¶ 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.
Not {G3756} every one {G3956} that saith {G3004} unto me {G3427}, Lord {G2962}, Lord {G2962}, shall enter {G1525} into {G1519} the kingdom {G932} of heaven {G3772}; but {G235} he that doeth {G4160} the will {G2307} of my {G3450} Father {G3962} which is in {G1722} heaven {G3772}.
"Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants.
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
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 who is in heaven.
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Romans 2:13
(For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. -
Luke 6:46
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? -
James 1:22
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. -
Luke 11:28
But he said, Yea rather, blessed [are] they that hear the word of God, and keep it. -
Titus 1:16
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. -
Hebrews 4:6
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: -
Matthew 25:11
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Matthew 7:21 KJV
¶ <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.>
This verse concludes a section of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) where Jesus contrasts superficial religiosity with genuine discipleship. It serves as a strong warning against merely professing faith without demonstrating it through obedient action.
The key theme is the nature of true salvation and entrance into God's kingdom. Jesus makes it clear that verbal affirmation or religious activity ("Lord, Lord") is insufficient. What matters is actively living according to God's will. The phrase "Lord, Lord" suggests an earnest, perhaps even emphatic, declaration of allegiance, yet it is contrasted sharply with the necessity of obedience.
Linguistically, the Greek word for "saith" (legō) indicates speaking, while the word for "doeth" (poieō) implies active doing or practicing. Jesus highlights the fundamental difference between acknowledging His authority verbally and submitting to it practically.
This teaching is echoed elsewhere in the New Testament. See Luke 6:46 and James 2:14-26, which emphasize that genuine faith is demonstrated by works.
For reflection, this verse challenges believers to examine their lives. Is our faith merely intellectual assent or verbal profession, or is it a dynamic commitment that results in actively seeking and doing God's will? Entering the "kingdom of heaven" is tied to the reality of our relationship with God, proven by our obedience.