“Then I will tell them publicly, ‘I’ve never known you. Get away from me, you evil people.’” – Matthew 7:23

Sometime back, an elderly widow was in court accusing a guy of grabbing her land. When the landgrabber stood in the dock, he told the judge that he didn’t know the woman and was seeing her for the first time. On hearing that, the woman burst out in tears.

It hits hard, doesn’t it? The land thief wasn’t just stealing her property; he was stealing her dignity and denying a shared history. The real knife twist wasn’t the loss of the title deed; it was hearing someone she trusted and knew for years flat-out say, “I’ve never seen you before.”

Imagine that pain multiplied infinitely. Because that’s the gut-wrenching moment Jesus describes in the most famous sermon ever preached—the Sermon on the Mount.

We’re all familiar with Jesus’ powerful, yet terrifying, statement where He says He will tell some people who thought they were on His team: “I’ve never known you!”

If you’ve spent your life in the church—serving, praying, maybe even leading a ministry—hearing those words from the King of the Universe would be the ultimate, crushing blow. You’d be standing there, maybe even ready to list your resume of good deeds: “But Lord, I went on mission trips! I served in the nursery! I even prophesied in your name!”

The shock wouldn’t be about being sent away; it would be about the “I never knew you.”

When the Bible uses the word “know” in this deep, spiritual sense, it’s not like knowing a celebrity’s name or even recognizing a familiar face in the crowd. In Scripture, “knowing” is intimate. It’s covenantal. It’s the kind of deep, personal connection a husband and wife share.

Jesus isn’t saying, “I forgot your name.” He’s saying, “Sorry dude, but we don’t have a relationship.”

Because on that final day, only one thing will matter—that He can look you in the eyes and truly say, “I know you; well done, good and faithful servant.”

• You can know about Jesus (His history, His teac+222hings) and still not know Him (a transformed life lived in His presence).
• You can have a great church attendance record and still have a terrible personal track record with Him.

This is the very essence of what the apostle Paul was talking about when he described people who “profess to know God, but by their actions they deny him” (Titus 1:16). Their mouths said, “I’m a follower,” but their life was screaming, “I’m a fraud!”

The command, “Away from me, you evildoers!” isn’t just a tough-love statement; it’s a final, eternal separation. Think back to the very first time this happened in the Bible: Adam and Eve being cast out of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23-24). Being thrown out of God’s presence is the ultimate spiritual exile. It’s a terrifying picture of the ultimate consequence for a life lived in rebellion, regardless of how “spiritual” one might have tried to look on the outside.

Jesus is drawing a clear line, reminding us of that firm foundation mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:19: “The Lord knows those who are His.” His true people aren’t defined by their public spiritual show; they are defined by their private obedience.

You see, a true relationship with Christ always has a seal, and that seal is not just your words, but your actions. As 1 John 2:4 challenges us: “If anyone says, ‘I know him,’ but does not keep his commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

So, as we move forward in our faith walk, let’s stop checking the boxes of religious activity and start focusing on the core issue: Are you building a genuine, daily, intimate relationship with Jesus? Because on that final day, only one thing will matter—that He can look you in the eyes and truly say, “I know you; well done, good and faithful servant.”