Beware of False Prophets

BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS
MATTHEW 7:13-23

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
In the name of Jesus:
Jesus in our text for today warns us about false prophets, more accurately, lying prophets or prophets who appear to be speaking for Jesus when they are not. Things are many times do not appear to be what they seem. I was reminded of this recently when I read about a kindergarten teacher who was accepting gifts from her pupils at the end of the school year. The kids brought their gifts to her in big, brown paper bags. The teacher had no trouble guessing that there were flowers in the bag brought to her by the florist’s son, or a box of chocolates in the bag from the daughter of a candy storeowner. But the bag given to her by the son of a liquor storeowner presented a challenge. It was leaking yellowish liquid. She put her finger to the liquid, tasted it and asked: “Is it wine? Champagne?” “No” the little boy replied with a smile, “It is a puppy.”
Things are not always what they seem. And this holds true in the area of religion and the Church. Jesus in our text warns us to beware of, to guard against, to stay away from and steer from false prophets. It isn’t “politically correct” to bash others who teach and preach in the name of Jesus. After all, we should just be “nice nice” and not say anything that would be in any way cause anyone trouble. But this is not what Jesus says! Note what Jesus says at the end of the Sermon on the Mount: “13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” Jesus is here talking about going to heaven. The road to heaven is narrow, so one enters through the narrow gate. While it is true that God wants all to be saved, salvation only comes to those who have been saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no other road other than Jesus. The Scriptures are clear, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved,” “Jesus says I am the Way, Truth and Life, no one comes to the Father but by Me,” “a person is saved by grace through faith in Christ, not of works, so that no one may boast.” THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN IS BY TRUSTING IN CHRIST!!!
So Jesus warns you and me to beware of false prophets. He is clear, they exist and they are present today. The way that the false teachers proclaim leads to destruction. How then can we know who they are so that we can avoid them? Jesus gives clear instructions as to who these people are and what they will teach.
Listen to Jesus: “. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
A mark of a false prophet is that the lies that they proclaim will be dressed as the truth. Deceit always masquerades as the truth. A magician will ply his trade so that you think his performance is real, when in actuality he is tricking you, for there is always a trick up the magician’s sleeve. The same holds true for those who are false prophets. They have always existed, seeking to proclaim their wisdom instead of the Lord’s Word. Just listen to what Jeremiah the prophet says about them: “16 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17 They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’” And “26 How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, 27 who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name?” These false prophets speak their own wisdom; they speak visions of their own heart, and CLAIM THAT THEY ARE SPEAKING FOR THE LORD! They do not speak of sin, or repentance, or judgment. They speak of peace, they preach prosperity, and they preach what man can do to become a child of God. Noticeably absent from any of their teaching is the proclamation of sin and grace, repentance and forgiveness. And what does Jesus say of them? “You will recognize them by their fruits.”
You know what it means by knowing something by its fruit! When you go to the market to pick summer fruit, you take the time to look for good fruit, separating the good from the bad. The fruit of a true prophet doesn’t preach outward righteousness, success, or prosperity. The true prophet isn’t interested in preaching or pushing an agenda or cause. The true prophet only is concerned about one thing, preaching Christ and Him crucified and rose from the dead. The true prophet isn’t interested in his or her own ministry, isn’t concerned about the glory and praise of men, the true prophet IS only interested and concerned about the glory of God in Jesus Christ.
Note what Jesus says about these false prophets. He calls them wolves in sheep clothing. They look innocent but their teaching is deadly. They appear harmless but their teaching leads to Hell. But how can this be, because they look so nice, they appear to be clean cut and likeable. Yet Jesus says they are known by their fruits, these people are rotten to the core.
Listen to the Apostle Paul’s warning to the Church in Acts 20: “29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.” Paul continued to warn believers about false teachers in his day and age. Note again what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:13 for such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” For not everyone who says to Jesus: “‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
So what is the Christian to do? Certainly Christ warns us NOT to listen to these false prophets. So who are you to listen to? Jesus, only Jesus! Jesus speaks to you through His Word. Jesus says told the Pharisees: “You search the Scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life, but THE SCRIPTURES TESTIFY OF ME.” Jesus also says:” Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” The fruit of a true preacher of Christ points people to Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins that He alone offers by His shed blood on the cross. You belong to Jesus ONLY BECAUSE OF HIS SHED BLOOD FROM HIS CROSS. Luther reminds us in his Small Catechism: You were purchased, not with silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ.”
When the Apostle Peter confessed his faith in Christ, he confessed that he believed that Jesus was the promised Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus, previous to Peter’s confession, asked the disciples: Who do people say that the Son of Man is? Each and every response was lacking. Some said that Jesus was a good teacher, that type of faith wasn’t good enough. Some said that Jesus was a good preacher, that response wasn’t good enough. Some said that Jesus did many wonders, that He could work miracles in your life. That response wasn’t good enough. Only one response was good enough, Peter’s response, that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Peter confessed his faith in the person of Jesus and HIS MISSION to seek and save the lost. The false responses and false prophets of Jesus’ day and age described a different Jesus. Jesus warns you to beware of those today who offer to you a different Jesus than the ONE that is testified of by the Bible, namely, that salvation is offered only by Christ’s cross, His shed blood, and His resurrection from the grave.
How do you guard yourself from the deceptions of these false teachers? By clinging to Christ. In Baptism Jesus was washed away your sins. You belong to Christ. So listen to His voice. His voice is heard when you hear the Word of God. The Word of God is the weapon that God has given to His Church, and to you, to ward off the assaults of the devil and the lies of false teachers. God has saved you in Christ. He wants you to listen to Christ. John the Baptist, in his ministry, took great pains not to point sinners to himself, rather, he pointed people to Jesus. John said of Jesus: “He must increase, and I must decrease.” God calls us to “seek the Lord where He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” Where is Jesus to be found today? Only in His Word and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. For in Baptism we have been place in Christ, and in His Supper He feeds us with His true body and blood for forgiveness and eternal life.
Dear brother and sister in Christ, things are not always what they appear or seem. Note well the words of Scripture: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4: 1). Dear friend, we live in a dangerous world. Satan is alive and well and seeks your destruction. So cling to Jesus. Trust in Him alone. Be faithful to Christ unto death, and He will give you the crown of everlasting life.
Amen