Matthew 7:21

In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads: :Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall :enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth :the will of my Father which is in heaven. The World English Bible translates the passage as: :Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will :enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who :does the will of my Father who is in heaven. The Novum Testamentum Graece text is: :Οὐ πᾶς ὁ λέγων μοι Κύριε Κύριε, :εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν, :ἀλλ’ ὁ ποιῶν τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς. Other scripture to bear in mind with the will of God, in James 1:22, 2:24, and 1 John 2:17 and 5:3. For a collection of other versions see BibleHub Matthew 7:21 ==Analysis==

This verse is parallelled by Luke 6:46, but in Luke the phrasing is directed at the crowd itself, while in Matthew it is against the hypothetical false prophets. This verse states that some of those who claim to be good Christians will be rejected by Jesus if they have not carried out the will of God. The scholarly view is that Jesus in this set of verses is presenting himself as a witness before God at the Last Judgment, being consulted by God on who should enter but with the final decision being made by the Father. The word translated as Lord is kyrie, this is the first time in Matthew that this title is used in reference to Jesus. It is a title of polite address, and Hill notes that sir might be a more literal interpretation. It was also a common address for a teacher, and Harrington believes the meaning of this verse is that one needs to practice the teachings of Jesus and not just speak them. Kyrie is also close to ho Kyrios, the term used by the Septuagint to translate the Tetragrammaton. The Gospel of Matthew never uses that title to refer to Jesus, though the Gospel of Luke does so. This verse contains a collection Matthew favourite phrases, such as "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Father in Heaven." Gundry notes that "enter the kingdom of heaven" appears three other times in the Gospel, at Matthew 5:20, 18:3, and 23:13. The reference to the kingdom of heaven is not found in Luke, continuing Matthew's pattern of being far more eschatological. ==Commentary from the Church Fathers==

Jerome: As He had said above that those who have the robe of a good life are yet not to be received because of the impiety of their doctrines; so now on the other hand, He forbids us to participate the faith with those who while they are strong in sound doctrine, destroy it with evil works. For it behoves the servants of God that both their work should be approved by their teaching and their teaching by their works. And therefore He says, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, enters into the kingdom of heaven. ==References==