Matthew 7:22 (ASV)

Passage

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?

Nearby Context

Matthew 7:20 Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Matthew 7:21 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.

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?

Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 7:24 Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "lord", "prophesy", "name", "cast", and "demons". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "lord" and "prophesy", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 21's "Not every one that saith unto me..." into verse 23's "And then will I profess unto them...", so "lord" and "prophesy" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "lord" and "prophesy" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.