Ver. 23. So as to approve and reward your works. Here he shews that even prophecy and miracles will not save us without good works. (Menochius) — How much less will faith, unassisted by good works, preserve us from condemnation. (Haydock) — the gift of miracles is bestowed on men not for their own good, but for the advantage of others. We must not then be surprised if men, who had indeed faith in Christ, but whose lives did not correspond with their faith, should be honoured with these extraordinary gifts, since the Almighty sometimes employs as his instruments in working similar wonders, men destitute both of faith and virtue. Balaam, void of faith and probity, still by the will of God, prophesied for the advantage of others. To Pharao and Nabuchodonosor were revealed future events of the greatest moment; and the wicked Judas himself cast out devils. Therefore St. Paul said, “if I had all faith so as to remove mountains, and if I knew all mysteries, and was possessed of all wisdom, but had not charity, I am nothing.” (St. Chrysostom, Hom. xv.)
That Scriptural passage (Matthew 7:23) used to bother me greatly. A good discussion of the passage can be found HERE.Im no bibilical scholar by any means,and i’m not going to hunt up the chapter and verse right now.In the new testament it says(somewhere)“but lord I prophesyed in your name,healed,etc,etc,and the Lord says,away with you I never knew you!” I was told because it was a lack of Love that Our Lord would send the man away…But why did Jesus let the person use these gifts in the 1st place? for someone else??? anyone got a reasonable answer.
St. Gregory saysHe spoke of those who after the preaching of His Gospel seem to themselves to speak in His name not knowing what they speak.
St. Hilary saysBy this sentence it is given to us to learn, that among men Charity and humility, and not mighty works, are to be esteemed. Whence also now the Holy Church, if there be any miracles of heretics, despises them, because she knows that they have not the mark of holiness. And the proof of holiness is not to work miracles, but to love our neighbor as ourselves, to think truly of God, and of our neighbor better than of ourselves.
But thus the hypocrites boasted, as though they spoke somewhat of themselves, and as though the power of God did not work all these things, being invoked; but reading has brought them the knowledge of His doctrine, and the name of Christ casts out the demons. Out of our own selves then is that blessed eternity to be earned, and out of ourselves must be put forth something that we may will that which is good, that we may avoid all evil, and may rather do what He would have us do, than boast of that to which He enables us. These then He disowns and banishes for their evil works, saying, Depart from me, you that work iniquity.
***Hi, trustinyou!Im no bibilical scholar by any means,and i’m not going to hunt up the chapter and verse right now.In the new testament it says(somewhere)“but lord I prophesyed in your name,healed,etc,etc,and the Lord says,away with you I never knew you!” I was told because it was a lack of Love that Our Lord would send the man away…But why did Jesus let the person use these gifts in the 1st place? for someone else??? anyone got a reasonable answer.
***Hi, nsper!I firmly believe this passage is not discussing apostasy or ‘loss/forfeiture’ of Salvaiton since Jesus says that He *never knew * them (as opposed to knew them but cast them out or something).