7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ 5 will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
1 tn Grk “and saying, ‘Repent.’” The participle λέγων (legwn) at the beginning of v. 2 is redundant in English and has not been translated.
2 tn Grk “teaches men” ( in a generic sense, people).
3 tn Or “that of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.
4 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.
4 sn The double use of the vocative is normally used in situations of high emotion or emphasis. Even an emphatic confession without action means little.
5 sn The kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Children are a picture of those whose simple trust illustrates what faith is all about. The remark illustrates how everyone is important to God, even those whom others regard as insignificant.
6 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”
7 sn On receive see John 1:12.
8 sn The point of the comparison receive the kingdom of God like a child has more to do with a child’s trusting spirit and willingness to be dependent and receive from others than any inherent humility the child might possess.
9 tn The negation in Greek (οὐ μή, ou mh) is very strong here.