Matthew 7:15-23 • Warning Number Two
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SCAM = FRAUD
SCAMSTER = FRAUDSTER
A FALSE PROPHET
Peterson Matt. 7: 15 – 20
Beware of false preachers who smile a lot dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma, look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will not exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
NLT Matt. 7: 15 - 20
BEWARE of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chapped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
A prophet of God stood between God and man – declaring and relating God to the people and representing the people to God.
GK. Pseudo-propheton – One who falsely claims he is inspired by God
Hence, Biblically there are also Pseudo–Christos, False Christs and, Pseudo-apostoloi, False apostles.
So, we find false prophets, scam people, cheat, and lie, deceive, and destroy.
We find them everywhere:
1. RELIGION
2. POLITICS – In abundance.
3. LEGAL SYSTEM
4. ETC. = EVERYWHERE
Jesus’ teaching has 3 emphases:
1. WARNING – BEWARE
2. DECEPTION
3. IDENTIFICATION
Martyn Lloyd Jones:
False teaching can appear in many different forms; but we can divide them into two main sections. Sometimes it takes the form of blatant denial of the Truth and of the cardinal principles and tenets of the Christian faith. . . But false teaching does not always take that form. There is another form . . .Here it is not so much a denial of the faith, not so much a denial of the cardinal elements, as a teaching, as a teaching that submits that something else is required in addition to what we have already believed.
Martyn Lloyd Jones:
We somehow get the idea that error is only something which is outrageously wrong; and we do not seem to understand that the most dangerous person of all is the one who does not emphasize the right things.
MOTIVES OF FALSE PROPHETS:
The usual – money, power, popularity, etc., etc.
In Jesus’ times:
a. Jesus was disturbing the status quo.
b. Jesus seemed to oppose Jewish nationalism for HE PREACHED THE KINGDOM NOW.
c. Jesus preached DEATH as renewal NOT POWER to succeed.
What can we do? More so, WHAT ARE WE EXPECTED TO DO?
1. STICK TO THE BASICS – SOLA SCRIPTURA
2. DISCERN – I JOHN 4: 1
3. CONFRONT
4. RIGHTEOUSNESS – NO MATTER WHAT PREFERENCES YOU HAVE OR FEEL, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS STAND UP FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
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Each Sunday we come together we offer an open invitation into the way of Jesus. An invitation to enter into sacred rhythms - to draw near to God through singing, giving, learning, and praying.
As a community that desires renewal in Des Moines as it is in Heaven, we recognize that we cannot offer what we ourselves do not have. We cannot lead where we ourselves have not been led; in turn, these questions aim at reflection. Reflecting on God’s word and making space for his leadership.
After watching or listening consider the following discussion questions as a large group or in groups of three to four:
What stood out from the teaching?