New English Translation
Matthew 7:21
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:21 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)“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 who is in heaven.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Context of Matthew 7:21
19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20So then, you will recognize them by their fruit. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?’ 23Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’
Read all of Matthew 7Matthew 7:21 word by word
Οὐ πᾶς ὁ λέγων μοι· κύριε κύριε, εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ ποιῶν τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Notοὐou · noG3756
- everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
- one that saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- shall enterεἰσέρχομαιeiserchomai · to enterG1525
- intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
- of heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- he that doethποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- the willθέλημαthelēma · will/desireG2307
- Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- which is inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
Cross-references for Matthew 7:21
- Matthew 25:11Later, the other virgins came too, saying, ‘Lord, lord! Let us in!’
- Hosea 8:2Israel cries out to me, “My God, we acknowledge you!”
- Luke 6:46“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I tell you?
- Luke 13:25Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, ‘Lord, let us in!’ But he will answer you, ‘I don’t know where you come from.’
- Acts 19:13But some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by evil spirits, saying, “I sternly warn you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
- Romans 2:13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous.
- James 1:22But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.
- James 2:20But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless?
- Matthew 18:3and said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!
- Matthew 19:24Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.”
- Matthew 21:31Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God!
- Isaiah 48:1Listen to this, O family of Jacob, you who are called by the name ‘Israel,’ and are descended from Judah, who take oaths in the name of the Lord, and invoke the God of Israel – but not in an honest and just manner.
- Mark 9:47If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,
- Mark 10:23Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
- Luke 18:25In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
- John 3:5Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Commentaries on Matthew 7:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Not every one - , a Hebraism, say some, for no person. It is a Graecism and a Latinism too: , not All of the gods, i.e. not Any of the gods, Hom. Odyss. Z. 240. So Terence Sine omni periclo, without All danger, i.e. without Any danger. And Juvenal: Sine omni labe, without All imperfection, i.e. without Any. See more in Mr. Wakefield. The sense of this verse seems to be this: No person, by merely acknowledging my authority, believing in the Divinity of my…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Not every one that saith - The Saviour goes on to say that many, on the ground of a mere profession such as he had just referred to, would claim admittance into his kingdom. Many would plead that they had done miracles, and preached or prophesied much, and on the ground of that would demand an entrance into heaven. The power of working miracles had no necessary connection with piety. God may as well, if he chooses, give the power of raising the dead to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-29Verses 21-29 Christ here shows that it will not be enough to own him for our Master, only in word and tongue. It is necessary to our happiness that we believe in Christ, that we repent of sin, that we live a holy life, that we love one another. This is his will, even our sanctification. Let us take heed of resting in outward privileges and doings, lest we deceive ourselves, and perish eternally, as multitudes do, with a lie in our right hand. Let every…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21The will of My Father: The teachings of Jesus show what the will of the Father is (see also 12:50; 21:28–32; Romans 2:13; James 1:22–27).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord--the reduplication of the title "Lord" denoting zeal in according it to Christ (see Mr 14:45). Yet our Lord claims and expects this of all His disciples, as when He washed their feet: "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am" (Joh 13:13). shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven--that will which it had been the great object of this…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 7:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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