Prophets
This week is on Matthew 7:15-20:
Jesus is talking here about prophets. Prophets are people who God uses sometimes to deliver a message to someone in person, as opposed to them feeling it in their hearts, reading it, dreaming it, being visited by an angel, etc. Looking at someone, however, there isn't really any way to tell whether they're a prophet or not. God doesn't just issue them all ID cards.
You can't just believe someone is a prophet any more than you can believe someone without a badge is an undercover cop. If the false cop told you to go with him in his van, he could be taking you out into the woods to rape you, rob you, or kill you! But at the same time, if he was a real cop, you might find it in your best interests to do as he says. It's a difficult position to be in to have to decide whether or not to trust them.
Positions of religious authority are incredibly attractive to twisted, ungodly individuals. Sociopaths, predators, scam artists and attention whores all love to be seen as God's spokesmen. Imagine the allure of having people revere you, of being able to make them obey your every command. Imagine being able to command absolute trust, and having a tool to compel people to give you their money, their labor, and their devotion. History is full of people like that, and yet there are also actual prophets. How do you tell them apart?
Jesus describes the false ones. They come in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ferocious wolves. In other words, they seem like good Christians at first, but inside they're looking for what they can take. If you open your door to a ferocious wolf or a rabid dog, they'll rip you apart and destroy your flock. It's easier to just always keep your door locked, but what if the sheep is actually just a sheep?
Jesus says to look at the fruit of their lives. Do they bring lies, or truth? Do they express love, or hatred? Do they bless people, or threaten to curse them? If they tell you something is from God, does it match other things God has said, or does it deny them? If they predict something, does it happen? Observe them and weigh what you see.
A good tree bears good fruit. Some good fruit: People are brought closer to God. Wounds are healed. People love others more.
A bad tree bears bad fruit. Some bad fruit: The person leaves a trail of accusations and broken hearts behind them. They have been thrown out of other churches. They are full of rage and contempt for others. They insist on unquestioning trust up front. They bring the focus to themselves and their "spiritual authority" and not to God and his grace. They demand a reward for their "gifts." Their prophesies tend to have some payoff for them, financial, sexual, political, emotional, etc.
A lot of people are cautious enough to not just trust someone who says they're a prophet, but their guard drops instantly when they see signs and wonders. But remember, the devil can perform signs and wonders too. Anyone who has spent time amongst witch doctors in Africa can attest to that. The Book of Acts talks about evil spirits and magicians that can do them. The question is not just whether the supernatural is present, but whether God's character and truth is expressed through it.
If you're curious whether a tree is a fruit tree, you have to go through a similar process. You're not just going to eat whatever it is dangling in front of you and hope for the best! There are lots of ways you can figure out whether it's good for you or not. Very rarely are you so hungry that you don't have time to check it out. The same goes for people who call themselves prophets.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Jesus is talking here about prophets. Prophets are people who God uses sometimes to deliver a message to someone in person, as opposed to them feeling it in their hearts, reading it, dreaming it, being visited by an angel, etc. Looking at someone, however, there isn't really any way to tell whether they're a prophet or not. God doesn't just issue them all ID cards.
You can't just believe someone is a prophet any more than you can believe someone without a badge is an undercover cop. If the false cop told you to go with him in his van, he could be taking you out into the woods to rape you, rob you, or kill you! But at the same time, if he was a real cop, you might find it in your best interests to do as he says. It's a difficult position to be in to have to decide whether or not to trust them.
Positions of religious authority are incredibly attractive to twisted, ungodly individuals. Sociopaths, predators, scam artists and attention whores all love to be seen as God's spokesmen. Imagine the allure of having people revere you, of being able to make them obey your every command. Imagine being able to command absolute trust, and having a tool to compel people to give you their money, their labor, and their devotion. History is full of people like that, and yet there are also actual prophets. How do you tell them apart?
Jesus describes the false ones. They come in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ferocious wolves. In other words, they seem like good Christians at first, but inside they're looking for what they can take. If you open your door to a ferocious wolf or a rabid dog, they'll rip you apart and destroy your flock. It's easier to just always keep your door locked, but what if the sheep is actually just a sheep?
Jesus says to look at the fruit of their lives. Do they bring lies, or truth? Do they express love, or hatred? Do they bless people, or threaten to curse them? If they tell you something is from God, does it match other things God has said, or does it deny them? If they predict something, does it happen? Observe them and weigh what you see.
A good tree bears good fruit. Some good fruit: People are brought closer to God. Wounds are healed. People love others more.
A bad tree bears bad fruit. Some bad fruit: The person leaves a trail of accusations and broken hearts behind them. They have been thrown out of other churches. They are full of rage and contempt for others. They insist on unquestioning trust up front. They bring the focus to themselves and their "spiritual authority" and not to God and his grace. They demand a reward for their "gifts." Their prophesies tend to have some payoff for them, financial, sexual, political, emotional, etc.
A lot of people are cautious enough to not just trust someone who says they're a prophet, but their guard drops instantly when they see signs and wonders. But remember, the devil can perform signs and wonders too. Anyone who has spent time amongst witch doctors in Africa can attest to that. The Book of Acts talks about evil spirits and magicians that can do them. The question is not just whether the supernatural is present, but whether God's character and truth is expressed through it.
If you're curious whether a tree is a fruit tree, you have to go through a similar process. You're not just going to eat whatever it is dangling in front of you and hope for the best! There are lots of ways you can figure out whether it's good for you or not. Very rarely are you so hungry that you don't have time to check it out. The same goes for people who call themselves prophets.
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