How does Matthew 25:12 connect with the warning in Matthew 7:21-23? Setting the Scene in Matthew 25:12 “‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘I do not know you.’” • Spoken by the bridegroom to the five foolish virgins shut out of the wedding feast • Occurs at the moment of final separation—door closed, decision fixed • Follows their frantic plea, “Lord, lord, open to us!”—a verbal profession without prior preparation Echoes in Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven…Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’” • Same urgent cry: “Lord, Lord” • Same chilling response: “I never knew you” • Same context of final judgment—entrance into the kingdom either granted or refused Key Parallels • Verbal confession vs. lived obedience • Outward association with Christ vs. inner transformation by Christ • An irrevocable verdict delivered when it is too late to change Knowing and Being Known • Scripture consistently links saving faith to a real relationship, not mere familiarity (John 10:14; 2 Timothy 2:19). • “I do not know you” stresses experiential knowledge—shared life, loyalty, and love. • Both passages expose reliance on religious activity without personal surrender. Readiness and Obedience • The wise virgins were prepared in advance; the foolish delayed. • In Matthew 7, genuine disciples show their readiness by doing “the will of My Father.” • James 2:17 backs this: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Why the Warnings Are United 1. Same audience: professing believers mixed with true believers 2. Same issue: deceptive self-confidence 3. Same result: eternal exclusion for the unprepared 4. Same remedy: immediate repentance and obedient faith (Acts 3:19; John 15:10). Practical Takeaways • Examine whether your confession is matched by obedience (2 Corinthians 13:5). • Cultivate continual dependence on the Spirit, not episodic bursts of zeal (Galatians 5:16). • Keep your “lamp” supplied—fuel of the Word, prayer, fellowship, service (Psalm 119:11; Hebrews 10:24-25). • Maintain urgency; once the door closes, no further appeal is possible (Luke 13:25-27). Living in Confident Assurance • Assurance is anchored in Christ’s finished work, evidenced by ongoing submission (1 John 2:3-6). • The same Judge who says “I never knew you” also promises, “I know My own and My own know Me” (John 10:14). • Pursue a faith that hears, obeys, and endures—then the fearful words of Matthew 25:12 and 7:23 will never be spoken to you. |
    |