By what power did the people mentioned in Matthew 7:22-23 cast out demons then and heal people?
Matthew 7:22 - 23
ESV - 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Danny Hickman
I didn't notice any confirmation of them doing the things they claim to have done. Anyone can claim to do things. People claim to tithe, and have never given a certain percentage of their harvest on a consistent basis. People will tell you, 'I'm going to pray for you,' and don't have a prayer life. It's not hard at all to make bold claims about yourself. Just because Jesus didn't say, "You didn't heal anyone and you didn't cast demons out of anyone,' doesn't mean He was agreeing that they had done good for others. I think He just cuts to the chase. He essentially says, 'If you did anything you're proud of doing, then okay, but I don't know you, so you couldn't have done those things by My authority (in My name.')
That's what I think He was explaining. Again, who cares if they were able to cast demons out of people? That isn't what the narrative is about. It's about claiming to be in relationship with Jesus and He doesn't even know the person. And remember, according to Jesus satan doesn't cast out his own!
So I don't think the people making that claim are being honest. I think they got to the gate, was asked who they were there to see, and was told they didn't belong there. To which they started lying about their service record.
It happens all the time! If all the people who claim to have gone to the March on Washington in August of 1963 and to the war in Viet Nam had actually gone, the world wouldn't have been big enough to have held them!!
Danny Hickman
Continuing,
Read vs 15 in the same chapter (Mt 7:17) : Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (16) You will recognize them by their fruits. He says, 'grapes are not gathered from thornbushes.'
His point is this: People can pretend to be someone whom they are not, but you can tell a grapevine from a thornbush when you look for grapes and find none. Or you find fruit and it's sour instead of sweet.
Pretenders don't prophesy, cast out demons and do mighty works. Jesus didn't say, 'Sure you did mighty works, but...' He said when they claimed to have done those good deeds, He would tell them 'Get Lost, I don't know you!!'
They hadn't done anything for anybody. They were only claiming to have served Him. He called them workers of lawlessness. What did He mean by that?
Lawlessness is the exact opposite of righteousness. Their works were works of selfish ambition. They were expecting to be compensated. Righteousness is a gift from God, you can't work for it. Casting out demons and prophesying won't make you righteous.
Do not give dogs what is holy, and don't throw your pearls before pigs...(vs 6)
That verse is proverbial; He follows it up by saying we're to ask God, but He doesn't say what to ask Him for.
I think He's saying God doesn't give dogs holy things, and neither does He put pearls on pigs. If we want God's best, ask Him for it. But be willing to give Him our best (vs 12, golden rule).