There is a very interesting and also troubling passage about the judgment at the end of the world.
Yeshua said, "’Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" Matthew 7:21-23. This passage may come as a shock to Torah observant/Commandment keeping believers because too many feel the major problem plaguing faith communities is not doing things.
And indeed, there are many who don’t obey the commandments and claim to follow God without submitting to God. Of course, it is clear that is wrong, as Yeshua said “‘If you love me, you will obey my commandments.’” John 14:15. However, since that error of promoting the idea you can love without obeying is so common it is easy to assume to miss other errors and assume it is just those people who are condemned. And yet, Matthew 7:21-23 makes it clear that you can do a lot of good things and still be seen as lawless. So what is the will of the Father Yeshua speaks of beyond saying prayers and doing miraculous deeds?
“Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:5-6. The Jewish prophet Isaiah makes it clear when we divorce works for God from the love of God, no matter what we do we are not really fulfilling the law.
If your religion causes you to be dismissive of social issues and consider seeking ways to care for the less fortunate as minor concerns in the pursuit of spirituality you can be sure you are missing the point of it. When Yeshua was asked, “’Rabbi, which of the mitzvot in the Torah is the most important?’ He told him, ‘“You are to love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” This is the greatest and most important mitzvah. And a second is similar to it, “You are to love your neighbor as yourself.” All of the Torah and the Prophets are dependent on these two mitzvot.’” Matthew 22:36-40
When Yeshua separates the goats from the sheep in Matthew 25 He doesn't say well done you who knew and observed the correct day of the Sabbath, avoided pork, and other things that are great. Do not get me wrong, believe in doing all of that and again Yeshua said, “‘If you love me, you will obey my commandments.’” John 14:15 However, we must not forget He also said “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” Luke 11:42 However, theology is only helpful as it helps you know God better. The true measure of religion Is not correct believing or even correct behaving, but correct loving.
