And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
What do we think about when we see the word iniquity? Sin, right?
Jesus was about to go to the cross and remove sin as an obstacle to having a personal relationship with God. His insight into a future encounter with those who call Him savior takes that into account. Why does He say “I never knew you”?
Since we are all sinners saved by grace and sin would no longer be an issue in a relationship, then there is a type of believer that does not have a personal relationship with Jesus.
There is a study that expands on the work done by the believers in Matthew 7:22 which I considered insight. That insight was “of unauthorized works.”
I personally find comfort in looking at iniquity as being unauthorized works. That places the focus on the relationship above scriptural understanding. He is Lord and as Lord He has the right to ask us to do the Father’s will. We still have to choose to obey but if we have not been given a command by our Lord then we are doing what we want without regard for what He wants. That is unauthorized work.
I cannot expect everyone to have this same insight just because it works for me. Someone else came up with that insight and I adopted it because I could see it working for me.
There are many bible scholars that have spent decades of studies on what their predecessors had written and influenced their understanding. Today we have a new list of writers to choose from including topical books and study bibles. Getting a list of writers who have a body of work that is out of publication is difficult to recover for our own consumption.
What sources we use is a matter of both personal comfort and accessibility. Those sources should be dedicated to truth and service to our Lord.
The internet has a library of information larger than any building could ever hold.
The internet is also full of dangerous minefields for our souls.
If I can offer insight, praise God. If not, praise God. This is your relationship with our Lord.