I never knew you

[JFJK]

In Matthew 23 the Lord warns he will say: “I never knew you” when he talks about people doing different things in his name.
Yet, earlier in Matthew (Matthew 10:30-31) he appears to express that he intimately knows every living thing and every human being (‘end even the very hairs on your head are counted’)

This appears to me as a contradiction and makes me worried. Why use the word ‘never’? How is this even compatible with the idea of an all-knowing God? Or is it just a hyperbole in the biblical text?

 

[dshix]

In Matthew 23 the Lord warns he will say: “I never knew you” when he talks about people doing different things in his name.
Yet, earlier in Matthew (Matthew 10:30-31) he appears to express that he intimately knows every living thing and every human being (‘end even the very hairs on your head are counted’)

This appears to me as a contradiction and makes me worried. Why use the word ‘never’? How is this even compatible with the idea of an all-knowing God? Or is it just a hyperbole in the biblical text?

I am not familiar with these particular texts, but it seems obvious to me that “knew” has a very different meaning in these two passages.

Yes, God knew us all before the foundation of the world. That “knew” is as it appears. But in the other quote, it appears that “never knew” means something closer to “never gave you authority to speak in my name.”

That appears to be the context.

 

[Glomung]

When Jesus used the phrase “I never knew you” He was implying that the person in question was never part of His flock, in other words though the person appeared to be a Christian they were not one in actuality.

In Matthew 10 He is stating that God the Father is aware of all things so they should not worry.

The two sections have nothing to do with each other. Remember to keep track of context and not get caught up on one word.

 

[Nan_S]

In Matthew 23 the Lord warns he will say: “I never knew you” when he talks about people doing different things in his name.
Yet, earlier in Matthew (Matthew 10:30-31) he appears to express that he intimately knows every living thing and every human being (‘end even the very hairs on your head are counted’)

This appears to me as a contradiction and makes me worried. Why use the word ‘never’? How is this even compatible with the idea of an all-knowing God? Or is it just a hyperbole in the biblical text?

There is a difference between knowing all the factual details about someone or something and bringing someone into your family. “Know” is a word with several shades of meaning.

I may know all the facts there are to know about a famous person, or a criminal, or an author and his fictional characters. I might even know how many hairs are on their heads. How many people know all about the British royal family, or Casey Anthony, or Tom and Katie (no last names needed)? Lots.

But when it comes to entering into an intimate relationship with any of them, I can quite plainly say that I don’t know any of those people.

 

[JerryZ]

In Matthew 23 the Lord warns he will say: “I never knew you” when he talks about people doing different things in his name.
Yet, earlier in Matthew (Matthew 10:30-31) he appears to express that he intimately knows every living thing and every human being (‘end even the very hairs on your head are counted’)

This appears to me as a contradiction and makes me worried. Why use the word ‘never’? How is this even compatible with the idea of an all-knowing God? Or is it just a hyperbole in the biblical text?

He is admonishing people that think they follow Jesus but their deeds contradict his basic or God basic Laws. Therefore he will tell them “I never knew you”

He also expreses in the prior paragraph that He knows every man’s heart therefore no one can fool Him.

 

[JFJK]

Thank you everybody for the reply. Sorry for the typo in my question - The text I struggled with is Matthew chapter 7 verse 21-23.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 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 in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

It could be that here by ‘knew’ it is meant ‘trusted’ or ‘communicated with’ or ‘had a relationship with’. Still this appears to me as a hard text, but yes I should have read the previous paragraphs.