The Disowned

“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 18 IN HEAVEN.

“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?

“AND THEN WILL I PROFESS UNTO THEM, I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.” — Matthew vii. 21-23.

ONE of the best tests of everything is how it will appear in the moment of death, in the morning of resurrection, and at the day of judgment. Our Lord gives us a picture of persons as they will appear “in that day.”

Riches, honors, pleasures, successes, self-congratulations, etc., should all be set in the light of “that day.”

This test should especially be applied to all religious professions and exercises; for “that day” will try these things as with fire.

The persons here depicted in judgment-light were not gross and open sinners; but externally they were excellent.

I. THEY WENT A LONG WAY IN RELIGION.

1. They made an open profession. They said, “Lord, Lord.”

2. They undertook Christian service, and that of a

high class: they habitually prophesied and worked miracles.

3. They had obtained remarkable success.

Devils had owned their power.

4. They were noted for their practical energy.

They had done many wonders: they were
active in many ways.

They had done wonders. Astonished every
body.

5. They were diligently orthodox.

They did everything in the name of Christ. The words “Thy name” are mentioned three times.

II. THEY KEPT IT UP A LONG WHILE.

1. They were not silenced by men.

No one discovered their falsehood, or detected their inconsistency.

2. They were not openly disowned by the Lord

himself during life.

3. They were not made a laughing-stock by being

left to use the holy name without result. Actsxix. 13-17. Devils were cast out.

4. They expected to enter the Kingdom, and they

clung to that false hope to the last. They dared to say, “Lord, Lord,” to Christ himself, at the last.

III. THEY WERE FATALLY MISTAKEN.

1. Their tongue was belied by their hand. They said, “Lord, Lord,” but did not do the will of the Father.

2. They used the name which is named by disciples, but did not possess the nature of obedient servants. Luke vi. 46.

3. They prophesied, but did not pray.

4. They cast out devils, but the devil was not cast

out of them.

5. They attended to marvels, but not to essentials.

6. They wrought wonders, but were also workers

of iniquity.

IV. THEY FOUND IT OUT IN A TERRIBLE WAY.

They had the information from the mouth of him whom they called Lord. Here let us carefully notice —

1. The solemnity of what he said.” I never knew

you.” He had been omitted from their religion. What an oversight!

2. The terror of what it implied: they must depart from all hope, and continue for ever to depart.

3. The awful truth of what he said. They were

utter strangers to his heart. He had not
chosen them, nor communed with them,
nor approved them, nor cared for them.

4. The solemn fixedness of what he said. His

sentence would never be recalled, altered, or ended. It stood, “depart from me.”

Brethren, the Lord cannot say to some of us that he does not know us, for he has often heard our voices, and answered our requests. He has known us —

In repentance, seeking mercy, and receiving it.

In gratitude, blessing his gracious name.

In adversity, looking for his aid, and enjoying it.

In reproach, owning his cause under ridicule.

In difficulty, seeking help and safety under his wing.

In love, enjoying happy fellowship with him.

In these and many other ways he knows us.

Professor, does Jesus know you? The church knows you, the school knows you, the world knows you; does Jesus know you?

Come unto him, ye strangers, and find eternal life in him.

WARNINGS.

In many simple works God is more seen than in wonderful works. The Pharisee at heaven’s gate says, u Lord, I have done many wonderful works in thy name “; but, alas! has he ever made the Lord’s name wonderful? — T. T. Lynch.

Pollok describes the hypocritical professor as —

“The man that stole the livery of heaven To serve the devil in.’’

I knew you well enough for “black sheep,” or, rather, for reprobate goats: I knew you for hirelings and hypocrites, but I never knew you with a special knowledge of love, delight, and complacency. I never acknowledged, approved, and accepted of your persons and performances. See Psalm i. 6; Romans xi. 2. — John Trapp

Not “I once knew you, but cannot own you now “; but “I never knew you; — as real penitents, suppliants for pardon, humble believers, true followers.”

E. E. Conder.

Note our Lord’s open confession before men and angels, and specially to the men themselves — “I never knew you.” I knew about you; I knew that you professed great things; but you had no acquaintance with me; and whatever you knew about me, you did not know me. I was not of your company, and did not know you. Had he once known them, lie would not have forgotten them.

Those who accept his invitation, “Come unto me,” shall never hear him say, “Depart from me.” Workers of iniquity may now come to the Saviour for mercy; but if they set up a hope of their own, and ignore the Saviour, he will bid them depart to endure the rigors of his justice. Is it not striking that preachers, casters-out of devils, and doers of wonders, may yet be workers of iniquity? They may work miracles in Christ’s name, and yet have neither part nor lot in him. — G. II. S.

“Depart from me” — a fearful sentence, a terrible separation. “From me,” saith Christ, that made myself man for your sakes, that offered my blood for your redemption. “From me,” that invited you to mercy, and you would not accept it. “From me,” that purchased a kingdom of glory for such as believed on me, and have resolved to honor their heads with crowns of eternal joy. “Depart from me:” from my friendship, my fellowship, my paradise, my presence, my heaven. — Thomas Adams.