Matthew 7:21-23

Judgment of Pretenders

7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ ¹  will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 7:22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do ²  many powerful deeds?’ 7:23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’ ³ 

Hebrews 12:16-17

12:16 And see to it that no one becomes ⁴  an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. ⁵  12:17 For you know that ⁶  later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing ⁷  with tears.

¹ 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.

² tn Grk “and in your name do.” This phrase was not repeated here in the translation for stylistic reasons.

³ tn Grk “workers of lawlessness.”

⁴ tn Grk “that there not be any,” continuing from v. 15.

⁵ sn An allusion to Gen 27:34-41.

⁶ tn Or a command: “for understand that.”

⁷ tn Grk “it,” referring either to the repentance or the blessing. But the account in Gen 27:34-41 (which the author appeals to here) makes it clear that the blessing is what Esau sought. Thus in the translation the referent (the blessing) is specified for clarity.