Be Careful!!

 Continuing with the teachings and commands of Jesus, He warns us about false teachers and people.

Matthew 7:15-23 NIV

[15] “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. [16] By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? [17] Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. [21] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ [23] Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Here He is saying to watch out for people who would try to lead you away from Jesus by their teaching or by their lives.

Those who teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, or who "does the will of the Father in heaven," these are the people that are good for us to have in our lives. 

In learning, we do not accept just anyone's teachings, but see if their teaching lines up with the Bible. See if they teach "Jesus Christ and Him crucified." See if they teach from the Bible.

We love all people, but are not close companions with just anyone. Proverbs teaches "the righeous are cautious in friendships." Just because they say,"Lord, lord," doesn't mean they follow Jesus. 

How can we know who is who? Easily. Listen to what they teach if they are teachers. If just people, listen to how they talk. In minutes you will know the real person by hearing what they say. Words spoken reveal what is in a person's spirit or heart.

Matthew 12:34-35 NIV

[34] You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. [35] A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

Good teachers and preachers proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, and teach from the Bible. False teachers might teach the Bible, but put their own worldly philosophies or heresies in with it. Make sure strictly Bible teaching. It's like my mentor, Carroll Sites, taught me. He said,"Jeff, if you stick with the Bible, you'll never go wrong." The Holy Spirit "teaches us all things" as we study the Bible. So stick with the Bible or those who teach only the Bible and you'll never go wrong.

When deciding who to befriend or have in your life, remember good people will produce good things, and bad people will produce bad things. 

In the main passage, Jesus is telling us to be careful who teaches us and who we allow into our lives.

Here are some passages to read that explore this topic.

1 John 4:1-6 NIV

[1] Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. [2] This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, [3] but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. [4] You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. [5] They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. [6] We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

2 Peter 2:1 NIV

[1] But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 

Acts 20:29-31 NIV

[29] I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. [30] Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. [31] So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

Deuteronomy 13:1-4 NIV

[1] If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, [2] and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” [3] you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. [4] It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. 

1 Timothy 4:1-2 NIV

[1] The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. [2] Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 

Jude 1:4 NIV

[4] For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Love you all dear readers,

Jeffrey Post