SF018 - BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS (Matthew 7 15-20)
Matthew 7:15-20
Introduction
Context
Jesus has just told us that there are two gates, two ways, two groups, and two destinations. He has urged us to enter the narrow gate and go by the narrow way. Now He warns against those who would lead us astray.
False Prophets have always existed.
Moses’ warning (Deuteronomy 13:1-5)
Jesus
Matthew 24:11 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.”
Paul
Acts 20:29-30 “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.”
Peter
2 Peter 2:1-2 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.”
John
1 John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
1A. Why We Are to Beware of False Prophets (7:15)
1B. They are deceptive – “in sheep’s clothing”
They claim to speak for God
Jeremiah 14:14 “Then the LORD said to me, ‘The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds.’”
They claim to do the work of God
Matthew 24:24 “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”
They appear to have correct theology
Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
Ø They would never speak outright heresy.
They seem to very sincere and genuine
2 Timothy 3:13 “But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
They live outwardly moral lives
2 Corinthians 11:13 “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.”
Ø They appear to be godly.
2B. They are dangerous – “ravenous wolves”
Wolves were the most dangerous enemy of the sheep.
Because they are clever and wily
Jude 1:4 “For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
Because they merciless and ferocious
Ø “Ferocious wolves” is translated “swindler” in Luke 18:11
Because they will completely destroy their prey
Matthew 23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”
2A. How We Can Identify False Prophets (7:16-20)
1B. We are to inspect the tree and the fruit
The seed determines the tree
The tree determines the fruit
The fruit reveals the tree
2B. We should look for three types of fruit
Character (Galatians 5:22-23)
Ø Group 1 – Their perspective
Love - Agape
Joy - a spiritual relationship of faith in God
Peace - not the absence of problems but the addition of power
Ø Group 2 – Their practice
Longsuffering/patience – is a patient holding out under trial
Kindness - a kindness which is useful or serviceable.
Goodness - a kindly disposition to one’s neighbor
Ø Group 3 – Their personality
Faithfulness (faith) - standing true
Gentleness - being submissive to God's teaching and leadership
Self control - not controlled by gratification of the flesh
Creed
Ø A proper view of God as King of Kings.
Revelation 4:11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Ø A proper view of Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation and as the redeemer of His people for whom He died.
Hebrews 7:22 “…Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.”
Ø A proper view of man as being hopelessly lost in his sin unless a sovereign God is pleased to perform a miracle of grace upon him.
Jeremiah 13:23 “Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil.”
Ø A proper view of the Holy Spirit that He is essential to salvation. The Father planned it, the Son purchased it, and the Holy Spirit communicates it.
Ø A proper view of prophecy, that much of God’s future work is a mystery.
Converts (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
Ø They will be self-centered not God-centered. (2 Timothy 3:1-4)
Ø They will be religious but not regenerate. (2 Timothy 3:5)
Ø They will reject sound doctrine (4:3-4)
Application
We must first judge ourselves
2 Corinthians 13:5 “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test?”
We must judge preachers and teachers
1 John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
We must base our judgment on…
Character – who we are
Creed – what we believe
Converts – what we produce
Matthew 7:15-20
1A. Why We Are to Beware of False Prophets (7:15)
1B. They are ______________ – “in sheep’s clothing”
They claim to _______ for God (Jeremiah 14:14)
They claim to do the _________________ of God (Matthew 24:24)
They appear to have ________________ theology (Colossians 2:8)
They seem to very _______________ and genuine (2 Timothy 3:13)
They live outwardly __________________ lives (2 Corinthians 11:13)
2B. They are dangerous – “ravenous wolves”
Because they are __________ and wily (Jude 1:4)
Because they merciless and ferocious
Because they will completely ____________ their prey (Matthew 23:15)
2A. How We Can Identify False Prophets (7:16-20)
1B. We are to inspect the tree and the fruit
The ______________ determines the tree
The tree determines the fruit
The fruit reveals the __________
2B. We should look for three types of _____________
Character (Galatians 5:22-23)
Creed
Ø A proper view of God as King of Kings. (Revelation 4:11)
Ø A proper view of Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation and as the redeemer of His people for whom He died. (Hebrews 7:22)
Ø A proper view of man as being hopelessly lost in his sin unless a sovereign God is pleased to perform a miracle of grace upon him. (Jeremiah 13:23)
Ø A proper view of the Holy Spirit that He is essential to salvation. The Father planned it, the Son purchased it, and the Holy Spirit communicates it.
Ø A proper view of prophecy, that much of God’s future work is a mystery.
Converts
Ø They will be self-centered not God-centered. (2 Timothy 3:1-4)
Ø They will be religious but not regenerate. (2 Timothy 3:5)
Ø They will reject sound doctrine (4:3-4)
Application
We must first judge ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5)
We must judge preachers and teachers (1 John 4:1)
We must base our judgment on…
Ø Character – who we are
Ø Creed – what we believe
Ø Converts – what we produce