for he was teaching them as one who had authority

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chuckd

Puritan Board Junior
This is the conclusion of Jesus' sermon on the mount, but I'm curious how the crowds understood Matt. 7:21-23 in particular. He doesn't say "Not everyone who says to God, 'Lord, Lord'", but "Not everyone who says to me." He is making himself the gatekeeper of God's kingdom. And judge in v23 "I will declare to them 'depart."

I suspect they understood that God will be the final judge (Ecc. 12:14) so I'm curious how the crowds took this portion of the sermon.
 
I suspect that critics either rolled their eyes or were angered at what they probably perceived to be an audacious display of presumption of his own self-importance to be the very gate keeper to heaven.

Given how dull the Gospels consistently present his followers, I doubt that anyone would have thought - in this statement - that he was claiming to be God.
 
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