Let’s study some of the words of Jesus, which many people have called the scariest passage in the Bible.
I was talking with a friend recently, and a thought-provoking question came up: “If Jesus were to return right now, and you appeared before His judgment seat and He asked, ‘Why do you expect to live with Me for eternity?’ how would you answer?” That question might sound simple at first, but your answer reveals a lot. And depending on how you answer, it just might show whether you should be terrified or assured by what many have called the scariest passage in the Bible.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven.”
That’s not a verse we quote on coffee mugs, is it? It’s haunting. Jesus is saying there are going to be people on the judgment day who genuinely expect to be welcomed into His presence for eternity. They’re confident. They’re calling Him “Lord.” And yet, according to verse 23, they will hear Him say, “Depart from Me. I never knew you.”
Scared yet? Perhaps you should be. Because this isn’t about atheists. This isn’t about people who mock the Bible. It’s not about people who are locked up for heinous crimes. This is about people who believe in Jesus, people who genuinely think they are serving in His name. That’s what makes this so terrifying. Is it possible to live your whole life convinced that you’re headed into the arms of Christ, only to be completely shocked on the judgment day?
Stick with me, because before we finish this study, we’re going to see a passage that completely changed the way I view this warning. It’s not a loophole. It’s not wishful thinking. It’s the solid, biblical ground for confidence—if you’re truly in Christ. But first, we need to understand why Jesus says what He says here.
Let’s go back to the context. This warning comes at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5–7—Jesus’ longest recorded sermon in the gospel accounts. Read those chapters and ask yourself: what would it look like if every person who claimed to be a disciple of Jesus actually lived that out?
But they don’t. That’s the problem. Many people say Jesus is their Lord, but their lives contradict that claim. They practice what Jesus calls lawlessness. Some have been deceived by false teachers. Others are lazy. Some trust in themselves. But Jesus says it plainly: they’re liars.
Why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,” and do not do the things which I say?
Luke 6:46
Just a few verses before His terrifying warning, Jesus says:
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Matthew 7:13–15
So, let me ask you: Have you ever had a conversation with someone who says they’re a Christian, but they say things like, “It doesn’t really matter if we disagree about doctrine. As long as we believe in Jesus, that’s all that counts.”
Yeah, I used to believe that too. Until I actually read the Bible. No one who honestly studies the New Testament can walk away believing that doctrine doesn’t matter. Doctrine simply means teaching, after all. But if you’re caught in a postmodern, feelings-driven mindset, it’s easy to be deceived.
Jesus said many are on the road to destruction, and few are on the path to life. Why? In part, it’s because they’ve been led astray by false teachers. If this is the case, how can someone honestly claim that teaching doesn’t matter? There are people out there teaching sinners, “Just invite Jesus into your heart by a simple prayer, and you’ll be saved.” The problem is, not one person in the Bible was ever told to do that to be saved. Instead, in Matthew 7:21, Jesus says that only those who do the will of His Father will enter the kingdom of heaven. So what is that will? Paul wrote to the Romans:
Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:3–5
That’s the will of the Father. A complete surrender. A death to self and sin. A burial with Christ. A resurrection to walk in new life.
There are three popular false gospels out there.
- The first says, “Just say Jesus is Lord and you’re good.”
- The second says, “Work hard enough, do enough good, and you’ll earn your spot in the kingdom.”
- And the third might be the most deceptive of all. It’s the gospel of the double life. The person who says all the right things—calls Jesus “Lord,” maybe even serves in His name—but deep down is still clinging to sin. They live outwardly religious lives but inwardly are rebellious. They’re comfortable in their conscious, unrepentant sin.
Jesus dismantles all three of these false gospels in one sentence: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
And on that day, many will respond: “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?”
Did you catch that? These are people who were active. They were serving. They were doing impressive things. But Jesus will say, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
And what is lawlessness? According to 1 John 3:4, “sin is lawlessness.”
Those who practice sin are the ones who will hear, “Depart from Me.” They’re people who may appear godly but are living a double life—people who know better but choose not to change. They’ve convinced themselves they’re fine because they believe in Jesus in their heart, but they refuse to repent. They love their sin more than they love the Savior.
So how do you know if you’re in the group who will hear, “Depart from Me”?
Here are the questions you need to wrestle with:
Are you part of the “many”?
Jesus says there are many who take the wide path, many who follow false teachers, many who say, “Lord, Lord,” and will still hear, “Depart from Me.” Leave behind the false influences in your life. Get off the easy, wide path, and commit to actually following the Lord.
Are you doing the Father’s will?
It’s not enough to avoid certain sins. Jesus isn’t just looking for modified behavior; He’s looking for your heart, soul, strength, and mind—your entire being. Have you died to yourself? Been buried with Christ in baptism? Are you walking in newness of life?
Are you depending on your “religiousness”?
Think back at our question. If Jesus were to ask you, “Why do you expect to live with Me for eternity?” how would you answer? Listen carefully. If your answer starts with, “Because I…” then you’ve already missed it. It’s not about what you’ve done. It should be about what Jesus has done.
Yes, repentance matters. Yes, baptism is essential. Yes, loving and serving others is important. That’s the Father’s will that we must do. But our hope is not in our own righteousness. It is in Christ. The true disciple obeys Jesus because he loves Jesus. Not to earn salvation, but in response to the One who has already paid it all. And even if you could say, “Lord, I’ve done everything You asked,” Jesus reminds us:
When you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, “We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.”
Luke 17:10
You don’t earn anything. You obey out of love, not leverage.
So here’s the final question to wrestle with:
Does Jesus know you?
While they’re shaking in their boots, Jesus will say to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
Does Jesus know you? And this knowledge must be reciprocal—you and Jesus must know each other. In John 17:3, Jesus defines eternal life this way:
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Do you know Jesus? Not just do you know about Him. Do you know Him? Do you talk to Him? Do you walk with Him? Do you long to be with Him?
So who are the ones who have this relationship with Christ, who will never hear Him say, “Depart from Me”? but will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? There is a clear, biblical answer. It’s not about being perfect. It’s not about performing miracles. It’s about being in Christ. And if that’s you, this passage doesn’t have to haunt you. It can actually anchor your hope. The Bible says:
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1
If you do the will of the Father, if you stop trusting in yourself, and if you walk with Jesus day by day, in the Spirit, not the flesh, then Romans 8:1 is your assurance. Two chapters earlier, Paul had explained to the Christians in Rome when this journey began for them. It was when they died to lawlessness, were baptized into Jesus, and were given brand new lives. In the same way, if you’ve died to sin, been buried with Christ in baptism, and are walking in newness of life, you are in Christ, and therefore, not under condemnation. You can be confident in your salvation. You don’t have to fear hearing, “Depart from Me.” Instead, you can live in hope of hearing these words:
Well done, good and faithful servant…. Enter into the joy of your Lord.
Matthew 25:23
When we enter into His grace by being born again, His story becomes our story. That’s where the old life dies and the new life begins. 1 John 3:5 says this about Jesus:
You know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
That means two things:
- Jesus never sinned, which makes Him the perfect lamb of God to take away sin.
- If you are in Him, your sins are not counted against you.
You are covered by His righteousness. This doesn’t mean you’ll never stumble. It means you’re walking in the light. It means your direction is toward Jesus, not away from Him. You’re not earning your salvation; you’re living in response to it.
That’s the goal. And by God’s grace, that’s possible. But, if you’ve never heard this before, maybe you’re conflicted. Maybe you have been told only the man-made “gospels” of the sinner’s prayer or working your way into God’s grace. Or perhaps you’re still struggling with doubt. If you still have questions, we’d love to study with you. Reach out to us. Think about this question: If Jesus were to return right now, and you appeared before His judgment seat and He asked, “Why do you expect to live with Me for eternity?” how would you answer? Are you still scared of this passage? If so, let’s study together.