Evildoers

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

EVILDOERS

Matt 7:21-23

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 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?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

NIV

What a most dreadful thing it would be to hear Jesus say that to us. Why would he say those things to someone who does so much such as prophesy in the name of Jesus, and drive out demons and even do miracles? It almost sounds as though Jesus is speaking directly toward those who minister his word, who preach the gospel, leading people in the direction of the divine almighty God. Considering these words gives us the idea that the only way to heaven is through doing the will of the Father, which could lead us to think that through works we will be saved. However, what we know is that when men asked Jesus what are the works that God requires, Jesus told them the work that God requires, the will of God that He requires of them is to believe in the one He sent. This is the one perfect will of the Father, to believe in Jesus, to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, depending solely on Him for our salvation, for it is by faith we are saved and not through works. We think these words are directly related to the words right before he said this, about men who come in sheep clothing but are furious wolves seeking whom they can devour. They come preaching, appearing to be men of God, but in their hearts, they are men of the flesh. There serve themselves rather than God. But they have the words, they speak the gospel message, falsely, they put on a good show for the praise of men, but inwardly they are evildoers. This does not mean that everyone who still has some sin in their lives is an evildoer, for who can say they have no sin whatsoever, that they have attained the perfect state of Christ. No, these evildoers are false prophets. What minister of God, which pastor can say they have completed the course, run the race to its fullest, and reached sinlessness? These warnings of Jesus are directed at those false teachers, those who appear to profess Jesus, but only use his name for their own evil desires of self-adornment, self-gratification, and self-advancement among men. If we love the Lord and believe in Jesus in our heart, and desire to please God, living as right as we are able, even in the midst of failing, hating it, always aware, always seeking forgiveness, we have nothing to worry about, for it is not what we do, or what we do not do, works that are either good or bad are not the rule by which God judges us, but by our heart. Therefore, let us not worry about the evildoer, other than not listen to their falsehoods, but listen to the Spirit who dwells within us.