Well after many Sundays together going through the Sermon on the Mount, we’re now drawing near the end of it. Here in Matthew 7 Jesus is wrapping up His teaching with some of His most pointed teaching and application of the whole sermon. He presses us to decision time and time again, presenting us with four sets of twos. Last week Pastor Andrew preached on 7:12-14 where Jesus puts two ways before us. Here in our text this week in 7:15-20 Jesus puts two prophets before us. The passage after this one, 7:21-23, Jesus will put two disciples before us. And ending it all is 7:24-27 where Jesus puts two foundations before us. In each of these sections all of us hearing Jesus’ words come to a crossroads where we must choose one way or another.
Today that choice before us is regarding those who teach. Specifically in v15-20, this whole passage is a warning against one kind of person, the false prophet. We need to hear this warning. Why? Because Jesus doesn’t want us to be unaware of the fact that not everyone who stands up before you to teach in the Church has your best interest in mind. Some are false. We need to know that. We need to know that false prophets and false teachers exist. We need to learn how to recognize them. And we need to know the end they’ll come to. That’s what this passage is all about. But when we see that for what it is, we’ll also see the glory of the true prophet, the Lord Jesus, for His true ministry, true teaching, and true living.
Let’s turn to these things now.
The Reality of False Prophets (v15)
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
Right away as v15 begins Jesus presents with a stark reality. False prophets exist, and we’re to beware, be on the lookout, and carefully watch out for them, lest they creep into our midst, deceive us, and destroy us. But who and what exactly is a false prophet? That can be answered easily enough by turning the definition of a prophet on its head. A prophet is God’s mouthpiece, one who speaks for God. As the priest stood in the gap speaking to God on behalf of man, the prophet stood in the gap speaking to men on behalf of God. A false prophet then, is one who claims to speak for God but in reality doesn’t. Rather, they speak for themselves, speak for other causes, and even speak for other gospels. A true prophet could honestly say “Thus saith the LORD” while a false prophet couldn’t but would likely say it anyway.
It’s hard to know if Jesus had a particular group of people or individual person(s) in mind as He says these things, but the term ‘false prophet’ is large enough to cover anyone who falsely claims to set forth the things of God.[1] Sadly, OT Israel knew many false prophets. Balaam in the book of Numbers who attempted to curse God’s people, the prophets of Baal who stood against Elijah on Mt. Carmel, the prophets in 1 Kings 22 who always gave the king good and encouraging words while the prophet Micaiah always gave the truth, and of course the most famous of all were the popular prophets who would calm the people down shouting ‘Peace! Peace!’ when Jeremiah was constantly warning the people against impending exile for their many sins. So too, the NT Church knew false prophets running amuck in their own day. After Paul encouraged the elders in Ephesus to pay careful attention to the flock God bought with His own blood, he warns them in Acts 20:29-30 that after he leaves he knows many fierce wolves will come in speaking twisted things to lead many astray. Paul later on even mentions two men by name in 2 Tim. 2, Hymenaeus and Philetus, who’s teaching was already upsetting the faith of some. These are just some of the examples we see in Scripture. And no surprise, just as OT Israel and the NT Church experienced false prophets, every generation since has had their own false prophets to watch out for.
Notice though, in v15 the false prophet is one who ‘comes to you.’ This little phrase means they’re from outside of us but they come to us and present themselves to us as if they were with us, as if they were one of us. In other words, they appear on the surface to be something they’re not. Jesus says they come to us in “sheep’s clothing” meaning they don’t come to us with signs hanging around their necks with the words ‘FALSE PROPHET’ on them. No, they will come among us, looking like one of us, acting pleasant and sincere, seeking to win us over because they want to be accepted by us. And because they look the part and talk the talk, no one will suspect them. This will be their outward form, yet lurking just underneath this shiny sheep-like exterior is a wolfish grin. Jesus tells us this. Outwardly they look like sheep, yet inwardly they’re ravenous wolves with an insatiable appetite for devouring sheep. So held within their identity as ravenous wolves is their aim. They seek to devour, seek to destroy, and seek to undo us.
This is the false teacher. Jesus doesn’t say they might or may come into our midst, but that they will come. Church, we must be aware of this and learn that people, when they claim to speak for God, cannot just be taken at face value and be trusted.[2] They must be tested. What kind of tests? See what Jesus says next…
The Recognition of False Prophets (v16-18)
“You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.”
Here we see the tests we must employ regarding those who claim to speak for God. Tests that will reveal if they’re true or false prophets. Tests that are all about fruit. But what fruit are we looking for? Jesus doesn’t define what fruit He has in mind here in this passage, so how do we know what He’s talking about? We might initially think Jesus is referring to fruit in teaching. This would lead us to ask if the one teaching is faithful or faithless in their teaching? Perhaps a false prophet subtracts from the Word, by leaving out certain doctrines or certain texts that they know people find difficult. Perhaps a false prophet teaches to entertain or to tickle the ears of their hearers to please them or humor them, rather than teaching to please the Lord. Perhaps a false prophet teaches to make much of themselves by showboating or putting on a performance to show others how great they are. Perhaps a false prophet adds to the Word, by teaching things that contradict what is in Scripture. Now, I do think there’s a conversation to be had regarding these false teachers in our day and what they teach, it is certainly a problem in our day, as it has been in every generation…but I don’t think this is the kind of fruit Jesus has in mind in this passage.
What kind of fruit does Jesus have in mind then? Well, think of what we’ve already learned. In v15 we learned the false prophet will come into our midst in sheep’s clothing, meaning they will look like us and talk like us. I think it’s safe to conclude then that the teaching of a false prophet will sound right and true and orthodox, so right sounding in fact that we won’t notice a difference at first. So, I don’t think the tests about fruit are primarily theological or about the false prophet’s teaching. What fruit are we testing then? Well, let’s examine how Matthew uses this word fruit in his gospel.[3] In 3:8 he speaks of bearing “fruit in keeping with repentance.” In 12:33 he speaks of the fruit of one’s mouth that shows the true condition of the heart. In 13:23 he speaks of bearing abundant fruit in life and character after hearing the Word preached. In 21:19 he speaks of fruitlessness in life as faithlessness toward God. And finally in 21:33-43 he speaks of fruitfulness as the kind of life the Kingdom of God produces.
Taking all of this together I would argue that Matthew primarily uses this word fruit to speak about character and ethical matters, he uses it mainly to speak about how one lives their life. This then is what I think Jesus is referring to in our passage in chapter 7. You will know a false prophet by their fruit means, you will know a false prophet by their false life. However plausible their words are, however sheepish, however true and right they sound, the true test is how they live their life. Is their godliness there or is there godlessness there? Just as grapes don’t come from thornbushes, and figs don’t come from thistles, the fruit of a godly life doesn’t come from a false prophet.
That’s v16, where Jesus shows us the basic principle at work. He then explains more in v17-18. Here He brings up the nature of a tree in relation to its fruit to illustrate His teaching. He mentions two kinds of trees, healthy trees and diseased trees. By appearance alone it might be impossible to know the difference between these two trees. One thing displays the difference, its fruit. v17 shows the truth from the positive side, saying a healthy tree can only produce good fruit while the diseased tree can only produce bad fruit. v18 shows the truth from the negative side, saying a healthy tree cannot produce bad fruit while the diseased tree cannot produce good fruit. These two kinds of trees function like this in relation to the fruit they bear because of their nature. Healthy trees only produce good fruit because it’s their nature to do so. And diseased trees only produce bad fruit because it’s their nature to do so. These two trees cannot produce the opposite of what they are, it would be impossible for them to do so.
Such is the false prophet. By nature of who they are, they can only produce fruit in line with their nature. So the false prophet, being false, will only and always produce bad fruit in their false living. It’s who they are. For them to bear good fruit would be contrary to their nature. I do think Jesus is being pretty clear here, but we have trouble with this in our day. How so? We often assume a ministry is healthy or a ministry must be ‘of God’ if it grows very large and impacts thousands of people. You’ve seen this right? A church or a ministry might have a charismatic leader, with a strong personality. Most at first might think because of this leaders unusual gifting that they can overlook certain characteristics that might be troubling in others. But some wonder at this leader. Perhaps they can’t quite name it or put a finger on it, but something about the leader smells off. Well, growth happens and happens and happens. Yet you notice the leader not growing healthier but actually growing worse, and more issues seem to be surfacing such that the problems once sensed are now starting to show. But no one talks about it, because who can question all of this growth right? ‘God is moving!’ everyone thinks, but is He? Doubts grow in many. Yet the leader who was once questioned by some now becomes untouchable and unaccountable because of all the growth. No one wants it to stop, so no one says anything. And sadly, the end comes quick and tragically.
Church, don’t mishear me. I’m not anti-growth, I’m not saying real ministry only happens in smaller churches and that all those bigger ministries are phony. Wrong. There are healthy and unhealthy small churches just as there are healthy and unhealthy larger churches. Growth is great, if it is from God, but growth isn’t the only measure of success for a church or ministry. Don’t mishear me. What I am saying, what I want you to hear is that Jesus instructs us to test those who lead us and teach us. We must not let ourselves get swept up in the shiny veneer of nice sounding words, and gloss over an ungodly life. A false prophet will be recognized by bad fruit in ungodly living. Appearances and facades can only be maintained for a while, eventually the truth will be seen and all will know and see the fruit of false living.[4]
Honestly, how many of you would eat cat poop? It’s a fair question. If a I served you cat poop pie on a paper plate I bet none of you would eat it. Easy call. Yet, how many would be duped if that cat poop were dressed up on a silver platter and paired with caviar and other fancy delicacies and given a fancy name? Some of you might try it, if you didn’t know it was cat poop! But on tasting it, you’d know it was foul. Church, far too many entertain false prophets because, even though they don’t live faithfully, they sure do look good and sound good. Jesus wants more for us! That’s why He instructs us in this.
So far we’ve heard Jesus’ warn us that false prophets exist but that false prophets can be recognized. Now see how Jesus concludes this passage in v19-20…
The End of False Prophets (v19-20)
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”
It really doesn’t get clearer than this. The language of being cut down and thrown into the fire is a common biblical metaphor for judgment. It’s used all over the Bible, and Jesus uses it here to show us the end awaiting all false prophets. So hear it, loud and clear. If a false prophet continues in false-ness, only the fires of hell are await them. It is indeed a sobering end for a deceptive life.
Conclusion: Implication – The True Prophet
How do we end such a sermon as this? It isn’t very often we speak on such things, but such things are necessary for us to know. Yet, I would have you leave here today thinking on higher things. Lingering on false prophets can wary the soul. But as foul as they are, their opposite is bright and glorious.
Church, Jesus Christ is the true Prophet. Let’s turn around the words in this text and apply them to Him. Jesus has no difference in appearance and reality. What He shows Himself to be, that He is, forevermore. He is no wolf, ravenously seeking to devour the sheep, no, He is the Chief Shepherd who laid down His life in death on the cross and rose from death to save His sheep, and He will keep them to the end, so safely and so securely that no wolf or hired hand can snatch any sheep out of His hands. The Lord Jesus is recognized by His fruit. Being the Son of God become Man, He can only bear the best and most pleasant fruit in all existence. His fruit is seen in His teaching and His living flawlessly, for no imperfection exists in Him, He will never diminish, or change to be less perfect than He has always been or is right now. He will always teach us the truth, for He is the truth. And He will always live at the Father’s right hand as He lived during His earthly ministry, as the Savior of sinners and defender of His people. His tree will never be cut down and thrown into the fire, for its roots go down to the foundation of the earth, and anyone who gives up on sin and comes to live under the shade of His tree finds His life and all who find His life find the very thing that makes all of life make sense.
Yes, sadly false prophets and hucksters exist in the Church, and they will come to the Church in every age. Don’t be overly despairing about this. Know about it yes (!) and be warned! But take heart, for Jesus, the true Prophet, will always lead His Church in every age and through every age until the day comes when He takes us home to Himself.
[1] Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew – PNTC (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1992) 176.
[2] R.T. France, Matthew – NICNT (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2007) 290.
[3] France, Matthew, 291.
[4] R. Kent Hughes, The Sermon On the Mount: The Message of the Kingdom – Preaching the Word Commentary (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2001) 255.
