Sermon on the Mount: False Prophets
Matthew 7:15-20 and Matthew 10:28
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.”
Matthew 7:15-20 NASB1995
In the home stretch of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7, Jesus has warned us about being self-righteously judgmental versus having proper discernment, told us to ask/seek/knock to receive from God, described the Golden Rule in positive terms (which is much more proactive) and then warned us about the narrow gate versus the broad boulevard to Hell. He now asks us to be even more discerning about the false prophets that can lead us to an unfruitful life as Christians or even put us on the wrong path for our eternal souls!
False doctrine is one of the biggest threats to our path from justification (I confess I believe) to sanctification (I am of the Kingdom of God, pursuing holiness and righteousness), but it goes far beyond that concern. False doctrine can lead us to believe things that could actually jeopardize our salvation and have us turned away from that narrow path! The enemy wins, being the wolf in sheep’s clothing, because humans are easily deceived. Remember the enemy’s words to Eve in the Garden: Did God really say you would die? When pastors and leaders re-interpret God’s words (Did God really say…I think He meant to say this..) and twist His words around, they are ravenous wolves among the sheep.
Here’s what Jesus warns us about again in Matthew 10:28:
“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Matthew 10:28 NASB1995
There are many false doctrines littering the landscape these days, from prosperity Gospel, to universalism (no one goes to Hell), to the rationalization of certain sins as “acceptable” to God or even blessed by Him (this is bowing down to societal pressures and not obeying God). God is certainly a God of infinite love but He is also a God of justice and wrath. In our comfortable age with everything that we want, we want to forget that wrath and gaze upon a soft-focus image of Jesus praying in the Garden. The precious Lamb of Salvation is also the powerful Lion of Judah and will ride in at the end as the great and victorious warrior on a White Horse with a two-edged sword in His mouth. His justice will be perfect!
Here are some guidelines from David Guzik in his Enduring Word commentary about what to look for in a “false prophet”:
i. We should pay attention to the manner of living a teacher shows. Do they show righteousness, humility and faithfulness in the way they live?
ii. We should pay attention to the content of their teaching. Is it true fruit from God’s Word, or is it man-centered, appealing to ears that want to be tickled?
iii. We should pay attention to the effect of their teaching. Are people growing in Jesus or merely being entertained, and eventually falling away?
Three things (at least) to be discerning about: The lifestyle, content and effects of the teaching of a supposed leader in God’s word. Stay on the narrow path!
My next Sermon on the Mount devotional will examine Matthew 7:21-23: The Will of the Father. There is one more section of verses to follow, on the Two Foundations, and then I will end this exploration of the mighty words of our Lord with a summary of what we can learn and discern from the Sermon. Thank God for His servant Matthew, who noted down these words for our lives! My next series after this one concludes will explore the “Mt. Everest” of scripture: Romans 8.
Commentary by David Guzik from Enduring Word is used by written permission.