning final judgment. It reveals that on the day of accountability, Christ will reject individuals who, despite performing what appear to be spiritual acts in His name, have never entered into a genuine, intimate relationship with Him. His judgment is based on the absence of a true, covenantal knowledge between them and their consistent practice of lawlessness, leading to their definitive separation from His presence.

Matthew 7 23 Context

Matthew 7:23 stands as the solemn climax of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, particularly concluding the segment on discerning true righteousness and warning against spiritual deception. Verses 21-23 form a specific unit that directly follows Jesus' instruction to "beware of false prophets" (vv. 15-20), highlighting that inner character and actual obedience, rather than outward profession or even miraculous deeds, are the ultimate test of genuine discipleship. It directly confronts the superficial religious practices common in first-century Judaism, where outward adherence to the Mosaic Law or charismatic activities might be mistaken for true piety, even while the heart remained distant from God's will. The Jewish concept of a coming judgment (the Day of the Lord) adds historical weight, with Jesus asserting His authoritative role in this ultimate separation.

Matthew 7 23 Word analysis

• And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
• And then: (καὶ τότε, kai tote) Signals a specific, critical future point, definitively indicating the Day of Judgment or ultimate reckoning. This phrase introduces the finality and gravity of the declaration.
• will I declare: (ὁμολογήσω, homologēsō) Means "I will confess," "I will publicly state," or "I will acknowledge." It implies a clear, open, and undeniable pronouncement from Jesus himself. It carries an authoritative weight, signifying a final and definitive verdict.
• to them: Refers to the "many" who will claim to have performed great works in His name, as mentioned in the preceding verse (Matt 7:22). This implies a direct address to those who are self-deceived about their standing with Him.
• I never knew you: (οὐδέποτε ἔγνων ὑμᾶς, oudepote egnōn hymas)
  • never: (οὐδέποτε, oudepote) An absolute denial, emphasizing that there was no point in time, past or present, when an intimate relationship existed. It negates the idea of a relationship that was once there but broken.
  • knew: (ἔγνων, egnōn) The Greek word is ginoskō, which denotes more than mere intellectual recognition or acquaintance. It implies an intimate, personal, experiential, and covenantal relationship, akin to the knowing between a shepherd and his sheep (John 10:14) or a husband and wife (Matt 1:25). It refers to a profound, relational connection, mutual recognition, and acceptance that shapes one's identity and life.
  • This phrase signifies a profound spiritual truth: salvation is about a personal, transformative relationship with Christ, not just outward religious performance. Despite their claims and actions, there was no true heart-level bond.
• depart from me: (ἀποχωρεῖτε ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ, apochōreite ap’ emou) A direct, imperative command of expulsion. This phrase directly echoes Psalm 6:8, demonstrating Jesus' divine authority and His ultimate separation of those who are truly His from those who are not. It signifies eternal separation from God's presence and kingdom.
• you workers of lawlessness: (οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν, hoi ergazomenoi tēn anomian)
  • workers of: (οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι, hoi ergazomenoi) Literally "those who work" or "those who practice." This noun implies a continuous, habitual practice, suggesting that "lawlessness" was not an accidental occurrence but an ingrained, characteristic pattern of life for them, despite their outward religious veneer.
  • lawlessness: (τὴν ἀνομίαν, tēn anomian) From anomia, meaning "without law," or "violation of law." It signifies rebellion against God's will, divine standards, and revealed truth. It's not just breaking a specific commandment but living in a state of opposition or indifference to God's moral order. In the New Testament, 1 John 3:4 explicitly states, "sin is lawlessness." This reveals that despite their apparent religious acts (prophecy, exorcism, miracles), their underlying character was one of rebellion and active disobedience against God's righteous will.
• Words-Group analysis:
• "I never knew you": This statement, from Jesus, profoundly rejects the very basis of their claim to belong to Him. It means there was no reciprocal relationship of love, obedience, and communion from their side, which would have naturally flowed from His knowing of them.
• "depart from me, you workers of lawlessness": This entire phrase encapsulates the judgment: an authoritative expulsion coupled with the precise reason for their exclusion—their ingrained lifestyle of practical rebellion against God's standards. Their deeds, however seemingly impressive, were devoid of a spirit of obedience and a true relationship with the divine.

Matthew 7 23 Bonus section

• The surprise of the judged individuals in Matthew 7:22-23 highlights the profound danger of spiritual self-deception, where outward religious activity can mistakenly provide a false sense of security regarding one's standing before God.
• This verse emphatically distinguishes between genuine divine power flowing through a truly submitted vessel and acts that might appear miraculous but are ultimately devoid of the Holy Spirit's authorization or originate from other, unholy sources, despite being done "in Jesus' name." The critical determinant is the character of the doer and the nature of their ongoing relationship with Christ.
• The authority of Jesus is profoundly underscored here. He is presented not just as a teacher but as the ultimate judge who possesses the prerogative to grant or deny entrance into His eternal kingdom, based on intimate knowledge of one's true spiritual state.
• The consistent theme running through Matthew 7:15-27 is the critical importance of spiritual fruit and foundational obedience over mere external appearances, warnings against both false prophets and false converts within the professing church.

Matthew 7 23 Commentary

Matthew 7:23 powerfully concludes Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, serving as a climactic warning that salvation and eternal entry into God's kingdom are not determined by outward religious activity, impressive spiritual gifts, or verbal profession alone. These verses reveal that the ultimate criterion for recognition by Christ at the final judgment is a genuine, intimate relationship ("I knew you"), evidenced by a life of willing obedience to God's will ("doing the will of my Father") rather than a consistent practice of rebellion against it ("workers of lawlessness").

The shock expressed by those being judged (v. 22) underscores the widespread spiritual self-deception that can occur. They genuinely believed their deeds and pronouncements in Jesus' name would secure their place. However, Jesus' unwavering declaration, "I never knew you," dismisses any claim of prior connection, revealing that these individuals were never truly known by Him in a saving, covenantal sense. The word "never" indicates a perpetual absence of such a relationship.

Their title, "workers of lawlessness," is the damning indictment. This phrase describes not merely isolated acts of sin but a continuous, habitual disposition and lifestyle characterized by rebellion against God's divine standards and moral truth. Their religious performance, therefore, was rendered null and void because it flowed from a heart untransformed and was inconsistent with genuine submission to God's authority. This verse stands as a stark reminder that true discipleship necessitates not just a loud proclamation or powerful demonstration, but an internal transformation of character that aligns with the will of God, producing the fruit of righteousness through an obedient life, nurtured by a living relationship with Christ.

• Example 1: A person who teaches Bible studies and sings in the worship team but regularly engages in deceitful business practices, exploiting others for personal gain, may be identified as a "worker of lawlessness" despite their outward religious involvement.
• Example 2: Someone who frequently prophesies or performs acts of ministry but lives in persistent, unrepentant malice towards family members, betraying the love central to Christ's command, exemplifies this spiritual dissonance.