The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 7:15-23/Lesson 12 Matthew 7:15"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” “In telling people to beware of false prophets, Jesus obviously assumed that there were such. There is no sense in putting on your garden gate the notice ‘Beware of dog’ if all you have at home is a couple of cats” (Stott p. 197). “Beware of the false prophets”: Jesus not only said that such exist, but that they would increase and lead many, even many believers astray (2 Peter 2:1ff; Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22; 2 Corinthians 11:13; 2 Timothy 4:3-4). “In telling us to beware of false prophets Jesus made another assumption, namely that there is such a thing as an objective standard of truth from which the falsehood of the false prophets is to be distinguished, The very notion of ‘false’ prophet is meaningless otherwise. So in referring to certain teachers as ‘false prophets’ it is clear that Jesus was no syncretist, teaching that contradictory opinions were in reality complementary insights into the same truth. No. He held that truth and falsehood excluded one another” (Stott p. 198). As a result doctrine must matter, for false prophets teach things that are contrary to biblical teaching. In our time some have tried to argue that false prophets or false teachers are not people who teach error, but who have false motives. Yet the truth, taught from the wrong motive is still the truth (Philippians 1:15-18). Consider that Jeremiah spoke of false prophets as those who: “Speak a vision of their own imagination” (23:16), while true prophets speak the counsel of the Lord (23:18). They speak their own words, while true prophets speak the words of God (23:22). They failed to handle God’s word faithfully (23:28). Therefore, the danger from false 1
prophets or false teachers is that they are teaching false doctrine (2 Peter 2:18-19; 2 John 9-11). “Who come to you in sheep’s clothing”: Jesus warns us that one cannot tell a false prophet from his or her outward mannerisms. Hence, we cannot be so naïve to believe someone simply because they seem so friendly and nice. False prophets were are often very friendly and socialable They can appeared to be very loving, kind, spiritual and zealous. Stott notes that one of the major characteristics of false prophets in the Old Testament was their amoral optimism, their denial that God was the God of judgment as well as of steadfast love and mercy” (p. 199). They gave disobedient Israelites a false sense of security. Consider the following passages:
Jeremiah 23:16-17:
"Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the LORD. "They keep saying to those who despise Me, 'The LORD has said, "You will have peace"'; And as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, They say, 'Calamity will not come upon you.'”
Jeremiah 8:11 :
"And they heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' but there is no peace”. “But inwardly are ravenous wolves”: Paul taught the same truth in Acts 20:28-31 and 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. Some of these men are motivated by greed, power, and prestige, but they are also called “ravenous” wolves because they are extremely dangerous. Those who accept what they teach will end up lost, hence they destroy the souls of men and women (2 Peter 2:18-19). “Others try to make out that the narrow way is in reality much broader than Jesus implied, and that to walk it requires little if any restriction on one’s belief or behavior” (Stott p. 199). “In other words, the false teacher does not announce and advertise himself as a purveyor of lies; on the contrary he claims to be a teacher of the truth. Not only does he feign piety, but he often uses the language of historic orthodoxy, in order to win acceptance from the gullible, while meaning by it something quite different, something destructive of the very 2
truth he pretends to hold. He also hides behind the cover of highsounding titles and impressive academic degrees. We must not be dazzled by a person’s outward clothing, his charm, learning, doctorates, and ecclesiastical honors” (Stott p. 200). One question that at times surfaces, “Is the false teacher someone who knows he is teaching error, but doesn’t care?” The answer to that question is yes and no. Some false teachers know they are teaching error and their disguise is deliberate, yet others, are so deceived that they really do think they are teaching the truth (2 Peter 2:19; 2 Timothy 3:13). Because Jesus said that false teachers exist, therefore a sound eldership will talk with all who desire to place membership. The time to detect a false teacher is, if possible, not after he or she has gained the confidence of the flock, but rather, before they are allowed into the flock. Matthew 7:16"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?” “You will know them by their fruits”: “Not by the leaves of their professions, pretensions or appearances, but by the actual outcome of their lives” (Fowler p. 424). While “fruits” in the above verse would include one’s personal life, in the context, the only way to tell a false teacher from a true teacher is by what the man is actually teaching. See Matthew 12:33-37; 1 John 4:1-3; Romans 16:17-18; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 4:1-7; 6:3-5. This doctrinal test is essential, because there are Christians who get involved in sin, who are not false teachers, and there are false teachers who are very moral at the same time. “Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes”: Remember, Jesus is talking about the entire conduct and teaching of a person. Even false teachers teach some truth now and then. The Judiazing teachers in the book of Galatians taught a number of truths, but it was that element of false doctrine that made them so dangerous (Galatians 2:1ff). In addition, fruit takes time to grow and ripen. “We also need an opportunity to examine it closely, for it is not always possible to recognize a tree and its fruit from a distance” (Stott p. 203). Many have noted that the most dangerous false teacher is not the person who teaches error on every subject, for they are easy to spot. Rather it is the person who most resembles the truth, but who still teaches error. The Pharisees fit into this category. They looked moral, upright, zealous, and sound, but their human traditions to the Word of God made them dangerous (Mathew 16:6; 23:27-28). “Truth matters. For it is God’s truth and it builds up God’s church, whereas error is devilish and destructive. If we care for God’s truth and for God’s church, we must take Christ’s warning seriously. He and His apostles place 3
the responsibility for the church’s doctrinal purity partly upon the shoulders of Christian leaders (elders), but also and especially upon the members of each congregation. The local church has more power than it realizes or uses in deciding which teachers it will listen to. If the church heeded His warning and applied His tests, it would not be in the parlous state of theological and moral confusion in which it finds itself today” (Stott p. 203). Matthew 7:17-18 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit”. Once again, remember, even some good trees have occasional bad fruit (1 John 1:8), and bad trees have the occasional good fruit. In fact, what makes false teachers hard to spot, is that it looks like they are bearing a lot of good fruit. How many people get sucked into denominations or unsound congregations because it looks like they are accomplishing so much? Remember, in the context, “good fruit” is defined as “doing the will of My Father” (7:21). Religious “good works or deeds” that are foreign to the Bible are therefore defined as “bad fruit” (7:22-23). We find the same truth in the Old Testament (Leviticus 10:1-3; 2 Samuel 6:7-8; 1 Samuel 15:22-23). Matthew 7:19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” The same truth is found in Matthew 3:10; Luke 13:6-9; John 15:2,6 and Titus 3:14. Failure to serve positively in Jesus’ name is sufficient grounds for condemnation (Matthew 25:41-46). It is not enough to abstain from bad fruit, one must also bear good fruit (2 Timothy 2:22). Matthew 7:20"So then, you will know them by their fruits” This verse undermines the concept that we cannot tell if a doctrine is true or false. The good news is that we do not have to wait until the judgment day to see who is right and who is wrong or what was the truth and what was error, because knowledge of the truth at that point would be too late. In this life, with the Word of God, we can tell the difference between good and evil, truth and error (Hebrews 5:14). Jesus will not excuse us, if we complain, “But standing for the truth is too hard”, or, “I don’t want to lose friends”, or, “If I just side with the Bible, I will be viewed as narrowminded”. Jesus plainly says in this verse that we are without excuse for not 4
making a distinction between people who teach the truth and those who teach error. Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” In this passage, Jesus turns from false teachers to false professors, from unsound teachers to unsound hearers. “It is not only false teachers who make the narrow way difficult to find, and still harder to tread. A man may also be grievously self-deceived” (Stott p. 205). Once again as we have seen in this entire sermon we are presented with only two choices. Let us remember that verses 15-27 are still a contrast between the narrow way and the broad way. On the broad way one will find many false teachers and many false professors. Mere verbal profession (21), being religiously active (22-23) or intellectually knowledgeable is not a substitute for obedience. “Jesus emphasizes with great solemnity that on a thoroughgoing obedience our eternal destiny depends” (Stott p. 205). “Lord, Lord”: Many people say today that we are saved by faith alone. Well, merely saying “Lord, Lord” is a great example of “faith-only”, and yet such people are not saved. Many religious groups today offer a “Lord, Lord” salvation, that is, as long as you profess to believe in Jesus, you are saved. The people in verses 21-23 who are lost: 1. Had an accurate view of Jesus, for they believed He is the Lord. They believed that Jesus is the Son of God, God in the flesh. So many denominations, and even some liberal brethren are now claiming that the only requirement for salvation is the acknowledgment that Jesus is Divine. 2. They were very involved in many religious activities. 3. They were enthusiastic. The statement, “Lord, Lord”, is not said in a cold and formal way, rather, they are being enthusiastic, as if the speaker wishes to draw attention to the strength and zeal of his devotion. “But he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven”: The will of the Father is not left vague or up to each individual to decide, rather the will of the Father is revealed in the New Testament Scriptures (Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 Corinthians 14:37). Hence, in order to be saved, we must respect and obey the teachings of the New Testament. Just obeying certain teachings is not enough. Liberalism is filled with many contradictions. For example, liberalism will argue that we cannot obey or understand the Bible alike, yet at the same 5
time, liberalism will argue that we are in the wrong for not obeying certain doctrines, such as teaching more people or being more compassionate. Liberalism will argue that we only have to obey essential doctrines, such as doctrines about the nature of Jesus, but will then condemn people are not evangelizing. Therefore, by its own admission, liberalism does concede in practice that every doctrine is essential. For if we will be condemned for not carrying out the great commission, then obviously we will be condemned for spreading error to our neighbors, that is, perverting the great commission. All the human logic in the word cannot get around the fact that Jesus does link salvation with obeying what the Bible says. Matthew 7:22 “Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” “Many will say to Me on that day”: Of course, “that day” is the judgment day (23). Carefully consider Jesus’ use of the word “many”. Note that “many” believe that Jesus is the Son of God. The many claimed that they “prophesied”, “cast out demons” and performed many miracles. Following comments on the next verse, we will ask the question, “Who are the many?” Matthew 7:23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’” “I never knew you”: Wow! Most religious people would probably say that God will say, “I will give you a second chance”, or, “Yes, you were wrong, but grace will cover such sins”. The statement “I never knew you”, strongly infers that the people in Matthew 7:22 were never saved in Jesus’ sight. Hence, these are not Christians who fell away, but rather, people who professed Christianity, but who were never in a right relationship with God. This should not be a shock to us, for today we have millions who profess to know Christ, yet have never obeyed the Lord by being baptized for the remission of their sins. If this is true, then what about their claims? Observe that while Jesus does not directly deny that they worked miracles, cast out demons, and prophesied, neither does He endorse such claims either. From the fact that Jesus said, “I never knew you”, would not such a statement necessarily infer that these people never had God’s approval and therefore must have never really performed any true miracles? Therefore, supposed good deeds or religious works that are done by those who are not following the will of the Father, are viewed by God as evil deeds.
6
I cannot help, when reading the above verse, to think about all the people in Charismatic Churches, who claim God is speaking through them, and that they are actually performing miracles. Jesus had already warned us, He will condemn zealous, fervent and active professors of His name and cause—who are not obeying the will of the Father. God is going to exclude from eternal life, the active and zealous members of religious groups that are not obeying Jesus’ teachings. “Depart from Me”: This is not a temporary punishment, but rather, eternal exclusion from the presence of Jesus (Matthew 25:41,46). “You who practice lawlessness”: Only doing the will of God, counts as God’s will. All else is disobedience and worthy of the severest condemnation. Note the word, “practice”. The present participle indicates constant character, “they who always work”. As long as someone is in error, as long as someone is not obeying the will of the Father, they are practicing lawlessness and this completely cancels out all the “good deeds” they do now and then. For example, to reject baptism for the remission of sins, places one in the category of “lawlessness”, even if one is very involved in religious things, and even if one professes Jesus far and wide. The term “lawlessness” means, “the violation of law”. The “law” in the context is the will of the Father. Let us learn the lesson, the violation of the will of the Father on one point, cancels out all the other “good things” that one is claiming (James 2:1-10; Revelation 2:1ff). Closing Comments In light of such clear teaching from the lips of Jesus, let us consider the following modern ideas:
Is everyone who professes faith in Jesus a saved person? Is the only essential doctrine, the acknowledgment that Jesus is God? Do good works make up for doctrinal error? What about the attitude, “I know I don’t have Bible authority for this practice, but I would rather go to hell for doing something than doing nothing at all”? Most religious people are going to heaven. Grace will simply cover all sorts of errors that people have not forsaken.
7
 
Everyone is guilty of not obeying God somewhere. No one really does keep the will of the Father. We need to preach less on passages such as Matthew 7:21-23, for they drive people away.
8