Have you met a false prophet or teacher? Would you know a false prophet if you saw one? Jesus explains how to identify a false teacher in his first sermon. As I read through Jesus’s first sermon, I am tempted to think his sermon is a series of unrelated ideas. So how does Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves,” relate to verses 13 and 14. Jesus taught about the path of life, and how few find it compared to the path of destruction where many enter. To learn more about the path of life, read How to Find and Stay on the Path of Life.
Jesus’s next point in verse 15 warns us about false prophets who lead people away from the path of life and onto the path of destruction through wrong teaching. Jesus said in Matthew 24:11, “And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” A false teacher or prophet is not born-again, thus Jesus compares them to a ravenous wolf who appears to be a Christian in sheep’s clothing. Isaiah 8:20 (KJV) tells us why, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Christians have the light of Christ in them, but those who do not practice the truth are in the dark. John 3:20-21 explains, “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
Jesus Explains How to Recognize False Teachers.
In Matthew 7:16-18, Jesus explains, “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.” Jesus uses the fruit analogy to explain how to recognize false teachers. So, the good tree produces good fruit, therefore, a person who has the truth will produce the truth found in God’s word. But if a person is full of false beliefs, they will teach heresy, which is a teaching contrary to God’s Word. Many false teachers begin with a scripture verse to appear as if they abide in the truth, but then twist the scriptures into a false doctrine. I can list many false doctrines, but I won’t.
Here are a few of my experiences with false teaching. I went to a Bible Study at a local church that I did not attend. One member said they believed Jesus sinned because they read Jesus was perfected by suffering. The pastor agreed with the false belief. I had to speak up and graciously share the truth. At another church we visited, the pastor requested that the church members invite their dead relatives to the communion table. My husband and I were mortified and did not take part. The pastor knew us and kept inviting us to the communion table; we did not budge. In another church, a new pastor was hired who did not have the fruit of the Spirit. He also did not allow small groups to study the Bible together but had to use books he approved, which shows a problem. I learned later that they were part of the Hill Song movement, which teaches false doctrine. I remember sitting in one of the small group leader teaching sessions with the Hill Song leadership and thought they were not teaching the truth and distorted the truth of God’s Word.
Ask the Lord to give you discernment to know when the teacher or preacher is speaking a false doctrine or distorting the truth. Read the entire Bible at least every two years. Memorize the truth so you recognize heresy. For example, a woman in my Sunday School had the wrong belief that Christians did not have to face the judgment of God. I gently disagreed and could show her the Scripture in 2 Corinthians 2:10, which says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” Had I not known that truth, other believers in the Sunday School would adopt that false teaching. With that said, we all can be false teachers if we don’t know God’s Word. Likewise, choose an accurately translated Bible such as the New King James, The New American Standard, or the English Standard, which are all accurately translated. To learn more about translations, read this article.
Another way to recognize a false teacher is to use the 1 John 4:6 test, “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” Don’t be afraid to confront your pastor or teacher about specific truths you believe they are misrepresenting. The Apostle Peter wrote in 2 Peter 2:1, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.”
False Teachers are Destined for Hell.
The end of 2 Peter 2:1 tells us that false teachers bring swift destruction upon themselves. Jesus continues his sermon by saying in Matthew 7:19-20, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” Fruits in our lives are the work of the Holy Spirit as we submit to God and let Him sanctify us in his truth. John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
A teacher or preacher whom you are learning from should show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness/humility, faithfulness, and self-control. Therefore, if you want to be a teacher, make sure you abide by the Word of God, submit to God’s authority by obeying Him, and set your mind on the things of the Spirit and not your flesh (Rom. 8:4-10). James 3:1 states, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”
Be aware of the “Christian” literature you read online or in books, that they do not twist the truth or add their truth to God’s truth. Revelations 22:18-19 states, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”
The Apostate Church.
What is an apostate church? An apostate church is led by a teacher who is living in obvious sin, such as homosexuality, pedophilia, adultery, drunkenness, and so on. Such leaders rebel against the commandments and truth of God and teach a false truth that leads those who listen down the path of destruction. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 tells us, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” And 1 John 4:1 instructs us, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
Conclusion
A good Biblical teacher will fit the description in Titus 2:7-8, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” Another description is in Titus 1:7-9; “For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” If your pastor or teacher resembles these two passages, you have a sound teacher.
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