Feb 1, 2026 “I Never Knew You… or Did I?”(Matthew 7:15-23)

I Never Knew You... or Did I 

Matthew 7:15-23 

 

The message that Jesus is giving is addressed to those who believe in Jesus. Jesus isn't criticizing their righteous actions, efforts or diligence but their relationship with Jesus. Jesus is challenging their self-confidence. 

 

Jesus tells His audience that real faith comes from our relationship with Christ. 

 

Matthew 7:15 ESV 

[15]  “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  

 

False prophets look like sheep not wolves. It is easy to be deceived by those who use faith language but their lives are not aligned with Jesus' ways. In church, we can deceive ourselves by not questioning our actions or intentions.  We could be the wolves in sheep's clothing. 

 

Before we look for others who are False prophets or anti-Christs, we need to look at ourselves. Anyone can imitate the life of faith with actions. However, eventually reality will come up. Faith is not something you can display, but something you live. 

 

Matthew 7:16-17 ESV 

[16] You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? [17] So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  

 

Jesus does not say that we should evaluate faith, but we need to look at fruit. The fruit is not short term results. Yes, there are good goals and ministries we can do, but Jesus is talking about endurance.  

 

Fruit is the revelation of faith. Worship matters, prayer matters, ministry matters, outreach matters, but they are not the end result. 

 

Matthew 7:21-22 ESV 

[21]  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 

[22] 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?’ 

 

This passage can be used to judge others but it is asking us to self-examination. It is about are we living for our Lord Jesus and not our actions. We can look at our service, our efforts, our results, but if our relationship was not right with Jesus what good is that. 

 

For a Christian, this is the most terrifying statement you could hear. 

 

Matthew 7:23 ESV 

[23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ 

 

Jesus has one standard. Are you having a proper relationship with God. Roles can be delegated, results can be measured, but your relationship with God is between you and God. No one else can fix your relationship with God but you.  

 

It is not the lazy that Jesus is addressing, but the diligent. Jesus is not trying to discourage us from doing good works or from being diligent. He is trying to look at our relationship with Him.  

 

Our hope is not how faithful we have been, but how faithful Jesus has been to us. 

What we long for to hear that Jesus says he knows us and loves us. It is not by effort but by grace we are saved. 

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"Answered Prayer"(Matthew 7:7-10)

Matthew 7:7-10

Life is not always the way we want it to be. Often, we will pray for something, and we do not get what we want. We become discouraged with our unanswered prayers. In Matthew, we read about prayer.

 

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:7-9, 11 ESV

 

According to this passage, whatever we ask for, we will receive it. We also know that this does not happen. Sometimes people will say that our unanswered prayer is a result of a lack of faith. This comes from James.

 

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:6 ESV

 

Out of context, it would seem that it is only because of a lack of faith. Yet, if we read the verse before, we see that this is about as

 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 1:5 ESV

 

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 ESV

  

Jesus contrasts the unrighteous judge to God. The judge listens to those who make noise and insist on getting their way. God listens to everyone and does what is best. This is not about pestering God continually until we get what we want. This is about how God listens.

 

And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Luke 18:7-8 ESV

 

So, maybe we do not get our prayers answered because of wrong motives. However, in the right context, we understand that from this passage there were quarrels caused by wrong motives and people were praying with the wrong intentions. The main point is not against praying for worldly things but against infighting and prayers that perpetuate conflict.

 

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:1-4 ESV

 

A good God gives bread when we ask for it or not. God provides us the best. It is  us that decides if the best God gives are stones or snakes. 

 

Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:9-11 ESV

 

Why do we pray? We pray to create, maintain, and nurture a loving relationship with our father God. We speak with our father whether we want something or not. Prayer is communication with our God. Prayers are not magic spells to create what we want. Prayer is that blessing between you and God. BUild up your relationship with God through prayer.