What It's Meant to Be :: Matthew 7:15-23

Believe it or not, sometimes things are not what they seem to be. For example, did you know fireflies are not flies, they’re beetles. Silkworms aren’t worms; they’re caterpillars. Lead pencils contain no lead; they’re made with graphite. English horns are neither English nor horns ... they’re French alto oboes, which are reed instruments. And guinea pigs are neither from Guinea nor are they pigs; they’re rodents from South America. You see, things are not always what they seem to be. 

There’s no place in life where that statement is more true than in religion. 

Religion is not always what it seems to be. 

Our text this morning illustrates that principle quite well. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us a warning. Beware of false prophets! They are not who they seem to be.

People almost always seem to misunderstand this passage. Although we all know Jesus is speaking about those who are not what they seem to be ... but then he goes on to talk about their fruits, and people tend to zero in on that and rip it out of context. They then apply this passage to everyone but false prophets. When we read, you will know them by their fruits, they jump to judging people on the basis of behavior. 

I suppose some of that can be expected. Three out of four Americans have a theology we call works-righteousness, which frankly is not Christian. Works-righteousness is a theology that says, you must prove you are who you say you are: Prove you’re a Christian. It is a form of self-righteousness that believes that salvation can be earned with good works. Those who adopt this theology include those who say if you don’t name it, you can’t claim it. They believe that things are what they seem to be, saying ... 

Well, he acts like a Christian, so he must be a Christian. ... 

Or he lives a sinful life, therefore he must not be a Christian.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, bad people do good things, and good people do bad things. Things are not always what they seem to be. We are all sinners ... each and everyone of us! We are born with original sin. That is to say we are sinners who sin. That is the sad truth. As Solomon declared in Ecclesiastes: There is not a righteous man upon the earth that does only good and never sins (Ecc 7:20). But thanks be to God for the forgiveness of sins credited to us on account of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

So if bad people can do good things, and good people can do bad things, what does Jesus mean when he says you will know them by their fruits? To determine that we need to return to the text. Today’s reading from the Sermon on the Mount begins with the warning, Beware ... [take heed ... pay attention to] ... the false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly are ravenous wolves (v. 15). 

Immediately before this, Jesus says: Enter through the narrow gate; because wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those entering through it. For small is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few are those finding it (vv.13-14). He is talking about being sure that you are going the right way. 

So, he continues ... Beware of false prophets! ... They aren’t who they seem to be.

The question many of us ask ... or should ask ... is therefore: With so many people claiming to speak the truth, how can we know if they are not who they seem to be? Aren’t all Christian denominations essentially the same?

In a word, no! Jesus talks about that here: Beware of the false prophets. That means, pay attention! Take heed of what they are teaching! 

Prophets are people chosen directly by God to be his spokesmen. I am not a prophet, in the true sense of the word. They spoke a message given directly to them by God; I speak a message God gave them. Though they spoke of the future, their message was not simply one of doom. Prophets bring messages of hope and comfort because they declared the entire word of God, Law and Gospel.

False prophets come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. In other words, false prophets look like Christians. They are not who they seem to be. They will show you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). They will look like they are living holy lives... quoting scripture ... performing mighty works. As Jeremiah prophesied, They will say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, “It shall be well with you.” And to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, “No disaster shall come upon you” (Jer 23:17). They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord (Jer. 23:16–29). They deny the judgment of the Lord, speaking peace to the unrepentant, when in truth there is condemnation and wrath.

I read an interesting story this week about a study of wolves and dogs. The researchers wanted to know, can wolves become like our best friend? So they cared for both wolves and dogs from the moment they were born to see how nurture would shape their disposition. Guess what? Wolves remain wolves ... ready to devour you instead of giving you puppy dog kisses.

So beware of false prophets. They are wolves. Some want your money. Some want you to idolize them, to admire them, to respect them. They are in fact anti-Christs, people who will lead you away from the way, the truth, and the life. They preach the Law without the Gospel.  

Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of the heavens, Jesus says ... Many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I am here to tell you that you know the difference. 

Doctrine matters! That’s how you will recognize false prophets ... by their teachings!! Cows give birth to cows. Corn stalks grow ears of corn. Teachers produce teachings! Some of those teachings may sound good. So ask yourself, where’s the Gospel? Is their message what it seems?

You know the Gospel. Take heed and pay attention to it. It tells you the truth. God’s Word is not a new word. It is not “just” a good word on good living. Nor is it “just” a guide for your life. Jesus isn’t “just” a good man. Nor is he “just” a purveyor of a golden rule. 

God’s word is all about Christ: The good news of his life, his death, his resurrection for your sake. The Good news of what he does for you, to you, through you ... of how he fills all things, how he is all in all (Eph 1:23). All theology is in fact Christology. It is all about Christ. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. A false teacher cannot hide from those who know this truth. 

And you know the Gospel, don’t you? It is what it seems to be. 

As our confessions will remind you: Everything that comforts, everything that offers God’s favor and grace to transgressors of the law, is ... the Gospel. Hear it, believe it, have faith in it. It is what it seems to be: the good and joyful message that God will not punish your sins but will forgive your sins on account of Christ. ... This is the news in which our faith rests. 

He made him to be sin who knew no sin so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21). Christ was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification (Rom 4:25). His obedience is credited to us for righteousness before God’s strict court. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom 1:16) which preaches righteousness and gives the Spirit (1 Cor 1:18; Gal 3:2). This is the message you have heard from the beginning. This is not man’s Gospel (Gal 1:6-12). 

Beware of those who don’t preach this Gospel. 

Beware of those who claim to speak for God, and who steer you away from this truth. 

Beware when the Gospel is hidden during worship ... when the hymnody sings of our works and efforts. Then you will know something is wrong. 

Beware when the sacraments of baptism, absolution, and the Lord’s Supper aren’t administered properly ... when they are robbed of their power ... when the traditions of the church deny these gifts of heaven to you for you ... Then you will know something is wrong. ... We should be receiving these sacramental gifts of God every Lord’s Day.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, these things are written so that you will have faith that Jesus is the Christ, and that in your faith, you will have life in his name (Jn 20:33). This is the sum of the entire Gospel. But allow me to restate it for you; it is always worth repeating.

Our Lord Jesus Christ lived for you, fulfilling God’s promises to you. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died for you. And he was raised from the dead for you. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ has made you heirs of heaven, children of the Most High God, by becoming one with you ... in the baptism he poured out upon you, the baptism he leads us back to the font every day where you can confess your sins and receive his absolution. More than that, he is the one who comes to serve you in his Divine Service to you, delivering the forgiveness of sins in the eternal feast he has prepared for you. 

You know this truth in Christ. Rest assured, it is the one thing that truly is what it meant to be: The power of God for your salvation.