“Knowing Others By Their Fruits” (Pt. 1) (March 14, 2019)

Allen Raynor Weblog: “Knowing Others By Their Fruits” (Pt. 1)

(Mar. 14, 2019)

 

          Chuck Swindoll tells the story of the time one of his friends was tricked into eating dog food while attending a dinner party at the elegant home of a physician.  The dog food was served on delicate little crackers with a wedge of imported cheese, bacon bits, and an olive, topped with a sliver of pimento (hors d’oeuvres a la Alpo!).  This prank was pulled off by someone who had just graduated from a gourmet cooking course and decided she would put her skills to the ultimate test.  After doctoring up the food, she placed them on a silver tray and served them and one by one watched them disappear.  Swindoll’s friend said, he could just not get enough of them and kept going back for more.  Evidently everyone there had a good sense of humor, because when she admitted what she had done later, they all had a good laugh!  This true story is the perfect illustration of what goes on in the realm of religious deception.  Every day there are phony preachers, and other “professional” Christians that are marketing their wares and serving their hors d’oeuvres on silver platters to the undiscerning who are being fooled.  If it looks fancy enough, is served the right way, and looks appetizing, a certain number of people will always think it is good.

          In the Old Testament, there are multiple warnings about false prophets.  There were strict tests/criteria for a true prophet (Deut. 13:1-11; 18:20-22).  In the New Testament the Apostles give many warnings about false teachers.  You see it in nearly every book of the New Testament.  In the case of Jude, for instance, the whole book is dedicated to refuting false/deceiving teachers.  Jesus Himself also warned strictly about false teaching and teachers.  False teaching and false teachers running amok is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the last days according to Matthew 24.  Jesus had nothing kind to say about them, only the strongest words of condemnation.  In Matthew 7:15-20 He says “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  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.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

          In verse 15 of Matthew 7 Jesus teaches that false teachers can be known by the cloths they wear.  They are wolves dressed as sheep.  When we see a sign that says “Beware” we hopefully take notice.  Jesus says “Beware of false prophets!”  A false prophet does not simply make a mistake in his teaching; everyone makes mistakes.  The difference with false prophets is that they make mistakes in the fundamentals.  They misrepresent God himself.  They misrepresent the Gospel.  They deny God’s message and his messengers, and they resist correction.  They disguise themselves in an attempt to be less obvious.  Jesus tells us they come to you dressed as sheep; appearing as sheep, but are actually ravenous wolves.  In biblical times there was no greater threat to sheep than wolves.  They would utterly devour sheep.  Sheep are basically defenseless animals and a wolf could devour them in nothing flat!  The only thing that stood in the way was the Shepherd whose job was to protect the sheep from the wolves.  If the shepherd did not do his job, the sheep were left highly vulnerable.

          On the outside, these false prophets claim to be part of the flock of God, but on the inside they are ravenous wolves.  Picture a hungry, slobbering, growling wolf.  This is what Jesus uses to describe these false teachers.  It is quite a picture!  Commentator Daniel Doriani writes “To complete their disguise, they use biblical language even while they distort its meaning.  They recite creeds, but reinterpret their meaning.  They also have credentials – graduate degrees and ordination certificates.” (Daniel M. Doriani; The Sermon on the Mount: The Character of the Kingdom; 213)  Believers (sheep) need to be careful, watchful, and discerning knowing there are plenty of false teachers filling pulpits, writing books, coming over the airwaves, and streaming on the computer; but we should be familiar enough with our Bibles to know when major doctrines are twisted, changed, or ignored.  Furthermore, we should know when these false teachers add to the teachings of what the Bible says.  In these last days it is more important than ever to be on guard, be discerning, and be ready!

 

In Christ,

 

Dr. Allen Raynor, Pastor