Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
This verse comes from Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, one of the most significant teaching sessions recorded in the Gospels. Jesus is issuing a sobering warning: on the day of final judgment — what he calls 'that day' — there will be people who genuinely believed they were faithful followers, yet discover they were not truly known by him. They point to extraordinary religious accomplishments: prophesying, casting out evil spirits, performing miracles — all done in Jesus's name. In the ancient world, these were considered the most powerful signs of God's favor. Yet in the very next verse, Jesus responds with devastating simplicity: 'I never knew you.' The warning cuts to the heart of the difference between religious performance — even sincere, impressive performance — and an actual relationship with Jesus.
Jesus, I don't want a faith built on what I've done for you. I want to actually know you. Show me where I've been substituting activity for relationship, and draw me back to what matters most — not doing more, but being with you. Amen.
What if you could do everything right — the big, visible, undeniably spiritual things — and still miss the whole point? Jesus isn't describing obvious hypocrites here. He's talking about people who prophesied, cast out evil spirits, and performed miracles — all in his name, with real results. By any external measure, these were serious, committed believers. And yet something was hollow at the center: they knew *about* Jesus. They worked *for* Jesus. But they didn't actually *know* him. It's worth resisting the urge to assign this warning to someone else — the televangelist, the Sunday-only Christian, the person you find easy to judge — and instead letting it ask you a direct question. What are you most confident about when it comes to your standing with God? Your service record? Your theological knowledge? Your attendance? None of those are bad. But none of them are the point. The point is knowing and being known. Not performance, but presence. What would it look like today to move from doing things *for* Jesus toward simply spending time *with* him?
Jesus says these people called him 'Lord' and performed miracles in his name — yet he says he never knew them. What do you think it actually means to 'know' Jesus, as opposed to knowing about him or working for him?
Is there an area of your spiritual life where you might be substituting activity or achievement for actual relationship with God? What does that honestly look like for you?
This verse raises a genuinely hard question: how do you know whether your faith is real? Not to generate anxiety, but as a serious question — what would you point to as evidence of a living relationship rather than a performance?
How does this warning affect the way you see people who appear spiritually impressive or highly active in church? Does it change what you look for in people you trust or admire?
What is one thing you could do this week that is purely about being present with God — not productive, not visible to anyone else, nothing to show for it except the relationship itself?
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Hebrews 6:4
Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
Luke 8:18
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2 Timothy 1:12
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Hebrews 6:6
And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Malachi 3:17
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Luke 10:20
Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?'
AMP
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
ESV
'Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
NASB
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
NIV
Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
NKJV
On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’
NLT
I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.'
MSG