Matthew 7:15 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Matthew 7:15

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In the business of trying to enter in through the narrow gate and proceed along the difficult way, there are false teachers and false messages to contend with. Entrance through the narrow gate is not a matter of passing through a physical space, but of understanding and believing a message. Therefore the question of false teachers is all important, for the message we need to hear in order to enter this gate is one that we do not yet understand. It is a message which must be preached to us in the public arena and we are immediately cast into the maelstrom of competing claims for the truth. As the message comes to us, the devil will not be idle, but will bring us another message to convince us that we should not go through this narrow gate. The broad gate is far better, he will argue, and he will us all manner of persuasive arguments to convince us that we should avoid the narrow way. These false prophets must be extremely plausible to succeed. They know that there are already warnings in place which are in danger of exposing them, and therefore they take precautions against these. They take pains to appear as something different from what they are, for if they do not come disguised, no one will believe what they say. They know that if their teaching is to be received, they must appear as true prophets of God. They ask themselves, ‘What are the marks of a true prophet? What are the people looking out for?’ They must use great skill to bring the people around to their position. Nothing too sudden; nothing too extreme, or it is likely to awaken alarm; just a question here and there: ‘Hast God said … If thou art the Son of God … Be it far from thee Lord …’. ‘Beware’ – not be aware, but be wary. The Greek means ‘hold in mind’; be constantly aware of false ideas. We need a part of the mind always switched on: there is much to be constantly analysing. The false prophet includes any policy for life, any philosophy, which is hostile to God. Those were intensely religious days, so false teachers presented religious alternatives. Some were ceremonialists. They said, ‘If we meticulously carry out every detail that will get us in.’ Others were virtually atheistic – the Sadducees were cultural Jews but did not believe in a heavenly reward, judgement, or resurrection – only justice in this life. Others were idolaters who had left behind the worship of the true God. In a non-religious culture like ours, false prophets refer to those who teach any claim that rivals the Bible. There is no source of authority outside the Bible about God, about matters of the soul, about the purpose of life. But false teachers tell you right out of their heads, something from human idea, something to be noticed: how to be successful in life; how to make money. Using the analogy of the flock, Christ says, they wear sheep’s clothing; they make out they are on the side of the sheep, but really they are ravening wolves. The preacher of the gospel comes across as threatening, speaking of sin and the need for a new life, but the false teacher does not threaten. He flatters and offers what he knows fallen human nature already wants. Be free from moral restraint; get pleasure from possessions. False prophets run the media; they have Parliament by the scruff of the neck. They have entered the schools bring their moral propaganda to the youngest of children. The tragedy is that many are not be aware of the danger.

Application

Do you evaluate and assess lifestyles, life views, or do you just accept everything? Do you check out values which people press on you? Are you aware there are forces planning to corrupt you, that there are different views of life? There is the Bible view: this world will exist for just so long. We are cut off from God but he has a plan of salvation, and you need faith to receive it. There is another perfect realm after this. Today people say either you have the Bible view, or you have the rational scientific view. One requires faith, the other does not, and we do not want to live by faith. Oh but you need faith for any worldview. Certainly, you need faith to believe in God, but not as much as you need blind faith to trust that random physical forces can produce complexity, order, beauty, and life. No we don’t, says the materialist, science has proven this world has come about by chance. No, science can tell you so much, but it cannot explain the origin of life, increase in information; it cannot answer the question – why? The question is not, is God there, but who is your God? Do you believe in the God who is transcendent over the universe, or are you your own God? You need religious faith for any view. Don’t be naïvely swept along by any idea that is put to you. You must know about God’s character; you must know about man’s fallen nature; you must know about accountability to God.

If you only know of the atheistic worldview you cannot do any distinguishing. This is essential because error will not always be obvious. There is a disguise often, which borrows our terms, and may seem meek and reasonable like a sheep. But he wants something for himself. Today there are churches with teachers who are just greedy for gain. Other false teachers want to replace gospel or destroy it. In the UK we have had some fine denominations, and then came false prophets. In the Baptist community they said, we believe the same as you, but you cannot take all the Bible seriously. The subtlety is accepted, and then it went a stage further and liberalism got control of the training colleges. Many urged the churches to expel these people. But sadly others said, ‘No, things are not as bad as you say and anyway we who are orthodox are still in the majority.’ During the time of the Downgrade controversy the Baptist Union said, ‘No we don’t want any machinery brought into our constitution to expel anyone.’ Now in that denomination there are only a few left who love the truth and stand for the Lord. How can the false be successfully identified? Not by pure suspicion which is only destructive and ends up not being able to trust anyone. Suspicion is a crude weapon in this fight and cannot distinguish between friend and foe. Safety comes through testing every message by the word of God, by what he has already said.

One of the greatest issues for the church is its protection. An essential part of the work of any faithful minister is to warn. Vigilance on the part of the whole church is required. To infiltrate churches with false teaching is always Satan’s method. Persecution is intermittent; infiltration, twisted false teaching, is constantly being used. They will enter if not watched. A false teacher is anyone claiming to teach on God’s behalf, but he is teaching falsehood. Vital that every church has a membership roll; that is implied here. How can you keep the false out, when there is no church membership to come into? Churches must include only those examined and received in. This is not the Old Testament congregation where saints and sinners mixed together. The prophets predicted – particularly Jeremiah – that a new arrangement would come in with the gospel age. Also you must have the means to expel false teachers, else they grow.

Alongside doctrinal requirements must be a demand for holiness. Many charismatics are good dear Christians, but some are false teachers: immoral, greedy, even illegal. Inwardly they are ravening wolves, grasping, hungry. They are calculating, and don’t care what damage they do. How well ravening fits them!

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Matthew 7:15 Commentary and Bible Study