73. Sermon on the Mount Secrets - Watch Out! Part 1

 

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:15-23) 

 

This is written in the context of the wide and narrow road. The Lord Jesus said we must look for fruit in the lives of teachers. In doing this, we must be very sensitive. We can’t recognize them on our own. The Lord, through the Holy Spirit, has made available the gifts of discernment, words of knowledge, and words of wisdom by which we will recognize them.

False teachers will come to you in sheep’s clothing. They appear to be one with you. They will agree with you in doctrinal matters. Their preaching will sound acceptable and innocent, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. What motivates them? What can this false teaching do for them? What is the fruit by which we will recognize them?

Consider Jesus’ audience. At the beginning of the sermon, He saw the crowds, and His disciples came to Him and He began to teach them (Matthew 5:1). It appears that the audience grew as curious listeners joined, for at the end of the sermon it states that the crowds were amazed at His teaching (Matthew 7:28).  Not all of them believed, but all of them were interested. Both believers and potential believers sat in the audience. This holds true today. 

The clearly definable and well-known false prophets, who deliberately deceive people, target

potential believers as well as young believers. They have one motive: to deceive people away from the freedom that Jesus bought for them with His blood and tie them up in works again. Paul said to the Galatians: “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?” (Galatians 3:1-3, 5)

This is what these sects or false teachers try to do today—imprison people in self-effort and prevent them from being set free by grace through faith. Often, their motive is money, because these prisoners who live by the law give a lot of money to “the work of the Lord” due to guilt. These are well known false teachers and the average person avoids them. 

But there are false teachers that are much more subtle. Their teaching appears very acceptable and they usually draw scores of followers. Their false teachings are doctrine based. They leave out crucial doctrines, such as the need to be born again and to be baptised. Salvation is based on baby baptism and the covenant of the parents - a false foundation. People following these teachers are deceived into believing they are okay and do not realise that without rebirth and being baptised as a believer one cannot enter God's Kingdom (John 3:3 and 5, Mark 16:16).

How can false teachers be avoided? Test their teaching to the Word of God. What does the Bible say about doctrinal issues? Let us look for example at Mark 16:16. The person who believes and is baptised will be saved. Can a baby believe? Read the Bible and believe it as the Holy Spirit reveals it to you and not as people interpret it to you. To be continued.

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