In Lk 6:46 Jesus asked his disciples, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say”? That’s an excellent and compelling question. Why call me Lord? It’s interesting to note the context in which he asked this question.
Beginning in Lk 6:20, Jesus spoke to his disciples and gave them instructions to follow. He taught them how to be blessed and not cursed, v.20-26, how to love their enemies, v.27-35, how to be merciful and not judgmental, v.36-37, how to give, v.38, how to see clearly, v.39-42, and how to judge between good men and evil men, v.43-45.
And then in v.47-49 he illustrated the difference between men who hear him and do what he says and men who don’t. Men who hear him and do what he says stand like a house with a foundation laid on a rock. And men who hear him and don’t do what he says fall like a house with out a foundation built on the earth.
Do you call Jesus Lord? If you do, then he might ask you Why call me Lord?
Why call him Lord if you aren’t saved? Look in Matt 7:21-23. It doesn’t do you any good to call him Lord and do good works if he doesn’t know you. What ever good thing you think you’re doing in his name, he considers to be a work of iniquity. Do you understand? Even the devil is going to call him Lord one of these days, Phil 2:10-11.
When you’re saved, the Lord knows you, 2 Tim 3:19. And when you believe on Jesus the Holy Spirit who dwells in you calls Jesus, the Lord, 1 Cor 12:3. So, if you’re going to call him Lord, the least you can do is obey what he said.
And he said, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent,” Jn 6:29.
Why call him Lord if you aren’t doing what he said? This is the main point Jesus made when he asked this question in Lk 6:46. It’s meaningless to call him Lord if you aren’t going to do what he said. And what did he tell you to do? He said:
Rejoice when men hate you, separate you, and reproach you for Jesus’s sake, v.22-23. And woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you, v.26.
Love your enemies, do good to them, bless them, and pray for them, v.27-28. He said your reward will be great, v.35.
Be merciful, v.36-37. Prov 11:17, The merciful man doeth good to his own soul.
Give, v.38. He said it shall be given unto you. I think giving is by far the best way to prepare for a collapse in our economy and for our inheritance in eternity, 1 Tim 6:17-19.
Deal with your own faults, v.41-42. Only then will you be able to help someone else with theirs.
Be good hearted, v.43-35. A good hearted person is like a tree that bears good fruit. He won’t bring forth corrupt fruit.
Conclusion
These are the things he told his disciples to do in Lk 6, and these are some of the things you should be doing. If you aren’t doing these things then why do you call him Lord? He would ask, Why call me Lord?