It is one of the shortest questions Jesus ever asked, and one of the most uncomfortable: “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” Most of us can sing His name on Sunday and still argue with Him on Monday. Here is what Jesus meant in Luke 6:46, how it connects to Matthew 7:21 and the two builders, and why His question is an invitation more than an accusation.
In short: “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” is Jesus’ question in Luke 6:46. He is saying that calling Him Lord means little if we ignore His words. It is not a call to earn salvation, but a warning that real faith shows up in a life built on what He says.
In this article
What does “Why do you call Me Lord, Lord” mean?
The Luke 6:46 meaning is direct: Jesus asks why people give Him the highest title, Lord, while ignoring His teaching. A title is a claim of obedience. Calling Jesus Lord and then doing as we please is a contradiction He refuses to leave unnamed.
But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
Luke 6:46 (NKJV)
Jesus is not speaking to outsiders. Luke says He stood with “a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude” (Luke 6:17). Just before the question, He says that “every tree is known by its own fruit” and that “out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:44-45). Words reveal the heart, but fruit proves it.
Notice the doubled name. In Scripture, repeating a name often signals emotion or urgency: “Martha, Martha” (Luke 10:41), “Saul, Saul” (Acts 9:4). These people are not cold; they are fervent. The word kyrios meant master, and a servant who calls someone master while ignoring his instructions is not really serving him.
That is the quiet danger in every church. We love Jesus the Healer, the Provider and the Deliverer, and we resist Jesus the Master. We want Him in charge of our problems, not our decisions.
What does Matthew 7:21 mean?
Matthew 7:21 says, “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.” The Matthew 7:21 meaning is a warning: a confession without obedience is not saving faith, however impressive the ministry attached to it.
The next verses are sobering. Many will say, “Have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” Jesus answers, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:22-23). They had activity in His name, but no relationship with Him.
That is why the name of Jesus is never a formula, a point we make in our guide to the authority of the believer. It is also why anyone seeking prayer should know how to find a trustworthy deliverance ministry: spiritual gifts are not proof of character.
Luke records the question and Matthew records the judgment, and both Gospels move straight into the same story.
What is the parable of the wise and foolish builders about?
The parable of the wise and foolish builders describes two people who both hear Jesus’ words. One acts on them and his house stands; the other does not and his house falls. The difference is not hearing, knowledge or church attendance. It is doing.
| Wise builder | Foolish builder | |
|---|---|---|
| Hears Jesus’ words | Yes | Yes |
| Acts on them | Yes | No |
| Foundation | “Dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock” (Luke 6:48) | “Built a house on the earth without a foundation” (Luke 6:49) |
| The storm | Rain, floods and wind (Matthew 7:25) | The same storm (Matthew 7:27) |
| Result | The flood “could not shake it” | “The ruin of that house was great” |
Two details stand out. First, the storm comes to both houses. Obedience does not exempt anyone from trouble; it decides what is still standing afterward. Second, the wise man “dug deep.” Foundations are invisible once a house is built, and most obedience is hidden too: forgiving someone, telling the truth when it costs you, giving without being seen.
James says the same thing with a mirror: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). The real risk is not that others are fooled. It is that we fool ourselves.
Does Luke 6:46 mean we are saved by obedience?
No. Scripture is clear that we are saved “by grace… through faith… not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9). But the next verse says we are created “for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). Obedience is not the root of salvation. It is the fruit that shows the root is alive.
Jesus puts love first: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). And Paul reminds us that “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). The answer to Luke 6:46 is not grim effort alone. It is staying close to Jesus until His words shape what we do.
There is also a difference between struggling and pretending. Paul admits, “the good that I will to do, I do not do” (Romans 7:19), and John promises forgiveness to those who confess (1 John 1:9). A struggler confesses; a hypocrite performs. If your conscience is tender, this question is meant to draw you to Jesus, not push you away.
What does the Bible say about hypocrisy in the church?
The Bible treats hypocrisy as acting out a faith we do not live. The Greek word hypokritēs first meant a stage actor. Jesus called it “the leaven of the Pharisees” (Luke 12:1), because a little of it works its way through everything.
These hypocrisy in the church Bible verses are worth reading slowly:
- Matthew 15:8 (quoting Isaiah 29:13): “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.”
- Matthew 23:27-28: Whitewashed tombs that “appear beautiful outwardly” but are full of dead men’s bones.
- Matthew 23:3: “For they say, and do not do.”
- Titus 1:16: “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him.”
- 2 Timothy 3:5: “Having a form of godliness but denying its power.”
- Galatians 2:11-13: Even Peter and Barnabas “played the hypocrite” at Antioch, and Paul confronted it face to face.
That last passage matters. Hypocrisy is not only a problem for other people. In churches today it often looks like using His name for power without living under His lordship, loving His blessings while avoiding His cross, quoting Scripture as ammunition while ignoring His heart, or seeking spiritual gifts without the fruit of love (1 Corinthians 13:2).
What does it mean to follow Jesus?
To follow Jesus means to trust Him, stay close to Him and do what He says, day by day. He defined it Himself: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).
Following is relational before it is behavioral. Jesus said, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it” (Luke 8:21). Doing His word is how we live as His family, not how we earn a place in it.
And the Master we obey is not a harsh one. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). Obedience is learned from Someone who is kind.
How do you close the gap between calling Him Lord and obeying Him?
Start with what Jesus has already said, choose one clear step of obedience, and take it this week with someone walking beside you. Small, specific obedience, repeated over time, is how a house gets built on rock.
- Read what He actually asked. Go through Luke 6:20-49 slowly and list His instructions: love enemies, bless those who curse you, give freely, stop judging.
- Pick one and do it this week. Choose the instruction you have been avoiding, not the easiest one.
- Confess quickly when you fail. Grace is not a loophole; it is the way back (1 John 1:9).
- Invite one trusted friend in. Ask them to check on you, and restore one another gently (Galatians 6:1-2).
- Look for fruit over months, not feelings over days. “Every tree is known by its own fruit” (Luke 6:44).
- Stay connected to the vine. “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
What should you do when hypocrisy in the church hurts you?
Name it honestly, refuse to let it pull you away from Jesus, and look for a healthy community. Jesus told people to honor true teaching even when the teachers failed to live it (Matthew 23:3). He never confused the failures of His followers with the truth of His words.
Examine your own heart first, not to excuse anyone, but to see clearly (Matthew 7:3-5). If what you experienced was abuse, manipulation or control, the word hypocrisy is too small: seek safety, tell a trusted leader outside the situation and get professional help. Our article on the church and mental health can help you take that step.
Leaders feel this question first, because people watch what we do more than what we preach. Understanding what pastoral care is begins with a shepherd whose private life can carry their public words. If you sense that call, read how to become a pastor without a degree.
From the course: Intro to Pastoral Ministry builds the foundations this question exposes: character and spiritual formation, the pastor’s inner life, shepherding God’s people, and ethics, boundaries and accountability, so that your walk with Christ can carry the ministry you lead.
The Intro to Pastoral Ministry certificate records the completion of a course and its final exam. It does not ordain you or replace your church’s process for recognizing pastors; ordination is a separate process.
The next time you sing His name, let “why do you call Me Lord, Lord” become a prayer: Lord, show me one thing You have said that I have not yet done.
Frequently asked questions
Where is “why do you call me Lord, Lord” in the Bible?
It is Luke 6:46. The King James Version reads, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” The parallel teaching is Matthew 7:21-27, in the Sermon on the Mount.
What does “I never knew you” mean in Matthew 7:23?
It describes the absence of a real relationship. These people knew about Jesus and used His name, but they never lived under His lordship, so their works could not stand in for knowing Him.
Is it hypocritical to go to church if I still struggle with sin?
No. Hypocrisy is pretending; struggle is honest. The church is where sinners confess, receive grace and learn to obey together, so bring your struggle with you rather than staying away.
How would you outline a sermon on Luke 6:46-49?
A simple outline follows the text: the question (verse 46), the builder who hears and does (verses 47-48), and the builder who hears and does nothing (verse 49). Close with one concrete act of obedience for the week.
Presence College holds private institutional accreditation from the Kingdom International Standards Authority (KISA) and its courses are ministry-endorsed by Shakeid Ministries Global. Read what KISA accreditation means for you as a student.
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