“Lord, Lord” — How Matthew 7 Proves Jesus Is God
“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, NKJV
This passage is often quoted to warn against false believers — and rightly so. But it also reveals a deeper truth: Jesus is God.
1. Jesus Has Prophets Who Speak in His Name
Notice the phrase:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’…”
That means some are genuine. Some do prophesy in His name truly.
Jesus confirms this in Matthew 23:34:
“Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city.” — Matthew 23:34, NKJV
He sends them in His name. And that matters — because in the Old Testament, only God sends true prophets to speak in His name.
2. The Old Testament: Prophets Speak Only in the LORD’s Name
Let’s look at what God says about prophecy in the Old Testament:
“Therefore do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they prophesy a lie to you.
For I have not sent them,” says the Lord, “yet they prophesy a lie in My name…”
— Jeremiah 27:14–15, NKJV
“For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you…
For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord.”
— Jeremiah 29:8–9, NKJV
“Then it shall come to pass that if anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother who begot him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, because you have spoken lies in the name of the Lord.’”
— Zechariah 13:3, NKJV
“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak…
that prophet shall die.”
— Deuteronomy 18:20, NKJV
True prophets must prophesy in God’s name. Jesus, by sending prophets to speak in His name, takes on the role that belongs to God alone.
3. “Lord, Lord” = “Kyrie Kyrie” = Divine Name in the LXX
In Greek, “Lord, Lord” is kyrie kyrie — a phrase that the Septuagint (LXX) uses repeatedly to translate the Divine Name (YHWH or Adonai YHWH).
Here are direct examples from the LXX (Greek) translation of the Old Testament:
Deuteronomy 3:24
“O Lord God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand…”
(“YHWH Elohim” = “kyrie kyrie” in the LXX)
Deuteronomy 9:26
“Therefore I prayed to the Lord, and said: ‘O Lord God, do not destroy Your people and Your inheritance…’”
(“Adonai YHWH” = “kyrie kyrie” in the LXX)
Amos 7:2
“So it was, when they had finished eating the grass of the land, that I said: ‘O Lord God, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, for he is small!’”
(“Adonai YHWH” = “kyrie kyrie” in the LXX)
Amos 7:5
“Then I said: ‘O Lord God, cease, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, for he is small!’”
(“Adonai YHWH” = “kyrie kyrie” in the LXX)
Psalm 108:21 (Psalm 109:21 LXX)
“But You, O God the Lord, deal with me for Your name’s sake; because Your mercy is good, deliver me.”
(“YHWH Adonai” = “kyrie kyrie” in the LXX)
Psalm 139:7 (Psalm 140:8 LXX)
“O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.”
(“YHWH Adonai” = “kyrie kyrie” in the LXX)
Psalm 140:8 (Psalm 141:8 LXX)
“But my eyes are upon You, O God the Lord; in You I take refuge…”
(“YHWH Adonai” = “kyrie kyrie” in the LXX)
Ezekiel 20:49
“Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! They say of me, “Does he not speak parables?”’”
(“Adonai YHWH” = “kyrie kyrie” in the LXX)
In all these passages, kyrie kyrie is a title for YHWH — the Lord God of Israel.
So when Jesus says in Matthew 7:21–23 and Luke 6:46:
“Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” — Luke 6:46
He’s not simply accepting respect. He is accepting the Divine Title — knowing full well it translates God’s covenant name.
Conclusion: Jesus Is the LORD in Matthew 7
Matthew 7:21–23 doesn’t just warn us about false prophets — it testifies to the divine identity of Jesus Christ:
- He sends prophets in His own name.
- He is rightly addressed as “kyrie kyrie” — the Divine Name.
- He judges humanity and determines their eternal destiny.
These are not the actions of a mere messenger. They are the prerogatives of God alone.