Understanding Jesus’ Warning About Empty Religion and Genuine Faith
What Did Jesus Mean By True and False Disciples?
In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus gives a powerful warning that not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. This might sound surprising at first, especially since many people believe that saying the right words or doing good things is enough. But Jesus explains that what really matters is doing the will of God—the actions that come from a genuine relationship with Him.
The Main Point: Words Alone Aren’t Enough
Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” In other words, just calling Jesus “Lord” or talking about God isn’t enough. It’s not about what we say, but whether our actions and hearts are truly following God’s will.
On the day of judgment, many people will say they did amazing things like prophesying, casting out demons, and performing miracles in Jesus’ name. But Jesus will tell some of them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” This is a strong warning that doing impressive religious acts doesn’t guarantee a place in God’s kingdom if we aren’t really living according to God’s ways.
What Does “Doing the Will of the Father” Mean?
Doing God’s will means more than just going through the motions of religion. It’s about having true faith in Jesus, turning away from sin, and living a life that reflects God’s love and commandments. It’s not about trying to earn salvation by being perfect or doing good deeds—it’s about letting real faith shape our lives, leading to good actions because we love God and want to follow Him.
Empty Religion vs. Real Relationship
Jesus is warning against being a “false disciple”—someone who looks religious on the outside but doesn’t have a real relationship with God. A true disciple is someone who not only listens to Jesus’ words but puts them into practice. It’s like building a house on a solid rock foundation, not on shifting sand. When life gets hard, only a faith rooted in obedience and trust in God will stand strong.
The Danger of Hypocrisy
One of the biggest dangers Jesus points out is hypocrisy—pretending to follow God while living in a way that ignores His commands. Outward religion or good appearances can fool other people, but not God. He sees our hearts and knows whether we are truly His.
What Should We Do?
· Examine our hearts: Are we just saying the right things, or do we really know Jesus and seek to follow Him?
· Live out our faith: True faith shows itself in how we live, how we treat others, and how we obey God’s words.
· Build on the right foundation: Don’t put your trust in your own good works or religious acts. Trust in Jesus and aim to do what pleases God.
· Avoid resting on appearances: Outward actions mean little if our hearts aren’t right with God. Genuine faith leads to genuine change.
In Summary
Matthew 7:21-23 challenges us to go beyond empty words and surface-level religion. Jesus invites us into a real, living relationship with Him, where our faith shapes our actions and our lives reflect God’s will. Let’s aim to be wise builders—people whose faith stands strong not just in words, but in real, daily obedience to God.
Minister A Francine Green
October 2025
afrancinegreen.com 