When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The surprising sting here is that the knockers claim intimacy – "Lord, Lord, open to us!" – but the Master’s reply, "I do not know where you come from," reveals their relationship was never truly established. He's not just shutting them out; he's stating they were never in.
When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is speaking about the kingdom of God, contrasting those who will enter with those who will be excluded. Following parables about the kingdom's growth, he describes a future moment of judgment where the door to the master's house will be shut, and a desperate plea for entry will be met with refusal because the applicants are unknown to the master. This passage leads into the lament of people seeing others admitted while they themselves are cast out.
Imagine you're at a party, and suddenly the host locks the door. What happens next? This verse paints a picture of a similar, but far more profound, finality.
This passage uses a vivid image: the master of the house rising and shutting the door. This isn't just about a door closing; it signifies a point of no return.
A Moment of Decision
Currently, the 'door' to God's kingdom is open. Jesus calls people to 'strive to enter in' (Luke 13:24). But there will be a time when this opportunity ends. The master rising and shutting the door represents the ultimate, irreversible decision of judgment.
The 'When Once' Moment
The phrase 'When once' (or 'from the time that') emphasizes that this isn't a temporary closure. Once the door is shut, it stays shut. This isn't a moment of mild inconvenience; it's the end of all possibility for entry. The urgency to seek God's kingdom now is because the time for seeking is limited.
You might think that if you've been around 'the house' for a long time, the master would automatically know you. But this verse reveals a deeper truth about recognition.
The people in the parable knock and call out, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' They sound earnest, even familiar. Yet, the master's response is chilling: 'I do not know where you come from.'
More Than Just Presence
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This isn't about people who never knew God. The commentary suggests these individuals might have been part of the 'household' in some way – perhaps they 'ate and drank in his presence' and heard teaching in the streets (as mentioned in the verses immediately following). They had proximity, but not genuine relationship.
The Master's Perspective
The master's reply, 'I do not know whence ye are,' speaks to a lack of true belonging. It's not that he has forgotten them; it's that they were never truly 'of' his household in the way that matters. Their familiarity was outward, not inward. They knew of the Master, but the Master did not truly know them in a deep, relational sense.
Understand the original words
oikodespotēs · Greek Noun
Refers to the head of a household who exercises authority over who may enter; in this context, it represents God or Christ as the Judge of entrance into the kingdom.
Jesus' stark imagery of the master shutting the door speaks powerfully to a people who had recently experienced devastating national exiles and the destruction of their Temple. It underscores the urgency of responding to God's invitation now, before the final judgment seals everyone's eternal destiny.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) falls to the Assyrians, leading to the exile of a significant portion of its population. This event highlights the consequences of national disobedience and the loss of a homeland.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, deports King Jehoiachin and many prominent citizens, including Ezekiel, from Jerusalem to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile for the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling more of the population to Babylon. This catastrophic event signifies the end of Judah as an independent kingdom and a profound spiritual crisis for the Jewish people.
c. 540 BC
The Prophet Isaiah's Message of Hope
Prophets like Isaiah proclaimed a future restoration and a renewed covenant, offering hope amid the despair of exile and emphasizing that God's promises would ultimately be fulfilled, even for those who seemed 'last'.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Judea and Galilee
During His earthly ministry, Jesus teaches extensively about the Kingdom of God, calling people to repentance and faith, and warning against complacency and self-righteousness.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus' death and resurrection offer salvation, but the future judgment and the finality of salvation are central themes in the early Christian message.
c. AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman army destroys Jerusalem and the Second Temple, leading to further scattering of the Jewish people and marking a significant shift in the religious landscape.
Jesus directly addresses those who claim to have prophesied and performed miracles in His name, only to be told by Him that He never knew them, highlighting the theme of a false claim to relationship with God.
Matthew 25:10-12This passage describes the foolish virgins who arrive late to the wedding feast, finding the door shut and their pleas for entry denied, mirroring the desperate but too-late knocking in Luke.
Matthew 25:31-46The separation of the sheep from the goats by the Son of Man vividly illustrates a final judgment where those who did not show compassion are declared to have never been known by Him.
Luke 12:36This parable of the waiting servants and their master parallels Luke 13:25 by showing a master returning and servants opening the door for him, contrasting with the master shutting the door in the faces of those he doesn't know.
John 10:7-9Jesus presents Himself as the 'door' into the sheepfold, promising that those who enter through Him will be saved and find pasture, underscoring the unique and exclusive way to enter God's kingdom.
vincentLuke 13:25: "When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:"
When once (ἀφ' ou)Lit., from the time that. Compare Luke 13:7. Some editors connect this with the previous sentence: "Shall not be able when once," etc.Whence (πόθεν)Of what family. Ye do not belong to my household. See John 7:27 : "We know whence he…
calvinLuke 13:25-30: "When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:"
- And when the master of the house shall have arisen, and shall have shut the door, and you shall begin to stand without and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us: and he answering shall say to you, I know not whence you are: 26. Th…
The surprising sting here is that the knockers claim intimacy – "Lord, Lord, open to us!" – but the Master’s reply, "I do not know where you come from," reveals their relationship was never truly established. He's not just shutting them out; he's stating they were never in.
Jesus is speaking about the kingdom of God, contrasting those who will enter with those who will be excluded. Following parables about the kingdom's growth, he describes a future moment of judgment where the door to the master's house will be shut, and a desperate plea for entry will be met with refusal because the applicants are unknown to the master. This passage leads into the lament of people seeing others admitted while they themselves are cast out.
Jesus is speaking about the kingdom of God, contrasting those who will enter with those who will be excluded. Following parables about the kingdom's growth, he describes a future moment of judgment where the door to the master's house will be shut, and a desperate plea for entry will be met with refusal because the applicants are unknown to the master. This passage leads into the lament of people seeing others admitted while they themselves are cast out.
"When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’" — The surprising sting here is that the knockers claim intimacy – "Lord, Lord, open to us!" – but the Master’s reply, "I do not know where you come from," reveals their relationship was never truly est…
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Last reviewed October 2026