MATTHEW CHAPTER 7 - Part 3

� 2001 William R. Cunningham
May 13, 2001

PURPOSE AND INTRODUCTION

Jesus' teachings from the Sermon on the Mount are invaluable for the Christian to understand the Kingdom of God.� Jesus reveals the operation and conduct in the Kingdom of God to all those who would listen.� The information that can be acquired here will help the Christian to know for themselves what the Kingdom of God is like and therefore how to conduct themselves as God's people.

The purpose of this study Guide is to present to you the teachings of Jesus Christ found in Matthew chapter 7.� It is recommended that you read Matthew chapters five through seven for a more complete picture of these teachings.� In this particular lesson we are going to examine verses 15 thru 27.� We are also going to look very closely at the concept of false prophets.

FALSE PROPHETS

Matthew 7:15 (NKJV) "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

I believe that this is one of the most powerful warnings in the entire Bible.� However, we must be very careful in understanding what is actually said here, which will be clarified in subsequent verses.

Let's first look at the key words (terms) in this verse of scripture to help ensure that we accurately interpret this verse.� The key words are as follows.

1. Beware
2. Prophet
3. False prophet
4. Sheep's clothing
5. Ravenous wolves

The word "beware" means to be attentive to, alert, or cautious about.

Let me first define the word prophet before we get to the next term.� A prophet, in this context, is simply someone who speaks the word of the Lord by inspiration of the Spirit of God.� A prophet is therefore someone that proclaims what God has said.

The term "false prophet" actually comes from one Greek word (pseudoprophe�te�s) and it means a pretending prophet, a spurious prophet, that is, pretended foreteller or religious impostor.� A false prophet is therefore a phony.

The term "sheep's clothing" refers to someone that appears to be harmless because he or she appears to be part of the group as opposed to an outsider that would do the group harm.� So this is a false prophet that comes disguised as someone that is harmless like a sheep or disguised to blend in with the rest of the group.� They pose themselves as an insider so that the group might accept them and then the imposter can do his or her dirty deed.

The term "ravenous wolves" refers to someone that is rapacious (greedy or a predator), or an extortioner.� This refers to a person that wants to extort what you have to fulfill their greed and desire for more.

Now let's put these together to get an accurate picture of Jesus' statement.� Jesus warns us to be on the lookout or be on guard for those who would pose as God's people when in fact their intent is to steal what you have so that they might obtain more material wealth (or power).

KNOWING FALSE PROPHETS

How will you be able to know a false prophet when you see one?� Consider the next scripture.

Matthew 7:16-20 (NKJV) You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

You can know a false prophet by the fruit that they produce.� What is the fruit?� The fruit actually refers to two things.� It can refer to the results of the prophet's words and it can refer to the actual doctrine that the prophet speaks.� Consider the following scriptures.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 (NKJV) But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?'- when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

Look very closely at what this verse is saying and what it is not saying.� First it says that the test to know what God didn't say is when what was spoken does not happen.� For example, suppose I told you to give me one thousand dollars and you will receive all the money needed to pay your back taxes.� Now what if after giving me the money you did not receive the money to pay your back taxes.� Then we could say that God did not tell me to tell you to give me $1000.

Do you mean to tell me that I have to be scammed in order to know that God really didn't say something?� No you don't.� First realize that during the time of this scripture (and now for the most part) a prophet was confirmed by the accuracy of his prophecy.� If what the prophet said came to pass then it was accepted that the prophet is indeed a mouthpiece for God.� This does seem to be quite reactive.� There is another way, however.� Consider the following scripture.

Deuteronomy 13:1-4 (NKJV) "If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, �and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods'-which you have not known-'and let us serve them,' 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. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.

This scripture reveals a very important concept.� Nothing, and I mean nothing, should draw you away from the Lord your God.� God would never tell you something that would jeopardize your relationship and standing with Him.� He would not push you or drive you away from Him.� Therefore, any prophet that comes to you with a message that affectively pulls you away from God or in some way separates you from God, then that is indeed a false prophet.� You will know him or her by the message that they speak.� If the message leads to God then that is good.� If the message leads you away from God then do not listen.� This also means that you will have to examine what you are told.

So you can know a false prophet by the message that he or she speaks and not only after the fact.

Notice something very important about the previous scripture.� It states that the false prophet's words might come true.� However, the ultimate test of the prophet's validity is consistency of the message with God's Way.� So don't be awed just because you witness a miracle.� It might not be by the Spirit of God.� This verse succinctly informs us that the performing of a miracle or the coming to pass of what was spoken is not final validation for a prophet of God.

THE DECPETION FROM PROCLAIMED THE VOICE OF GOD

I have come across many people who have heard a word from the Lord.� Sometimes this word is for me.� I learned a long time ago to give no credence to these people, whether they are genuine or not.� I learned not to respond to what they say but to respond to what God says.� If God is indeed speaking through them then His word will indeed be confirmed and hold up to my questions and become validated.

The most important thing that we can do is to know God for ourselves and rely on His Word to us personally.� There are many people that claim to hear from the Lord when in fact, what they heard stems from their own confusion, desires, and intent.� I cannot validate to anyone that I have heard from the Lord.� I cannot tell you that God wants you to do anything because I heard from the Lord.� I cannot claim the will of God because God told me during my secret prayer and that I heard God's voice as plain as day.� Any such claims are subjective best.� How can anyone know that I have actually heard from God?� The truth is that they can't.� That is why it is far better to preach the Word of God and the concepts in the Word instead of trying to persuade people to do what I want because of my vision, dream, or conversation with God.� They have no reason to believe that God told me anything and of course that means they don't have to heed my words.

THE DECEPTION FROM PERCEIVED AUTHORITY

A common statement among Christians is, "My Pastor said."� How many times have you heard that statement?� Many Christians hold to the words of their pastor or favorite minister instead of the Word of God.� The authority in these people's lives is the word of their pastor or minister and not God.

People are drawn away from God because they listen to everyone besides God.� God, as we stated earlier, does not cause you to be drawn away from Him.� God will tell you nothing that will destroy you or lead you away from Him.� Yet, we listen to the voices of those who usurp (take) authority over our lives and neglect to hear God.� We live according to the doctrine of man instead of the Word of God.� We are deceived because we have allowed a false authority to rule our lives.� Instead of God being the authority in our lives, we have allowed men and women to control us by their doctrines.

APPLICATION

This is a very sensitive issue to me because I have seen many people deceived, robbed, and destroyed by the false teachings of a false prophet (teacher).� These false prophets spread lies in order to quench their own greed, which of course is insatiable.� They feed off of the ignorance of the people.� The average churchgoer does not know God, that is, have an intimate relationship with God.� Instead, many churchgoers only know their particular church doctrine, which typically does not lead to a close and intimate relationship with God.� Usually a particular church doctrine deals with day-to-day conduct and beliefs of that church or pastor.

So you must know God for yourself if you are to have any hope of discerning a false prophet.� Knowing the words of a false prophet, and therefore identifying a false prophet, involves comparing what is said against the Kingdom of God, i.e., God's Way.� Anything that would tend to separate you from God is not of God.� Anything that tends to your destruction is not from God and you therefore do not have to heed what was said to you.

The final authority is God's word.� You do not have to believe anything that comes from the lips of man (men and women).� Your only goal is to do what God says.� If you are not sure if God spoke to you then do what you think is necessary to find out.� God is not trying to hide from you.� There are instances in the Bible where people wanted to be sure that it was God instructing them or talking to them.� Gideon and the fleece is one great example (See Judges 6:36-40).� I'm not suggesting that we should test God in such a way as Gideon did.� I am pointing out the importance of knowing God and weighing what you hear against what you know of God.� If you do not know God then you will tend to do whatever others in authority tell you.� However, remember that the true authority is with the Word of God.

So the next time someone tells you that they have a "word from the Lord."� You perhaps might respectfully listen and at the same time not take it seriously unless you hear from the Lord.� If indeed the person is speaking on behalf of God then the words will lead to obedience or intimacy with God and not separation.� Anything that draws you away from God is not of God.� You should know the voice of God (See John 10:1-5).

CONSISTENCY WITH GOD: THE ULTIMATE TEST

Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

There will be many that say that Jesus is their Lord.� However, Jesus says that just because someone says to Him, 'Lord, Lord,' as in declaring Jesus' lordship over his or her life, that such a person will enter into the Kingdom of heaven.� These people will proclaim to have prophesied, cast out demons, and performed many wonders in Jesus' name.� However, Jesus will declare that he never knew them and that these people were workers of iniquity (lawlessness).� Remember that to know implies an intimate relationship.� Therefore, though they were doing these great things, they had no relationship with Christ.

Just because someone says that 'Jesus is Lord' or Jesus is his or her Lord and Savior, does not make that person acceptable to God.� Acceptance to God comes only through obedience.� Even the workings of miracles and wonders do not validate a person as one of God's people (those in His Kingdom).

There will be many that come to Jesus in the last day and state how they have done many wondrous works in Jesus' name.� However, Jesus never knew these people.� The problem here is that many Christians use signs and wonders to validate a person as being sent by God.� Many Christians are on the road to destruction because they do not take the time to know God and therefore become protected by the truth of Christ.� People rely on signs and wonders to authenticate the man or woman of God because they do not know God or His word so they have no other choice but the sensational.� Consider the following scripture.

Revelation 13:11-14 (NKJV) Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

We therefore cannot use signs and wonders as a way to authenticate the man or woman of God.

THE DECEPTION OF SIGNS AND WONDERS

People tend to believe that the performance of a miracle or sign confirms that the performer is indeed a messenger from God or are working on the behalf of God.� The Bible clearly reveals that this is wrong as we see in the above scriptures.� However, there are many people deceived because they give credence to ministers because those ministers perform signs and wonders.� Also, consider that some of these signs and wonders are merely tricks to scam you out of your money.

Do not be fooled by signs and wonders.� These are not the definitive test for someone working according to the authority or calling of God.� Even those who are evil can work signs and wonders.� However, God draws you toward Him and not away from Him.� Remember that you will know false prophets by their fruit and by their doctrine.

HEARERS AND DOERS: THE WISE

Matthew 7:24-25 (NKJV) "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Those who hear the teachings of Jesus and live by them are called wise.� Jesus illustrates their wisdom as that of one who builds his or her house on the rock such that it will be able to stand against adversity.� Consider the following scripture.

James 1:22-24 (NKJV) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

Obey the Word of God and live the Word of God instead of just listening to or learning it.� Just knowing what God says is not enough.� It is just as important to do what God says.� Those who obey God's commands and live according to His Way are wise.� They will be able to stand against the adversity that comes upon them.

The Unwise

Matthew 7:26-27 (NKJV) "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

The converse is true for the hearers alone.� Those who hear Jesus and don't do what He says are foolish.� They will not be able to stand against adversity.� Their foundation is on sand and will not hold up in the time of adversity.

Do you practice the word of God or are you a hearer only?

CONCLUSION

Beware of false prophets.� False prophets are imposters.� They claim to be sent by God but are really intent on destroying you to fuel their own desires.� Furthermore, these people might be deceived themselves.� We can know a false prophet by their fruit and by their doctrine.� However, in order to discern a false prophet's teaching, we must know the word of God ourselves.

Do not be deceived by false prophets by thinking that a miracle or sign validates that person.� It is possible for someone to perform a miracle (healing for example) or a sign and not do so by the Spirit of God.� God will draw you to Him and not push you away.� Therefore, any teaching or statement that will result in a separation or tend to a separation from God is not of God.

Be doers of the word as well as hearers.� Do what God says in addition to learning what He says.� Those who obey God are wise and those who do not obey what they know from God are not wise.� Again, be on guard for false prophets.� Amen.