NOTES for Mat 7:21-23

Fallen humanity tends to hope in the magical power of the word. Even in prehistoric antiquity, when pronouncing a word, naming something, the human being was sure that one could influence the thing named. Later this attitude was transferred to people and to gods. It was believed that by a word one could compel not only a person, but even a god or spirit, to do what the one pronouncing the word needed. Spells could be laid on gods and spirits, forcing them to serve a human being.

Of course, Yahwism, just like later Judaism, always had a sharply negative attitude toward magic and all magical practices, including incantations. But deep in the subconscious, even among religious people, confidence in the magical power of the word continued to live. And if in pagan antiquity it gave rise to the magical practice of spells, then in Yahwist life, as indeed in Jewish life and later in Christian life, it gave rise to the practice of solemn sacred oaths and doctrinal declarations. Publicly and solemnly proclaim the Nicene Creed, and you are "Orthodox." Just as publicly and solemnly swear eternal loyalty to Jesus, and you are a "Christian." And if the oaths are repeated again and again, if declaring one's "faith" becomes a profession, then no doubts remain at all: surely God cannot leave such activity without attention, surely the Savior will not turn away from those who have spoken so many words, perhaps even very correct ones, in His defense!

But it turns out that He can leave them without attention. He can also turn away. For Jesus needs neither advocates nor brilliant orators playing with words; He needs witnesses of the Kingdom, and that is something very different.