Intrigued

 

Matthew 7
How many times have I referenced and written something from that chapter?  What a great bunch of verses.  How much of the gospel can be crammed into one chapter?  It's got "Judge Not;"  "Beam in the Eye;"  "Pearls before Swine;" "Ask, Seek Knock"(one of my personal faves).  It's got the "Strait Gate;" "Know Them by their Fruits"; and "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man."

Today it's got this:

21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

I overheard part of an institute class again this past week and wanted to write about it, but I wanted to look at the Joseph Smith Translation first.  There's a footnote with a JST for verse 21.  It reads:  "For the day soon cometh, that men shall come before me to judgment, to be judged according to their works."  What isn't in the footnote is a JST for verse 23. 

What I heard in the class is, that there is one. 
It just isn't in there. 
I was intrigued. 
Alot.  (Yes, I know that's supposed to be 2 seperate words.)

I didn't hear where I could find it and there wasn't really a time this week to ask.  Keith found it for me last night.  In our library, we have a copy of Holy Scriptures Inspired Version  published by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It's the whole Joseph Smith Translation.  Old and New Testament.  There's an explanation in the front about how the manuscripts were left in Emma's possession and that it was published as a gift to our church and the world.  Interesting.  I don't think I've ever looked at it before.  Anyway. . .

The translation of verse 23 is so interesting to me.  It says: 

"And then will I say,  Ye never knew me; depart from me ye that work iniquity."

To me that is such a significant meaning change. 
I wonder why it "didn't make the cut"--as the institute instructor said. 
Me, not knowing the Savior is vastly different than Him not knowing me. 
Vastly different.
 
If there is ever distance or lack of remembrance or misunderstanding between me and the Savior, it's always on my part.  In fact, this verse kind of explains all the others that it follows.  For example, If I don't learn not to judge, I never knew Him.  If I don't seek Him then I don't want to know Him.  If I don't bring forth good fruit and show Him that I know Him, then I must not know Him.