I never knew you
I take this as a case of self-deception.
I take Jesus at His word. If He ever knew you, ... He would not say ... I never knew you.
It is not addressed to non-believers, because they would not call on Jesus in the first place.
Most certainly they would ... once it became unavoidably clear to them that Jesus was the difference between Life and Death.Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:Nor would they be concerned with doing the will of the Father, nor even HEARING the Word. It is those who are self-righteous, those who hear the Word but do not do the Will of the Father, who will be in trouble.
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;
11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Of course course these won't really be interested in doing the will of the Father, ... but rather, only that which will get them out of their unsaved fate.
These are true hypocrites (i.e. unbelievers).
Hearing the Gospel is not enough, but DOING the Will of the Father is MORE important. We know Christ by doing the Will of the Father.
You're correct here ... Hearing the gospel is not enough.
And what is the will of the Father. Here, Jesus makes a definitive statement ...John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.Can't be more definitive than that.
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.Believest thou this ?
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Quester responded: I take Jesus at His word. If He ever knew you, ... He would not say ... I never knew you.
I think this is a case of exaggerated hyperbole, which Jesus uses in this section of Matthew. If your eye causes you to sin, Quester, are you going to cast it out?
I think if you look at the context, you will find that Jesus is speaking to "hypocrites":
"Judge not, that ye be not judged". Mat 7:1
"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." Mat 7:3-6
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits." Mat 7:15-16
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 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 is 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. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Mat 7:19-24
In context, Jesus is speaking to the self-righteous, those who feel it is there place to judge others, to teach falsely about things, while not bringing good fruits. Jesus then speaks about DOING the Will of the Father, not just speaking it.
IF Jesus meant that "I never knew you" in the literal sense, how is it possible that an "unbeliever" did miracles in Jesus' name? How is it possible that these "unbelievers" cast out demons in Jesus' name? No way. A person cannot cast out demons unless it is by the finger of God. How could God work a miracle through a man that He "never knew"? This most certainly is a hyperbole or an exaggerated view to show a point.
When thinking about this, Quester, God gave me the following verse to help explain it to me. Perhaps it might be helpful to you, as well:
Wwhen the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. Ez 18:24
God does not keep score of our good works of the past. He is concerned with our relationship with Him today. If we turn into religious hypocrites and judging other people without looking at ourselves, are we doing the Will of the Father? Aren't we merely HEARING the Word and not DOING the Word? All those good deeds of the past, even mighty miracles, are worthless in God's eyes, because our current relationship of being self-righteous has placed ourselves over other people and we have forgotten that God has given us EVERYTHING, so we cannot boast.
You don't have to respond, I don't want to argue over this, as there really isn't much else to say. But I do not see how it is possible to take your view of this Scripture. While we first come to Scriptures looking at it as literal, sometimes, the context does not allow that view. There is no way that a person can do miracles in Jesus name and be an unbeliever, while Jesus "never knew him".
Regards