False Teachers
The Sermon on the Mount • Sermon • Submitted
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· 5 viewsNot all who profess godliness are genunine and they can be made out when you look at their lives.
Notes
Transcript
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 thornbushes, 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.
any time you see the word beware - you should be attentive to what is being said
Beware of dog
Beware rip tides
beware of falling rocks
All of these signs indicate that you are about encounter something that is dangerous
be cautious and alert of a danger
It is foolish to ignore the sign
Or to not take it seriously
This is exactly how tonights Scripture begins…
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
First of all - what is a prophet…
if what comes to your mind is some sort wizard
some mystic person who wears a pointy hat
and has a crystal ball so they can look into the future
you have the wrong idea of what the biblical authors mean when they use the word prophet
a prophet speaks the word of God
So don’t think so much about foretelling
that is to predict or tell what is going to happen
as forthtelling
when the past and the present are being told
In the OT God would rase up prophets to warn people about sin and judgment
So when Jesus says
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
We can understand it to be him warning us of those who speak on behalf of God… but their message isn’t really from God.
For the the sake of clarity, for the rest of the message I will use the word “teacher” synonymously with prophet.
ynonymously with prophet.
False teachers are dangerous.
False teachers are dangerous.
I have no memory of this being preached on when I grew up…
and it’s not because I didn’t grow up in the church…
I have no memory of this being preached on when I grew up…
But because
in fact I asked Sarah the same question
she said no
And yet, the Scriptures are far from silent on this subject
8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, 9 for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord.
The other day I asked Sarah if she remembers hearing this peached about…
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
she said no
20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
1 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
Jn 8:39
I counted all the scripture references that I had in my notes that mentioned false teachers… 43 of them
I counted all the scripture references that I had in my notes that mentioned false teachers or prophets… 43 of them
and that isn’t an exhaustive list
The Scriptures are far from being silent concerning false teachers
False teachers are dangerous.
False teachers are dangerous.
And listen to the imagery that Jesus makes
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
They are depicted as wolves among sheep
The language of sheep is used throughout the Bible to describe the people of God
So what is the wolf in relation to the sheep
It’s the enemy that seeks to kill the sheep
And they are not just wolves… they are ravenous wolves
That is to say that they are hungry, and they have an appetite for the sheep
And the danger of these false teachers isn’t that they are going to kill you
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
What we will see next week… is the effect of false teachers
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.
The big difference that distinguishes v 15-20 from next weeks passage v 21-23
is that the people described in v 21-23 are unaware of their condition
While the false teachers in tonights passage know of their true condition and they cloak themselves in the appearance of being godly in order to exploit the people of God…
Leads us to our next point
And these false teachers are not only dangerous due to to their nature as wolves among sheep… but look again at v 15
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Matt 5:
They look like sheep
They appear to be God’s people and are even among God’s people while their true nature in concealed…
False teachers have the appearance of godliness.
False teachers have the appearance of godliness.
False teachers are among God’s people and they may go unnoticed for a time.
A false teacher can be identified not only by hearing their claim, but also by watching their life.
A false teacher can be identified not only by hearing their claim, but also by watching their life.
They may sound genuine
They may sound genuine
They might be able to say the right things
Listen to the the religious people of Jesus’ day
39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
They might be able to say a lot of good things…
But might talk a lot about the love and grace of God… but they never talk about sin…
and the consequences for those who live in sin
Or they may do the opposite and talk all about being made right by doing all the works of the law…
and yet we are warned strongly against this kind of teaching in Galatians
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
And this is the crazy thing… is many of God’s people may be deceived and believe these false teachers
and they may even like it…
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
They may sound good and genuine…
3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
They may look genuine
They may look genuine
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Matt 23:
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Matt
24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Much of the sermon on the mount has already pointed this out…
Remember
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
And then he talks about all the righteous things that the scribes and pharisees did, while still disobeying the heart of the law
Or even
1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Where the pharisees gave, prayed, and fasted… while their true motives were not genuine
But they looked like a sheep on the outside
That is to say, these false teachers had the appearance of godliness
so then, how can we be aware of these false teachers if they are such a threat to the church?
Listen to what Jesus says next
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, 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.
Matt 7:
We know where fruit comes from right?
A specific plant produce their own kind
So it is, that godliness does not come from those who do not abide with Christ
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Or Gal 5s fruit of the Spirit
That is, the effect of the Spirit being in a person
False teachers are not identified by their preaching, but by their lack of holiness.
False teachers are not identified by their preaching, but by their lack of holiness.
A true teacher practices what he preaches
A true teacher practices what he preaches
What is holiness
A true teacher practices what he preaches
True teachers practice what they preach.
True teachers practice what they preach.
Holiness is the word that is used when we are devoted God and begins to even look like God
That’s what Jesus is saying…
That’s not to say we can’t identify them by what they teach
Rather they will either teach that which is contrary to God’s statutes…
or they simply wont practice what they preach
1 “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
We would call that a lack of fruit right?
a lack of holiness
They don’t want to talk a bout sin, repentance and holiness
14 Your prophets have seen for you
false and deceptive visions;
they have not exposed your iniquity
to restore your fortunes,
but have seen for you oracles
that are false and misleading.
and what is their aim in teaching these false claims?
Neh 6:12
Look at their lives
14 But in the prophets of Jerusalem
I have seen a horrible thing:
they commit adultery and walk in lies;
they strengthen the hands of evildoers,
so that no one turns from his evil;
all of them have become like Sodom to me,
and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.”
Jer 29
4 Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men;
her priests profane what is holy;
they do violence to the law.
and not just the OT
1 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. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
1
Jesus tells us:
2 tim 3:1-
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
matt 7:
And what will become of these thornbushes and thistles,
what will God do with these diseased trees that don’t bear fruit?
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matt 7:
False teachers will be destroyed by God.
False teachers will be destroyed by God.
20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’
Dut 18:20
So, since false teachers are crafty, subtle, and even common, what is the antidote to this problem?
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
We must know the tru gospel
1 jn 4:1-4
1 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. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 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. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,
3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.