September 12, 2010
Evening Service

Matt. 7:15-29

 

Review:

1.       This morning Jesus taught us concerning judging, asking, seeking, and knocking, the golden rule, and the two ways of life.  Very simple and easy to understand.  This evening we will finish the Sermon on the Mount.

 

False & true teachings:

Mat 7:15-29  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 

• Jesus is telling us “don’t worry they will come.”
• False prophets;  Now this is not hard to understand.  Sheep’s clothing, means they appear, meek, humble, gentle, and not to be afraid of.
• Ravening wolves:  We would know the danger of a wild, ravenous wolf.  Very dangerous, ready to kill, and destroy.

(16)  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  (17)  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  (18)  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 

• Jesus uses a truism concerning nature.  Most people would understand this parable very easy.  Jesus is not trying to hide anything here, He wants us to know how dangerous false teaching is, and those who bring it. 
• This morning He taught us not to judge people, but He is telling us here to watch for these types of people that would bring you damaging doctrines.
• Jesus tells us later in Matt.  When telling His disciples of things that would come to pass in the last days;  Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And;  Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
• But it will not be possible to deceive the elect.  We are not as the world is, caught up in every worldly situation, we are watching for His coming, and He will not come as a thief in the night to us.  We will know when He is coming by the signs He has warned us about.
• Paul tells Timothy:  1Ti 4:1-4  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 
• Then the Apostles tells some things to watch for.
• (2)  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;  (3)  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.  (4)  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
• The converted Jews who went out teaching that you had to be circumcised in order to be saved was one of the most dangerous.  These are the ones that would also teach you had to keep other things of the law.  Such as Lev. 11.  clean, and unclean meats.
• And we have actually found in our studies that the early church did expect converted Jews to keep several of the Fathers laws.  None of the sacrificial, but many of the others.  But these were never for the Gentiles.
• But there are groups today that call themselves Christians that teach this, and they are Gentiles.

 

• By their fruits you shall know them.
• They will come:  Paul told Timothy;  2Ti 3:1-17  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 
• (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  (6)  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,  (7)  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (8)  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.  (9)  But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.  (10)  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,  (11)  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.  (12)  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  (13)  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 
• You shall know them by their fruits, or teachings.  The yard stick to measurement?
• (14)  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  (15)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

 

What is their reward?

(19)  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (20)  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  (21)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

• We found this morning Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

• It’s not that the way to Heaven is hard, it’s just that so many people can’t believe that Jesus paid it all.

(24)  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  (25)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.  (26)  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  (27)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 

• A simple illustration of the importance of following the Lord’s teachings.  We have them all right here in our Bible.

(28)  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:  (29)  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

 

We recognize that He did have the authority.  He was very God, the God of creation.

 

Jesus came and magnified the law, helping us to understand that we are sinners saved by grace.  We need a Savior, and He is that Savior.