Verses 15-20 One reason we might find ourselves on the wide road is if we’ve been given bad directions. This is why it’s so important to know the Bible, the Truth, the way. We need to be on guard against false prophets. They are counterfeits.
False prophets are people who foretell things to come. In the Old Testament, these false prophets were exposed when what they professed was going to happen never actually happened. I’ve seen in my lifetime prophets with a big following declare that God told them about events that would happen and the event(s) never happened. That’s a sign to watch out for.
Other prophets are teachers. Jesus was both a prophet and teacher. False prophets say they are from God but they are like wolves in sheep’s clothing. They pretend to have God’s blessing and direction. The Bible says these false prophets disguise themselves as apostles even. Satan turns himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13,14). The book of Revelation says the enemy has horns like a lamb and faces of men (Revelation 13:11, 9:7,8). They will have an attractive, flattering language to lure us in.
You’ll know them by their fruit. We can’t always know what kind of tree is growing by its bark or leaves, but we can know the tree by its fruit. I like how the NLT defines this fruit as the way they act. We can see if they are actually producing the good fruit the Bible talks about (leading from a life of love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control – Galatians 5:22). Their teaching needs to promote faith, humility, and giving. We can stick an apple on a tree of thorns but we know that fruit didn’t grow there. A bad tree cannot produce good fruit. We need to examine what others are teaching us to see if it’s consistent with God’s Word. Is their lifestyle one of holiness and love for the Lord? Are their conversations careless or respectful? Is their private life holy and peaceful? How do they react or respond when they go through a trial in life? False prophets may teach us one thing but do another with their lives. They deceive with half-truths. They may be ambitious to gain a following by creating new phrases and twisting the Word. They might live according to worldly standards. Living a lifestyle of sin goes against God’s Word. It says here in verse 19 that God will cut them down and throw them in the fire.
Verses 21-23 A false prophet’s actions will show there is no spiritual relationship with Jesus. They can call Jesus “Lord” but their lack of good fruit will expose them. They might pray and profess on the outside that they are followers of Jesus but if there’s no heart change and if there are no signs that they are doing the will of God, they will not be in heaven. God’s will is that we love God most with our lives, that we believe in Jesus, that we repent of sin, that we live a holy life, and that we love one another. One day when we appear before God, all the secrets of our hearts will be exposed. Someone may be a preacher, may have gifts for the ministry, and even success in it, and help others to heaven, and yet come short themselves. Verse 22 says they may even cast out demons in Jesus’ name and still not make it to heaven. It might have been from a motive of showing off and not for the glory of God. Grace and love are ways we live out our belief in Jesus, more than removing demons or mountains or performing healing miracles. (1 Corinthians 13:1,2). We can’t pretend with God about what’s in our hearts.
Verses 24-27 There will be a day when all the nations shall be gathered before Jesus and divided between those who simply heard and did nothing about the Word of God, and those who acted on what they heard. When we have emotional, relational, or financial problems, it’s easy to address the things we see. Spending too much, need to make more money, stay away from that crowd, fill up on what makes us happy. But these solutions only address symptoms. They don’t get to the source of the problem. The foundation of our problems is what we believe, how we think, where we put our trust. Jesus ends his Sermon on the Mount here with a story about two men who built their houses on different foundations. Though they both heard the Word of God, one acted on it and the other disregarded it. One foundation was on the rock and lasted when the storms of life hit. The other foundation in sand crumbled when the rain washed it away. One was willing to apply God’s Word and spiritual truth to his circumstances in life and took the necessary time and steps to work hard to build his house on rocks. The foolish man chose the cheapest, easiest, fastest route. If we want a stable foundation in our personal life, in our family’s life, in our children’s future, in our community, then we need to take the time and effort to learn and apply God’s Word, our sturdy and strong foundation. The Bible calls Jesus and his Word Our Rock. (Deuteronomy 32:4, 2 Samuel 22:2, Psalm 18:2 and 28:1, Isaiah 26:4 and 28:16, 1 Corinthians 3:11, Ephesians 2:20-22). It’s not enough to hear God’s Word, understand it, remember it, and even repeat it. We must do it. We must obey it. This is where we get our wisdom and place our hope. Jesus is our only way to God, our Father, and obedience to the Word of God is our only way to Jesus. You can’t say you believe and never do the Word. James 1:22-25 ESV says “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” Anything but Christ brings no true, lasting comfort or satisfaction. The trials in our lives will reveal what our foundation is made of.
Verses 28-29 Everyone who heard Jesus’ teachings were amazed because He taught with authority and not like anyone they had ever heard. He had a tone of authority. His lessons were the law. He spoke His Word with command. When we hear Jesus speaking to our spirit through His Word or Holy Spirit, it has a tone, a level of conviction, and command that is very distinct and different from someone else reading God’s Word to us. Jesus teaches by his Spirit to the soul with authority and it’s like nothing we’ve ever been able to compare it to. He speaks and it is done.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for protection from false prophets, that I would have the wisdom and knowledge of Your Word to know the difference between their false teachings and the Truth. Holy Spirit, give me the discernment to know when a teacher’s private life isn’t matching up with Your grace, love, humility, and giving spirit. Help me look to the fruit for proof of Your Truth in this world. Reveal any deceit, anything that is grabbing for attention in this world, or flattering my emotions that isn’t lined up with Your Word. Expose any twists to Your Word, God. I don’t want to be led astray. Keep me close, Jesus. Help me not be one of these false prophets or teachers. Help me to sincerely desire changes in my thinking, in my motives, in my desires. Help me to focus on Your grace and how you want to display that. I don’t want to get caught up in miracles and healing and casting out demons if there is no real heart change. I want to exchange pride and any unforgiveness for love and grace. I want to trade in any worldliness, sensuality, secret sin for humility, a spirit of giving, and unconditionally love like You, Jesus. You are my Rock, the Rock of my salvation, Jesus. I don’t want to choose what’s easiest, fastest, and most convenient for my life. I don’t want to build my life on what is temporary in this world, money, fame, importance, or what can easily be broken. Help me take the time to train up my children in Your ways. Help me to pause when emotions rise and choose Your Word to guide me in my situations and circumstances. I pray for the power of Your Spirit, Jesus, to overcome the pull of this world. Help me to trust You, my strong, sturdy, immovable foundation in every trial and storm that blows my way. Help me to walk in revival, Lord, for Your glory, Jesus. I praise You, I honor You, I trust You. You are the only thing lasting, Jesus. Your comfort never fails me. You are the anchor of my soul holding me steady through this life. You are the authority in my life. I give you the reins, Jesus. Have Your way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.