Some take greater care choosing their grocery produce than in choosing their spiritual care. We rightly value good doctors who will not simply medicate symptoms, but treat the real underlying disease. We need mechanics who can teach preventative maintenance, not just let necessary matters go unmentioned until more expensive damage gets done.
What shall we do with a Jesus who dares say “Beware,” and declares there exist such scoundrels as ‘False Prophets.’ Don’t swallow just anything that seems spiritual or follow just anyone exclaiming, “Lord, Lord…”
“Let him who has my words speak my words faithfully…”
Hear the full audio of “The Pleasant Fruit of False Prophets“
A sermon on Jeremiah 23:16-29 and Matthew 7:15-23 / Eighth Sunday after Trinity / 11 August 2019
Matthew 7:15-23 (ESV)
15 [Jesus said:] “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Isaiah 50:4 Blues 