Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
24 “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
28 When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus turns from instruction to warning. He is no longer speaking only as a teacher, but as the divine Judge. These are not general encouragements, but a solemn call to self-examination and true conversion of heart.
Jesus begins with a striking contrast: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Mt 7:21). Public declarations of faith—even miracles and mighty deeds—are not enough. What matters is whether the heart and life are conformed to God’s will. Jesus envisions a final judgment in which some will appeal to their ministry and spiritual works: “Did we not prophesy… drive out demons… do mighty deeds in your name?” Yet He will reply, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers” (vv. 22–23).
Here we find one of the most sobering truths of Scripture: it is possible to act in Jesus’ name and yet be far from Him. The NABRE notes that “doing the will of my Father” refers not to isolated acts of piety but to a life of obedience grounded in authentic relationship with God (see Mt 12:50; Jn 6:40). Even extraordinary signs and wonders can be counterfeited or performed with impure motives (cf. Mt 24:24; 2 Thes 2:9–10). The early Church was alert to this danger. St. Paul warned the Corinthians that even if one has prophetic powers, performs miracles, and gives all to the poor, without love it profits nothing (1 Cor 13:1–3). This “love” (agapē) is not mere emotion or human kindness, but the supernatural love of God—a love that conforms the heart to His will and expresses itself in faithful obedience. Apart from this, even the most astonishing deeds become empty. The Navarre Bible explains that obedience to the Father must flow from a living faith—one that is not only professed with the lips but expressed in holiness of a life attuned to God's will.
Jesus then tells the parable of the wise and foolish builders (vv. 24–27). One builds on rock; the other on sand. Both hear Jesus’ words, but only the wise one acts on them. When the storm comes, the house on the rock stands firm, while the other collapses. This is more than a call to morality. It is a call to build one’s entire life on Christ, the true Rock (cf. Ps 18:2; 1 Cor 10:4). Hearing the Gospel is not enough. It must be believed, received, and lived.
The conclusion in verses 28–29 reveals the response of the crowd: they were astonished. Jesus spoke with an authority that went beyond any teacher of the Law. He did not merely explain Torah; as the Gospels revealed, He fulfilled it and revealed the Father’s will in His very person (Mt 5:17; Heb 1:1–2).
This passage echoes Deuteronomy 18:15–19, where Moses foretells that God will raise up a prophet to whom the people must listen. Jesus is that prophet, but more than a prophet—He is the Son of God. The warning in Matthew 7:21–29 is thus not a harsh demand but a merciful invitation. God is not looking for perfection of performance but sincerity of heart, grounded in love and trust, and expressed in obedience.
To live the will of the Father is to follow Christ with both word and deed, trusting that grace will sustain us and that mercy will be there when we fall. As St. Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335–c. 395 AD) taught, the goal of the Christian life is “not to seem to be good, but to be good.” And to be good is to be united to the will of the Father in all things, through Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus, help me to hear Your words and live by them. Let my faith be more than words, more than deeds—Let it be rooted in love, in truth, in obedience to the Father. Build my life on You, the only sure foundation. Keep me from self-deception, and lead me to eternal life. Amen!
Sources and References:
• The Holy Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition (2011).
• A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture, ed. Orchard et al. (1953).
• The Navarre Bible: Matthew, Faculty of the University of Navarre (2008).
• The Paulist Biblical Commentary, ed. Chiu et al. (2018).
• Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§543, 682, 1968–1969.
• St. Gregory of Nyssa, Homilies on the Beatitudes.
• St. Paul, First Letter to the Corinthians 13:1–3.
• Deuteronomy 18:15–19; Psalm 18:2; 1 Corinthians 10:4; Hebrews 1:1–2.
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