"Why Call Ye Me, Lord, Lord?"

Jesus had a habit of getting straight to the point and it could be unnerving. With laser-like precision His words often struck deep, leaving His hearers at a loss for words. It wasn't just His eloquence. It was the way He unmasked the hypocrisy of His audience while making it clear that there was nothing in their actions, thoughts, or motives that was hidden from His view.

In chapter 6 of Luke's narrative we see the equivalent of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). As He meanders His way through various teachings, in verses 45 and 46 we read Him saying: "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" It would have been so easy for them to have missed it. The fruit of our lives that springs forth from the condition of our hearts bears testimony to our allegiance. If we are aligned with God, our fruit will bear that out. However, the opposite is also true. "where the love of the world and the flesh reign there is an evil treasure in the heart, out of which an evil man is continually bringing forth that which is evil; and by what is brought forth you may know what is in the heart, as you may know what is in the vessel, water or wine, by what is drawn out from it" (Matthew Henry).

Having pointed out the obvious disconnect that it was the condition of the heart that was important, Jesus asked the probing question: "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" While the people talked a good talk, their walk with Christ was not aligned with what they professed. It is not enough to hear the sayings of Christ; we must do them. It is not enough to profess relation to Him as His servants; we must make it our business to obey Him. For Jesus to be "Lord" is to have Him be the controller of our lives. It means we are wholly at His command, we are devoted to His service, and we are serving the interests of His kingdom. We cannot call Him "Lord" yet walk in our own ways and doing as we please. If we are going to call Him "Lord," we must do the things He says we ought to do.

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Remember, He judges the heart not by words but by works. What do you call Him? What do your actions say?