Matthew 7:15-20 A Warning from Jesus About False Prophets
Introduction: Not every
dollar bill is genuine. Neither is everyone who says that he is called of God
to preach. Jesus warns “Beware of false prophets.”
I. The use of the word “prophets” in the
Bible.
A. The word
originally meant “One who by direct revelation from God could foretell future
events”.
B. It came to mean
one who had any kind of direct revelation from God; even one which did not
foretell
future. (For example: Moses received the Law.)
C. It finally came
to mean one who teaches concerning morals or religion.
II. Old Testament methods
of identifying God’s prophets.
A. The prophet who
foretold events must foretell an event in the immediate future.
1. The people would soon know if he spoke the
truth.
2. This would be repeated several times.
3.
Only if he spoke the truth every time was he a true prophet to be
believed in long range
prophecies.
B. There were 3
procedures for establishing the prophet who was merely a teacher but not a
foreteller.
1. If
he was taught directly by an accepted prophet.
2. If he was taught and approved by the school
of the prophets.
3. Or
if his teachings were upheld by the already established scriptures.
III. New Testament methods
of identifying God’s prophets.
A. Jesus was first
endorsed by an Old Testament prophet already established and accepted by the people
of Israel.
1. He
was further endorsed by God the Father.
2.
Angels also identified Him as such.
3. By
His miracles He proved Himself to be of God.
4. By
His resurrection He gave final proof.
B. Jesus then
endorsed the twelve apostles.
1.
Jesus said that one of these was only a pretender.
2. It
finally became evident who the pretender was.
3. The
apostles and other proven men wrote the New Testament and completed the Bible.
IV. The problem with the
false prophets.
A. They will come
in sheep’s clothing.
1. This means that they look and sound almost
exactly like God’s true prophets.
2.
They read and quote scriptures; they use Biblical terms such as “new birth,
redemption, etc.”
B. But inwardly
they are ravening wolves.
1.
Their nature has never been re-born.
2.
They are dangerous to the flock of God.
V. A method of identifying the false
prophets.
A. Jesus said, “By
their fruit ye shall know them.” (By this He meant their doctrine and their
practices.)
B. Some of their heretical
doctrines:
1. Some
preach Jesus, but deny that He is the virgin born Son of God.
2.
Some preach the crucifixion, but deny the resurrection.
3.
Some preach the resurrection, but not a bodily resurrection.
4.
Some preach salvation, but make it by works.
5.
Some preach a new birth, but make it only a change of character or a new
lease on life.
6.
Some preach Jesus as the Son of God, but deny that He was always deity.
C. Some of their heretical
practices:
1.
Baptism of infants.
2.
Sprinkling for baptism.
3.
Baptism of the living for the dead.
4.
Burning incense or candles to ward off evil spirits.
D. Jesus
illustrated His point by saying that grapes and figs do not grow on thorns and
thistles. V. 16-19
1.
Thus sound doctrine and practice does not come from those who are
inwardly raging wolves.
2.
Neither do God’s people need to be taught by
such.
Conclusion:
1. In judgment God
will deal with the false prophets. V. 19
2. The sad truth
is that a lot of unsaved people will burn with them because they accepted their
false
gospel.
3. Even saved
people can be led astray by them.
4. God’s people
should not be gullible and believe every wind of doctrine.
5. Neither should
they become overly critical and suspicious of God’s true men.
6. God’s people
should give God’s true preachers and God’s true churches all the support they
can.
7. But they ought
to make doubly sure that they are in a church that preaches truth.