Matthew 7:21

Contemporary English Version

Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,

King James Version (1611)
Not euery one that saith vnto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdome of heauen: but he that doth the will of my father which is in heauen.

King James Version
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.

English Standard Version
"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 American Standard Bible
"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 will enter.

New Century Version
"Not all those who say ‘You are our Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do what my Father in heaven wants.

Amplified Bible
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Not euery one that sayeth vnto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdome of heauen, but he that doeth my Fathers will which is in heauen.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Legacy Standard Bible
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Berean Standard Bible
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Complete Jewish Bible
"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants.

Darby Translation
Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he that does the will of my Father who is in the heavens.

Easy-to-Read Version
"Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter God's kingdom. The only people who will enter are those who do what my Father in heaven wants.

George Lamsa Translation
It is not everyone who merely says to me, My Lord, my Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Good News Translation
"Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do.

Lexham English Bible
"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Literal Translation
Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but the ones who do the will of My Father in Heaven.

American Standard Version
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 who is in heaven.

Bible in Basic English
Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will go into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the pleasure of my Father in heaven.

Hebrew Names Version
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

International Standard Version
"Not everyone who keeps saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will get into the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who keeps doing the will of my Father in heaven.Hosea 8:2; Matthew 25:11-12; Luke 6:46; 13:25; Acts 19:13; Romans 2:13; James 1:22;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Not every one that saith to me, My Lord, my Lord, entereth into the kingdom of heaven; but he who doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Murdock Translation
Not whoever may say to me, My Lord, my Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Not euery one, that sayeth vnto me Lorde, Lorde, shall enter into the kyngdome of heauen: but he that doeth the wyll of my father, which is in heauen.

English Revised Version
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.

World English Bible
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Weymouth's New Testament
"Not every one who says to me, `Master, Master,' will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens, but only those who are obedient to my Father who is in Heaven.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Not ech man that seith to me, Lord, Lord, schal entre in to the kyngdom of heuenes; but he that doith the wille of my fadir that is in heuenes, he schal entre in to the kyngdoom of heuenes.

Update Bible Version
Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Webster's Bible Translation
Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.

New English Translation
"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.

New King James Version
Luke 6:46; 13:26,27">[xr] "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.

New Living Translation
"Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

New Life Bible
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will go into the holy nation of heaven. The one who does the things My Father in heaven wants him to do will go into the holy nation of heaven.

New Revised Standard
"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 in heaven.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord! Lord! shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens, - but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in the heavens.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Revised Standard Version
"Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Not all they that saye vnto me Master Master shall enter in to the kyngdome of heven: but he that dothe my fathers will which ys in heven.

Young's Literal Translation
`Not every one who is saying to me Lord, lord, shall come into the reign of the heavens; but he who is doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Not all they that saye vnto me, LORDE LORDE, shall enter in to the kyngdome of heauen: but he that doth the will of my father which ys in heauen.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but only they who do the will of my Father who is in heaven.

THE MESSAGE
"Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,' for instance—isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'

Simplified Cowboy Version
"Not everyone who claims to be a cowboy who works for me will end up on the Boss's ranch. Only those cowboys who do what the Boss wants them to will end up there.

Contextual Overview

²¹ Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in. ²² On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They will say, "We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles." ²³ But I will tell them, "I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!" ²⁴ Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. ²⁵ Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on solid rock. ²⁶ Anyone who hears my teachings and doesn't obey them is like a foolish person who built a house on sand. ²⁷ The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Finally, it fell with a crash. ²⁸ When Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were surprised at his teaching. ²⁹ He taught them like someone with authority, and not like their teachers of the Law of Moses.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

saith: Matthew 25:11, Matthew 25:12, Hosea 8:2, Hosea 8:3, Luke 6:46, Luke 13:25, Acts 19:13-20, Romans 2:13, Titus 1:16, James 1:22, James 2:20-26

shall: Matthew 18:3, Matthew 19:24, Matthew 21:31, Matthew 25:11, Matthew 25:12, Matthew 25:21, Isaiah 48:1, Isaiah 48:2, Mark 9:47, Mark 10:23, Mark 10:24, Luke 18:25, John 3:5, Acts 14:22, Hebrews 4:6

that: Matthew 12:50, Matthew 21:29-31, Mark 3:35, Luke 11:28, John 6:40, John 7:17, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 6:6, Colossians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Hebrews 13:21, 1 Peter 2:15, 1 Peter 4:2, 1 John 3:21-24, Revelation 22:14

my: Matthew 10:32, Matthew 10:33, Matthew 16:17, Matthew 18:10, Matthew 18:19, Matthew 18:35, Matthew 26:39, Matthew 26:42, John 5:17, John 10:29, John 10:30, John 14:7, John 15:23, Revelation 2:27, Revelation 3:5

Reciprocal: Exodus 35:1 - do them Numbers 14:40 - rose up Deuteronomy 5:10 - showing Deuteronomy 11:32 - General Deuteronomy 13:18 - to keep Deuteronomy 30:14 - mouth Joshua 1:8 - observe Job 20:5 - the joy Psalms 15:5 - He that doeth Psalms 119:48 - unto thy Ezekiel 18:5 - if Ezekiel 18:11 - that Malachi 1:6 - and if Matthew 5:20 - ye Matthew 6:10 - Thy will Matthew 7:22 - to me Matthew 22:24 - Master Matthew 25:24 - Lord Luke 8:21 - which John 13:13 - call 1 Corinthians 9:27 - lest Philippians 4:9 - do Hebrews 4:1 - any Hebrews 4:13 - with Hebrews 6:4 - and have Hebrews 10:36 - after James 2:14 - though 1 John 2:17 - but

Cross-References

Genesis 6:13
So he told Noah: Cruelty and violence have spread everywhere. Now I'm going to destroy the whole earth and all its people.

Genesis 6:17
I'm going to send a flood that will destroy everything that breathes! Nothing will be left alive.

Genesis 7:3
Also take seven pairs of every kind of bird with you. Do this so there will always be animals and birds on the earth.

Genesis 7:4
Seven days from now I will send rain that will last for forty days and nights, and I will destroy all other living creatures I have made.

Genesis 7:15
Noah took a male and a female of every living creature with him,

Genesis 7:17
For forty days the rain poured down without stopping. And the water became deeper and deeper, until the boat started floating high above the ground.

Genesis 7:22
The Lord destroyed everything that breathed. Nothing was left alive except Noah and the others in the boat.

Isaiah 24:6
The earth is under a curse; its people are dying out because of their sins.

Isaiah 24:19
the earth is shattered, ripped to pieces.

Hosea 4:3
And so your land is a desert. Every living creature is dying— people and wild animals, birds and fish.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Not everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord,.... Not every one that calls Christ his Lord and Master, professes subjection to him, or that calls upon his name, or is called by his name; or makes use of it in his public ministrations. There are many who desire to be called, and accounted Christians, and who make mention of the name of Christ in their sermons, only to take away their reproach, to cover themselves, and gain credit with, and get into the affections and goodwill of the people; but have no hearty love to Christ, nor true faith in him: nor is it their concern to preach his Gospel, advance his glory, and promote his kingdom and interest; their chief view is to please men, aggrandize themselves, and set up the power of human nature in opposition to the grace of God, and the righteousness of Christ. Now not everyone of these, no, not any of them,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. This is to be understood not of the outward dispensation of the Gospel, or the Gospel church state, or the visible church of Christ on earth, in which sense this phrase is sometimes used; because such persons may, and often do, enter here; but of eternal glory, into which none shall enter,

but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. This, as it may regard private Christians, intends not merely outward obedience to the will of God, declared in his law, nor barely subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel; but more especially faith in Christ for life and salvation; which is the source of all true evangelical obedience, and without which nothing is acceptable to God. He that seeth the Son, looks unto him, ventures on him, commits himself to him, trusts in him, relies on him, and believes on him for righteousness, salvation, and eternal life, he it is that does the will of the Father, and he only; and such an one, as he is desirous of doing the will of God in all acts of cheerful obedience to it, without dependence thereon; so he shall certainly enter the kingdom of heaven, and have everlasting life; see John 6:40 but as these words chiefly respect preachers, the sense of them is this, that only such who are faithful dispensers of the word shall enter into the joy of their Lord. Such do the will of Christ's Father, and so his own, which are the same, who fully and faithfully preach the Gospel of the grace of God; who declare the whole counsel of God, and keep back nothing that is profitable to the souls of men; who are neither ashamed of the testimony of Christ, nor afraid of the faces of men; but as they are put in trust with the Gospel, so they speak it boldly, with all sincerity, not as pleasing men, but God, and commend themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God: such as these shall have an abundant entrance into the kingdom and glory of God. The Vulgate Latin adds this clause, "he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven", and so does Munster's Hebrew edition of the Gospel according to Matthew.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Not 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 a wicked man, as the skill of healing to a wicked physician. A miracle is a display “of his own power” through the medium of another. An act of healing the sick is also a display of “his power” through the agency of another. In neither of these cases is there any necessary connection with moral character. So of preaching or prophesying. God may use the agency of a man of talents, though not pious, to carry forward His purposes. Saving power on the mind is the work of God, and he may convey it by any agency which he chooses. Accordingly, many may be found in the day of judgment who may have been endowed with powers of prophecy or miracle, as Balaam or the magicians of Egypt; in the same way as many people of distinguished talents may be found, yet destitute of piety, and who will be shut out of his kingdom. See Matthew 7:21; 1 Corinthians 1:26; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. In this last place Paul says that, though he spoke with the tongue of angels, and had the gift of prophecy, and could remove mountains, and had nor charity or love, all would be of no avail. See the notes at 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 7:21. Not every one — ου πας, a Hebraism, say some, for no person. It is a Graecism and a Latinism too: ου παντων θεων, 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 nature, professing faith in the perfection of my righteousness, and infinite merit of my atonement, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven-shall have any part with God in glory; but he who doeth the will of my Father-he who gets the bad tree rooted up, the good tree planted, and continues to bring forth fruit to the glory and praise of God. There is a good saying among the rabbins on this subject. "A man should be as vigorous as a panther, as swift as an eagle, as fleet as a stag, and as strong as a lion, to do the will of his Creator."