Matthew 7
The Sermon on the Mount
Vs. 15-20, False Prophets
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns? or figs from thistles?
Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.
Jesus often used horticultural illustrations, because He lived in an agrarian, farming and ranching society. But we get His drift here.
If a fruit tree is diseased or otherwise not healthy, then the fruit it produces could be poison. In any case, it's not any good for food, so the tree would only be used for fire wood.
Healthy trees produce delicious and nutritious fruits. But you can't tell what quality of fruit a tree will produce by just looking at its leaves, you must see what it produces.
So we are to be "fruit inspectors."
False prophets and teachers come "in sheep's clothing," disguising themselves as God's people; but when you look at their lives, what do you see? How are their families functioning? What do they pursue in their off-time? What is going on behind closed doors?
When we have public personnas we live in glass houses. Our lives are open to public scrutiny. And that's right. We should not have anything to hide, because we can't hide anything from God, anyway.
So we are to check out who we are listening to, do our due diligence on our resources, to see if these teachers really are faithful to God's word, or if they're really "ravening wolves" who are only out to shear the sheep.
We are vulnerable to being sucked into the attitudes of the people we listen to. So we want to hold their teachings in abeyance until we can study God's written Word to see if what they are saying really is true. Paul called the Bereans "more noble" because they didn't take even him at his word, but checked out everything he said against Scripture (Acts 17:11). We are to do the same.
If the teacher you are listening to says anything that contradicts what God has made clear, then that shows you that this is not a man of God. Don't let him or her lead you off the narrow way; don't climb the fence or break through the hedge that hems in that road to follow something that "tickles your ears."
I have done my best to hear what God says in His Word, but if you find anything in any of my opinions or conclusions, then please call me on it. Tell me where I've mistaken God's intent, and I will check it out. I want to be faithful to my Lord Jesus Christ, and lead my readers to Him, not away from Him.
O my Father, please help me to be accurate in everything I say, that You would be lifted up in Truth and Love. Father, if anyone finds anything here that disquiets their spirit, then give them the courage to speak up. And let me accept their criticism and follow up on their comments, "to see whether these things are true."
And may Your Name be lifted up, Father, and may Your reputation be maintained. You have opened the window to let us see Who You are, and we want to see an accurate picture of You.
Father, I know that what You have showed us of Yourself is like a tiny drip from the ocean; but let that glimpse be True. Help us to know You, Father, not our idea of who we want You to be.
And every eye will see, every knee will bow, and every tongue in every language will confess that You are the King over all kings, the Lord over all lords, and God alone, over all other gods that have ever been worshiped. You alone deserve all worship and adoration, all praise and glory and credit and honor and majesty are Yours alone.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
