As I have been reading through the Gospels, once again I was impressed with a statement of Jesus. In Matt. 7:21 he says,

“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.”

What does Jesus mean by the title “Lord, Lord’? It was common in Judaism to strengthen an address with a double title. This implies great honor. Constable suggests that when this title was applied to Jesus it “implied deity, messiahship, and sovereignty.”

Lenski gives more detail of the intended meaning when he says, “the sense would be lost if less were meant than ‘divine Lord.’ The point lies in the claim of a connection with Jesus as the divine Lord, Messiah, and Savior, which is spurious, because those who make it fail to do what he says.”

So Jesus is saying that not everyone who addresses him as the “divine Lord” will enter heaven. What does he mean by that statement? I think Luke 6:46 clarifies the meaning when Jesus says, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” This means that it is not enough to talk like a believer. A true disciples conduct is in harmony with his understanding of Jesus being the divine Lord! If I believe that Jesus is God the Son, then I will do what Jesus says.

Jesus continues his thoughts on this topic in the following verses. Those who do as he says will find they are on solid rock and secure while those who only talk a good game, but are not obedient to Jesus are on shaky ground. Luke 6:47-49 says,

“Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Father, once again you have challenged me to live out my faith and not just talk about it. Evidence of my salvation will be a life of following you and living life the way you want me to. Enable me through the strength of your Spirit to follow you with my whole life.

Following Jesus with you,

Jeff