“Lord, Lord… But I Never Knew You”

“Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many mighty works in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:22–23)

Jesus spoke these words to strip away every mask. It does not matter how eloquent the sermon, how powerful the prophecy, or how convincing the signs. What matters is obedience to the Father’s will. To claim His name while covering sin is not discipleship—it is lawlessness in disguise.

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Prophets Who Loved Enough to Rebuke

The prophets of old were not silent. Jeremiah wept for Israel’s sins. Isaiah thundered against hypocrisy. Ezekiel exposed her abominations. They did not protect Israel’s image before the nations; they honored God’s holiness above national pride. They knew love speaks truth, even when it cuts.

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The Silence Today

Yet today, we hear voices telling us: “Stand with Israel no matter what.” Loyalty to a secular government is presented as loyalty to Christ Himself. But where are those voices when Christians are blocked from worshipping in Jerusalem on Resurrection Sunday? Where are the warnings when leaders use “safety measures” as a cover to suppress the very body of Christ?

The silence is deafening. It reveals a fear of man, not a fear of God.

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Not Antisemitism—Truth

Do not twist this: pointing out Israel’s sins does not mean siding with Hamas or Islam. To expose darkness is not hatred, but obedience: “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11)
True love for Israel means praying for her salvation, not excusing her rebellion.

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Chosen — But Not Excused

Yes, Israel was chosen. God Himself said: “The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession.” (Deuteronomy 7:6)

But being chosen never meant being superior to other nations. God made this plain: “It was not because you were more in number than any other people… for you were the fewest of all peoples.” (Deut. 7:7)

It was part of His redemptive plan, not racial favoritism. Israel’s very location—at the crossroads of the continents—was chosen as the stage where Messiah would be revealed, the post point from which salvation could go out to the nations.

Think of it this way: in Korea, parents are often called by their child’s name—“so-and-so’s mom” or “so-and-so’s dad.” Their identity is tied to the one they point to. Israel was “Messiah’s people.” Their chosenness was never about their own glory, but about pointing to the Son who would come through them.

And here is the mystery: Israel’s smallness was not a liability—it was the canvas for God’s greatness. As Paul writes: “God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong… so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Cor. 1:27–29). Their numbers were small compared to mighty empires—but that made them the perfect vessel for God to magnify Himself.

The prophets never used chosenness as a shield against rebuke. Instead, they cried out louder because of it:

• “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” (Amos 3:2)
• “How the faithful city has become a harlot! Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves; everyone loves a bribe.” (Isaiah 1:21–23)

Paul echoed this same grief: Israel had the promises, the covenants, and the patriarchs—yet he wept because so many rejected Christ (Romans 9:1–5). Chosenness was never meant to blind us to sin; it was meant to magnify accountability before a holy God.

So when modern teachers exalt Israel’s “chosen” status while falling silent about corruption and injustice, they are not echoing the prophets. They are offering flattery, not truth. And flattery is never love.

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A Warning to the Masked

Jesus told us many would come in His name, even doing mighty works, yet He will say: “I never knew you.” To put on a Christian mask while serving political idols is to court that dreadful verdict. If our allegiance is to Christ, then truth must reign, even if it costs us influence, donors, or access.

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Who Does the Father’s Will?

The Father’s will is clear: that we believe in His Son, walk in the light, and keep His commands. Anything less—whether silence, compromise, or flattery—is not loyalty to Christ but betrayal.

Let us not be among those who cry “Lord, Lord” while standing on shifting sand. Let us be those who build on the Rock, whose faith is proven not by words alone, but by obedience to the One who is Truth.

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A Watchman’s Declaration

Ezekiel was told: “You shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.” (Ezekiel 2:7)

So it is with us. Whether these words reach teachers who exalt nations above Christ, or voices who flatter men instead of fearing God—the Word must be spoken. If they are truly His, may the Spirit pierce them. If they are not, then let the flock be warned.

And if I am wrong, let God Himself correct me. For only He knows the heart, and only His judgment is true.

What matters is this: Jesus is the Temple, the Cornerstone, the Lord of glory. No nation, no flag, no earthly court will ever take His place.

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