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Gospel Reading - Self-Deception

²¹“Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but still won’t get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven. ²²At the Judgment^a many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we told others about you and used your name to cast out demons and to do many other great miracles.’ ²³But I will reply, ‘You have never been mine.^b Go away, for your deeds are evil.’

²⁴“All who listen to my instructions and follow them are wise, like a man who builds his house on solid rock. ²⁵Though the rain comes in torrents, and the floods rise and the storm winds beat against his house, it won’t collapse, for it is built on rock.

²⁶“But those who hear my instructions and ignore them are foolish, like a man who builds his house on sand. ²⁷For when the rains and floods come, and storm winds beat against his house, it will fall with a mighty crash.” ²⁸The crowds were amazed at Jesus’ sermons, ²⁹for he taught as one who had great authority, and not as their Jewish leaders.^c

1. Literally, “In that day.”
2. Literally, “I never knew you.”
3. Literally, “not as the scribes.” These leaders only quoted others, and did not presume to present any fresh revelation.