Romans 8.12–17 + Matthew 7.15-23
Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Beware of false prophets.” The warning comes to us each year on this Sunday because it is a fact of life in this sinful world that false prophets continue in every generation. They are wolves—ravenous wolves—who seek to devour the lambs of the Lord’s pasture with their falsehood. But they disguise themselves to look like harmless, innocent sheep. This is how they capture so many well-intentioned, trusting people. What is the sheep’s clothing they wear? The Lord says of Israel’s false prophets in Ezekiel 22:28, “Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD had not spoken.’” Throughout the Scriptures, the Lord begins many of His sayings with the opening phrase, “Thus says the Lord.” The false prophet’s disguise is the saying, “Thus says the Lord,” when in reality, the Lord has not spoken thus. It’s telling people, “God says this or that,” when God hasn’t said this or that in His Word of Holy Scripture. They may use the language of Scripture like the Mormons or Jehovah’s Witness. They may cite Scripture passages, but out of context, or contrary to the plain sense of the words, as Rome, the protestant sects, and even many who bear the name “Lutheran” do in our day. This is how their teachers deceive so many: “Thus says the Lord, when the LORD had not spoken the thing they’re saying He has.”
What are they speaking, then? The Lord tells the prophet Jeremiah, “They speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the LORD” (Jer 23:16). The sinful heart, which is the most deceptive thing on earth, is the fount and source of their teaching. God’s word says one thing plainly. But since it is offensive to unbelievers and human reason, it must be reinterpreted. The Triune God says He is the only true God and that all other gods are worthless idols. But that offends the Jews, the Muslims, the cults, along with those who subscribe to the American civil religion of a generic ‘god’ whom everybody worships. So, the false prophet says, “Since God works in hidden ways, so He may very well be working apart form the gospel in other religions, so we really shouldn’t judge individuals of other faith traditions.” This is not what God has said in Scripture, though. It is what someone has said in their heart which is antichristian, and devours the souls of those believe it.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said on the night in which He betrayed, when instituted His supper said, “’Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood” (1 Cor 11:24-25). Yet this is offense to human sensibilities, even of many pious and devote Christians, so the false teachers tell them the bread and wine symbolize Christ’s body and blood, or that through the earthly elements, we spiritually ascend to heaven to commune with Christ there. But the Lord has not said thus. The apostle Peter says, “Baptism doth also now save us” (1 Ptr 3:21). But this offends the human flesh’s desire to take its salvation into its own hands, so the false prophets reach into their hearts and say, “Water is not enough to save, it must be your own decision, your own work, and your baptism shows the world—and God—that you are obedient to God.” But the Lord has not said thus about baptism.
Our Lord Jesus Christ commanded His apostles to baptize all nations, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:20). Christ’s apostle, St. Paul, wrote in Romans 16:17, “Note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” Yet the idea that there cannot be union—or communion—with other Christians who teach different doctrines different from Christ and the Scripture offends the sinful flesh. The flesh wants unity around the lowest common denominator of doctrine so that the Christian Faith can consist of a multiplicity of different opinions, opinions which do not come from Scripture, but the human heart. But God has not said thus about His church and His doctrine. The only way to find true union and communion is by taking all thoughts captive to God’s Word.
While there are countless falsehoods in the world today, the apostle draws our attention to a perennial falsehood in today’s epistle lesson. He writes, “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” In every age of the world, false prophets had preached that Christians are free to live according to the dictates of their own hearts. “If it feels good, do it.” “If you feel in your heart that something is right and God-pleasing, then it must be right and God-pleasing.” “You have the gospel; therefore you can live in any way, even according to the sinful flesh with its lusts and desires, and still be a Christian.” The false prophets of Jeremiah’s day did this. The Lord says in Jeremiah 23:17, ““They continually say to those who despise Me, “The LORD has said, ‘You shall have peace’; And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’” This is the reason practicing homosexuals, impenitent drunkards, fornicators and adulterers, and any of the works of the flesh, can defend their behaviors while calling themselves Christians. But God has not said thus. He has said through His apostle, very simply, “If you live according to the flesh you will die,” and in Galatians 5:21, “Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Those who call themselves Christians must, instead, put to death the deeds of the body by the Holy Spirit and not allow sin to reign over them.
Sadly, all these falsehoods—and more—we hear from the pulpits of clergy, whether they are called bishops, pastors, teachers, or ministers. They may be sincere, but falsehood sincerely believed and taught is still ravenous to the soul. Jesus says, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Even though they had the office of the ministry, cast out demons, and did miracles, they practiced lawlessness, deceiving many, including themselves, confusing the dictates of their hearts for the truth of God’s Word. But also, beware the false prophets who aren’t in pulpits. Beware those in our world that invokes God’s name and Word, whether it be an entertainer, a politician, or a talking head on television or the internet. If they use God’s name and Word and say what God hasn’t said, or twist what He has said in Scripture, then they, too, are false prophets, ravenous wolves, who want to direct your faith away from Christ and the Scriptures, so that you trust in the imaginations of their hearts, their opinions, as God’s Word.
Why is this all so important? Because God’s Word is the word of eternal life. God’s word clearly and correctly taught is how the Holy Spirit works faith and gives life. False prophets have many ways to devour you so that you put your faith, not in the “Thus says the Lord God,” but in “Thus says my heart.” And that is their fruit. And you will know them by their fruits. Any prophet that directs you away from the plain sense of God’s Word is a false prophet, whether through the opinion of their flesh of by encouraging your own flesh’s opinions. Anyone who mistakes their sinful flesh’s will for God’s will must hear Christ’s judgment: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” This is why it is imperative to beware false prophets. To enter—and remain in God’s kingdom—we must do the will of the Father in heaven. The will of the Father is your repentance, that you humble yourself before God and confess your sins against His law. His will is that you believe the gospel and receive the forgiveness of your sins and Christ’s perfect righteousness each day. His will is that you adhere to His Word, receive His benefits through His sacraments, pray diligently, abide in God’s goodness, and faithfully use the gifts He gives you. His will is that your sanctification, that you live a holy life according to His holy word, and that this new life daily increases and grows. His will is that you suffer with Him, that [you] may also be glorified together (Rom 8:17) when He returns in glory. Amen.
May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
