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Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in
Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform
many miracles?:
polloi erousin (3PFAI)
moi en ekeine te hemera, Kurie kurie, ou to so onomati epropheteusamen,
(1PAAI) kai to so onomati daimonia exebalomen (1PAAI), kai to so onomati
dunameis pollas epoiesamen (1PAAI)?
(Say
Mt 7:21;
24:36;
Isaiah 2:11,17;
Malachi 3:17,18;
Luke 10:12;
1 Thessalonians 5:4;
2 Thessalonians 1:10;
2 Timothy 1:12,18;
4:8)
(Did we
Mt 10:5-8;
Numbers 24:4;
31:8;
1 Kings 22:11-20;
Jeremiah 23:13-32;
Luke 13:26;
John 11:51;
Acts 19:13-15;
1 Corinthians 13:1,2;
Hebrews 6:4-6)
That day refers to the
future day of judgment and considering the context refers
specifically to the judgment of unbelievers.
Spurgeon makes some piercing
comments regarding that day writing that...
He used no other word to describe
that memorable period because that terse, brief expression suggests so
much,-”in that day,”-that terrible day,- that last great
day,-that day for which all other days were made, -that day by which all
other days must be measured and judged. I pray, dear friends, that we
may, each one of us, begin to set in the light of “that day”
the things that we most prize. The riches upon which you have set your
heart, how will their value be reckoned “in that day,” and how
much of comfort will they afford you then? As for the way in which you
have been spending your wealth, will that be such as you will remember “in
that day” with satisfaction and comfort? Value your broad acres and
your noble mansions, or your more moderate possessions, according to
this gauge’ of their real worth,-how will they be valued “in that
day”? And as to the pursuits which you so eagerly follow, and which
now appear so important to you that they engross the whole of your
thoughts, and arouse all your faculties and energies, are they worthy of
all this effort? Will they seem to be so “in that day”?
What is the chief object of your
life? Will you think as much of it “in that day” as you do now?
Will you then count yourself wise to have so earnestly pursued it? You
fancy that you can defend it now, but will you be able to defend it
then, when all things of earth and time will have melted into
nothingness? You value the esteem in which you are held among men, and
you do rightly, for “a good name is better than precious ointment;”
but are you really worthy of the good name that has been given to you?
Is that favorable judgment of your fellow-creatures the verdict of
infallible truth? Will you be as highly honored “in that day”
as you are now? Will as much credit be given to you for honesty and
virtue then as is given to you now? Is there no tinsel, no veneer, no
deception, no counterfeit coin about you? O my brethren, who among us
can submit his position amid his fellowmen to such a test as this
without the most solemn questioning and searching of heart!
You young men are, perhaps, rejoicing
in your youth, and letting your heart take full liberty in the enjoyment
of earthly pleasure. God forbid that I should deprive you of any real
pleasure; but let me ask, concerning those enjoyments, how will they
appear “in that day”? Will they bear serious reflection even
now? Then, how are they likely to endure the more sober judgment that
will be exercised then? “In that day,” when the glare of this
world’s lamps shall have died out, and the glitter of its pomp shall for
over have passed into the eternal darkness, how will your pleasures look
then? Especially, if you have sold yourself for those pleasures,-if you
have bartered your peace of mind for them,-if you have disobeyed your
God in order that you might enjoy them, how will they then appear when,
at the end of the feast, the cost of it has to be met, and you have to
give in your last account?
It is truly wise for a man to be
familiar with his last hours; it is well for him often to rehearse that
grand act when he must gather up his feet in the bed, and die, his
father’s God to meet; and it is wiser still for him to overleap the
chasm which divides us from the realities of eternity, and, by the force
of faith rather than by imagination, picture himself standing in that
mighty throng of the risen dead, from every part of land and sea,-the
innumerable population of this great globe,-every eye turned in one
direction, all looking to Him Who shall sit upon the great white throne,
that Christ Who was once crucified in weakness, but who shall come in
power and great glory, appointed Judge of all mankind. I know that I am
inviting you to think of something that you do not wish to have brought
to your mind. The world plucks you by the sleeve, and says, “Come
away;” but I would fain detain you, for a little while, as the ancient
mariner held the wedding guest, yet not to tell you a quaint story of
far-off seas and strange adventures there, but solemnly to talk to you
about your immortal soul, and to stir you up to see to its future
destiny, lest Christ should come, and you should be as unprepared for
His coming as the men in the days of Noah were for the flood which swept
them all away.
Well, then, as everything is to be regarded as it will appear “in
that day,” we will try to judge our profession of religion by that
test, for it will mainly be to those who think themselves Christ’s
people that I shall speak, and I pray that a strong North wind may blow
through us; and if there be any chaff in this great heap, may it be
speedily discovered, and be driven out from amidst the wheat! (Matthew
7:21-23 The Disowned)
It should be understand that if one
reads the Scriptures in their normal, literal sense, there are several judgments
encompassed by "that day".
In Mt 25:31-46 we read of the
judgment of the "sheep and goats" which will occur after the Great
Tribulation, at the time Jesus returns to establish His Millennial
Kingdom. At the beginning of His reign on "that day" He will separate
unbelieving Gentiles ("goats") from believing Gentiles ("sheep") to
determine who will be allowed into His Messianic Kingdom on earth. These
Gentile believers will have survived the Great Tribulation and thus will
populate earth in their natural bodies (in contrast to believers who
will had died and already been given their glorified bodies and who will
actually reign with Christ in His kingdom).
At the end of this 1000 years, there
will be another "that day" generally referred to as the Great
White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-14), at which all other
non-believers of all ages will be judged and condemned to the Lake of
Fire. Apparently at that time unbelievers, still being deceived, will
attempt to remind the Lord Jesus (the Judge, cf 2Ti 4:1) of their
incredible spiritual feats while on earth.
Did we not... in Greek
expects "an affirmative answer and thus pictures both the self-conceit and the
self-deception of the persons Jesus describes." (Vincent)
In Your name - This is
repeated three times. All that these individuals did, they did
ostensibly in the Name of Jesus. They spoke the correct "religious
dialect". They carried out the correct religious activities and
ostensibly did so for the "right reasons". And yet they were veritable
evangelical impostors and church charlatans, for their hearts had never
been changed by grace through faith.
Spurgeon writes that...
they used the name, which is dear to
the disciples of Christ, but they did not possess the nature of
disciples. They used Christ’s name, for they said to Him, “Have we
not
prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy
name done many wonderful works?” They knew Christ’s name, but they had
not His nature. They quoted His name, but they never copied His example.
They had never come to Him, and trusted and loved Him. They knew His
name, but they did not know Him; and He knew their names, but He did not
know them. There was no communion -- no intimate intercourse between
them. (The
Disowned)
When they say “We prophesied in
Your Name,” etc, notice that Jesus does not deny their claims of
seemingly sensational supernatural activities! This suggests that
miracles may be wrought through professing believers which should serve
to remind us all that in the final analysis, miracles do not provide a
valid assessment of one's heart condition!
Spurgeon notes that
although...
they prophesied, but they did
not pray. Prayer is a vital evidence of Christianity, but prophecy is
not.
A thousand sermons would not prove a man to be a Christian, but one
genuine prayer would. It is easy enough to speak to men, but quite
another thing, from our inmost soul, to speak into the ear of God. They
failed in that point; and, therefore, their failure was fatal.
(The
Disowned)
Perform many miracles - Note
their miraculous works were not few but many and again
Jesus does not dispute their claim to fame! How many people in our day
are ready to fall for miracles and follow miracle workers.
Miracles
(1411)
(dunamis
from dunamai = to be able, to have power) power especially
achieving power. It refers to intrinsic power or inherent ability, the
power or ability to carry out some function, the potential for
functioning in some way (power, might, strength, ability, capability),
the power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature. Dunamis can be
used of any kind of extraordinary power, in this case of miraculous
powers.
D A Carson
adds that...
The false claimants have prophesied
in Jesus' Name and by that Name exorcised demons and performed miracles.
There is no reason to judge their claims false; their claims are not
false but insufficient. Significantly the miracles Jesus specifies
were all done by His disciples during His ministry (cf. Mt 10:1-4) (Gaebelein,
F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament.
Zondervan Publishing)
(Bolding added)
Note that It is not
spectacular public works of ministry but the "poor in spirit" private acts of righteousness that reveal
the authenticity (or lack of) a person's relationship with Jesus (see
notes
Matthew 6:1ff).
As Spurgeon explains...
they attended to marvels, but not to
essentials. They neglected the important things, which should have been
done in secret; they did much that could be seen in public, but they
failed in the plainer, simpler things that nobody saw. Let me just say
to you, brothers and sisters, that herein lies a great part of our
danger
<> the risk of getting a
religious character without having a renewed heart,
<> doing religious actions
without really being born again,
<> learning the brogue of the
New Jerusalem without having been born as a citizen of the heavenly
city,
<> becoming fluent talkers,
and earnest workers, but not having confessed sin, or repented of it, or
laid hold on Jesus Christ by living faith.
I do beseech you, young professors,
to covet most of all secret holiness (see
Holiness Quotes),
<> the holiness that does not
wish to be seen,
<> plain, honest dealing with
God in private,
<> much secret prayer and
meditation upon the Word,
<> in brief, a life of true
consecration to God.
You may prophesy if God calls you to
do so. Perhaps you will cast out devils, I hope you may; and in Christ’s
name you may do many wonderful works; but, first of all, “ye must be
born again.” You must become as little children to sit at the feet of
Jesus, and to learn of him. You must be obedient to His commands, and
yield yourselves up to Him, or else you will be fatally mistaken,
whatever profession you may make. (The
Disowned)
William MacDonald adds
that...
From these verses we learn that not
all miracles are of divine origin and that not all miracle workers are
divinely accredited. A miracle simply means that a supernatural power is
at work. That power may be divine or satanic. Satan may empower his
workers to cast out demons temporarily, in order to create the illusion
that the miracle is divine. He is not dividing his kingdom against
itself in such a case, but is plotting an even worse invasion of demons
in the future. (MacDonald
& Farstad -- Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments.
Nashville: Thomas Nelson)
The fact that Jesus never knew
the false professors is not taught only in this passage but is seen in a
number of Scriptures which illustrates how close to
spiritual reality one may come and yet fail to be genuinely saved. One
of the most bizarre OT examples is the prophet
Balaam
and in the NT we see the tragic saga of
Judas Iscariot
(see also below re Judas Iscariot).
John describes professors
whose "true colors" became known during their lifetime writing that...
They went out from us, but they were
not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained
with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they
all are not of us. (1 John 2:19) (Comment: They once
professed to believe in Christ but later renounced
the faith and began to manifest
the spirit of antichrist. Their failure to continue in the faith proved
they never had true saving faith in Christ. Genuine believers, although
they may stumble and backslide, inevitably will continue in the faith
until the end of their life -- they will persevere if they are true
saints.)
The writer of Hebrews affirms
this doctrine of perseverance of the saints (see
note or
here)...
For we have become partakers of
Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the
end (See note
Hebrews 3:14)
Are there any Biblical examples of
those who cast out demons, etc, but who were unquestionably unbelievers?
In Matthew 10 we read that after naming the 12 disciples, they were sent
out...
And having summoned His twelve
disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them
out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is
called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and
John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the
tax-gatherer; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and
Judas Iscariot,
the one who betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing
them, saying, "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter
any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house
of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven
is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the
lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give.
(Mt 10:5-8)
It follows that Judas Iscariot,
clearly an unbeliever, may have prophesied, cast out demons, and
performed miracles, including healing the sick, raising dead and
cleansing of lepers, but ultimately proved to be a "bad tree" because he
did not do the will of the Father but instead continually practiced
lawlessness. Mere professed devotion to Christ as
"Lord, Lord" is but another Judas kiss!
Spurgeon makes the distinction
that these professors...
were not silenced by men. They
prophesied in Christ’s name, yet nobody said to them, “You shall not
prophesy again, for you are living such inconsistent lives that we will
not listen to you.” This does not appear to have happened with any one
of these people. The man who went about casting out devils was not
stopped, but he kept on doing so, and he declared even to Christ that he
had done it, and done it continually.
***
Their tongues belied their hands.
They said, “Lord, Lord,” but they did not do the will of the Lord. They
were very glib of tongue when they took to prophesying, but the message
never came out of their hearts. They never did the things they told
others to do; they were earnest to exhort, but not diligent to set a
good example to their hearers. They cast out devils; but, at the same
time, they did not themselves escape from the power of the devil by
giving up sin, and following after righteousness. They failed in the
matter of practical holiness. They had not the grace of God in their
souls, displaying itself in their ordinary, everyday actions. They could
talk; they could sing; they could prophesy; but they were not obedient
to the divine commands, and they did not walk in the ways of God. (The
Disowned)
Spurgeon adds that these
professors...
clung to their false hopes right to
the end. They did not really know of the deception themselves. “What!”
you ay, “did they never think that they were deceived?” Perhaps they
did, now and then; but they always said to themselves. “We must not get
into a doubting frame of mind. This looking within, and searching our
hearts, will not do it will disturb and distress us.” So they went on
daubing themselves with untempered mortar. They were as wrong as wrong
could be, yet everybody treated them as though they were right, so they
thought at last that they were right. For a man may, in time, make
himself believe what he knows to be a lie. I have heard persons tell
stories about themselves which had not any foundation in fact; but they
have told them so often that I am sure they believe at last that they
are really speaking the truth; though, if they would only think
seriously, they would perceive that their tale is all invention. A man
may go in and out among Christians, join in their prayers, and praises,
and communions, and preach their gospel or hear it, till, at last,
without any reason for his belief, be may persuade himself that it is
all right. He may even pass through the portals of death undeceived. The
righteous are often troubled when they come to die; but it is with these
self-deceived people as the psalmist says, “There are no bands in their
death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men;
neither are they plagued like other men.” Take heed, I beseech you, of
self-deception. I say it first to myself, and next to you, lest, not
until “that day” should we hear the Lord Jesus say to us, “I never knew
you,” and lest, even “in that day,” we should say to him, “Lord, Lord,”
and begin to argue that we were all right’, and Christ should put an end
to it all by saying, “Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (The
Disowned)
J C Ryle warns that...
The time is fast coming when nothing
but authenticity will stand the fire. Authentic repentance towards
God--authentic faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ--authentic holiness
of heart and life--these, these are the things which will alone stand
the judgment at the last day. (Practical Religion)
John MacArthur notes that the
unbeliever's claims of prophesying, casting out demons and miracles can
be explained in one of three ways...
(1) It may be that they were
allowed to do those amazing works by God’s power. God put words in
Balaam’s mouth, even though that prophet was false and wicked (Nu
23:5). King Saul, after he became apostate had the “Spirit of God
[come] upon him mightily, so that he prophesied” (1Sa 10:10). The
wicked high priest Caiaphas unwittingly and unintentionally “prophesied
that Jesus was going to die for the nation” (John 11:51).
(2) A second possibility is that
those amazing acts were accomplished by Satan’s power. Jesus
predicted that “false Christs and false prophets will arise and will
show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the
elect” (Matt. 24:24). The unbelieving sons of Sceva, for example,
were Jewish exorcists, who made their living casting out demons (Acts
19:13-14). Mark 9:38-40 tells of someone outside the apostles casting
out demons. Paul promises false signs in the last days, lying wonders of
Satan (2 Thes 2:8-10). Acts 8:11 describes the work of a satanic
sorcerer. Today there are miracle workers, healers, and exorcists who
claim to work for Jesus Christ but are satanic deceivers.
(3) A third possibility is that some of the claims were simply false.
The prophecies, exorcisms, and miracles were fake and contrived. No
doubt all three will be represented.
(MacArthur, J:
Matthew 1-7 Macarthur New Testament Commentary
Chicago: Moody Press)
Hebert Lockyer (in his
fascinating work entitled
Last Words of Saints and Sinners) gives us an
example of a man who in essence said "Lord, Lord" but his life clearly
"spoke" otherwise...
Casanova, renowned for his
self-indulgence, ended his life in self-deception. On his death bed at
the age of 73, he said "I have lived as a philosopher and
die as a Christian." (Wrong!) |
