Matthew 7:23

Jesus's judgment declaration — 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of iniquity' — spoken to those who appeal to miraculous works performed in his name (verse 22), establishes that religious performance and divine acknowledgment are not synonymous. The word 'knew' (egnon) carries the relational depth of the Hebrew yada — intimate, covenantal knowing rather than mere cognitive recognition — making the denial a rejection of relationship rather than a dispute about credentials. The phrase 'workers of iniquity' (hoi ergazomenoi ten anomian — workers of lawlessness) connects the verse to the broader Matthean concern that genuine discipleship produces the 'fruit' of covenant obedience rather than merely spectacular charismatic display. The verse stands as the New Testament's most searching warning against the form of religion that produces visible works while lacking the hidden reality of covenant relationship.