Matthew 7:23, “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
Matthew 13:41, “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness.”
Matthew 23:28, “Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
Matthew 24:12, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”
Lawlessness is an interesting word. It was used frequently by Jesus. In the original language it is the word for iniquity (anomia). The original word is a compound word. The prefix “a” means “not” or “without,” and the root word “nomia” means law. So, the meaning of the original word is “without law.” It is like the word apolitical in English. The letter “a” modifies the word political and refers to someone who has no interest in politics or who is otherwise not involved.
Again, Jesus used this word frequently. We would do well to pay attention to what it means. It refers to a person who sets aside law. But Jesus is not referring to any law. This is a person who has no interest in the commandments of God. When I use the word “commandments” I am not referring only to the ten commandments, but to the will of God as revealed in scripture. I believe this is how Jesus is using the word. What is important about the word, then, is not any specific law to which is refers, but the concept of being without law.
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