Interpretation of the Bible / Matthew 7:21

Matthew 7:21 is an incredibly important verse for Christians to understand in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In this verse, Jesus tells His disciples that not everyone who calls Him “Lord, Lord” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who do the will of the Father in Heaven can enter.

What does it mean to “do the will of My Father”?

Matthew 7:21 is a simple verse, but it is often misunderstood. Many people think that they can earn God’s favor by doing good deeds or following certain religious rules and rituals. However, that is not what Jesus is saying here.

“Doing the will of My Father” ultimately means being in a loving and obedient relationship with God. In other words, when we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, everything we do is actually doing His will. Jesus confirmed this elsewhere when He was asked which commandment was the most important:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).

How can we apply this verse to our lives?

Instead of focusing on actions that will earn our favor with God, we should focus on our relationship with Him. We should strive to love Him with all our being and submit to His will. And we should do this not only in religious matters, but in every aspect of our lives.

Moreover, this verse reminds us of the importance of the authenticity of our faith. It is not enough to just call ourselves Christians or say "Lord, Lord" if we do not do the will of God in our daily lives. We must be genuine in our faith, living it, and that is really important.