Verse 21, 22, and 23 “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom"

Verse 21, 22, and 23 [these versus are special]: “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. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' ” 

Five things are important here:

1. The Jewish teacher is known as ‘Rabbi’, but our Lord clearly says here that He is God (“says to me, 'Lord, Lord’”). 
2. He is the One who give permission to enter Heaven or not.
3. Note the usage “My Father” [both Father and Son are revealed here]. 
4. In due time, there will be wonders in our Lord’s name.
5. He is the judge who would judge the evildoers.

One should guard against people who distort the true teachings and also who destroy their faith because of their impious living. The acts of God’s servants should be supported by faith and their teaching should be supported by their living. 

Jerome: “One who calls ‘Lord, Lord’ is good tree. But one who does ‘will of the Father’ is good fruit.” 
Ambrose: “What is the will of the Father? ‘For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life’” (John 6:40).

Belief includes both recital of faith and action. Unless you accept Christ and live as per His teachings, one will not enter the kingdom of God. Please note that it is not my will but Father’s will. “Both are same” [John Cristotom]. 

Other important points in this verse:

1. Anyone who knew Father’s will shown by our Lord, but did not follow them, will not enter the kingdom of Heaven. Everyone should believe that Lord is the Savior because of His crucifixion, fulfilling the Will of the Father. Anyone who does not believe that and anyone who do not accept Lord as “my Savior” will not have eternal life. Anyone who does not relate to our Lord in more than using His name – in whatever he does – will not be eligible for the holy experience, though He may get the respect of the world. 

2. Other things that prevents you from obtaining heavenly life: 
a. If you do not become like a child (Luke 18:15-17; Mat 18:1-5)
b. One who has not dedicated everything to our Lord Jesus Christ 
c. People who belong to the list in Galatians 5:19-21

Verse 23 explains what some people do on “that day”, the Day of Judgment. These people will tell the Lord “things they did “. But Lord, who knows everything tells them, “'I never knew you”. Why? Because their acts were not for the glorification of God’s name. They did not do the “Will of the Lord”. It was for their own benefit. This is clear from the way they are addressed, “evildoers”. Deception, lie , and selfishness are the faces of evil. People who exploited Lord’s name and satiate their own motives did evil in Lord’s eyes, not righteousness.

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