Sermon on the Mount: 11th Blessing

MATTHEW 7:13-20

CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIP TO FALSE PROPHETS

There was much misconception among the people about the mission of Jesus Christ. In dealing with this problem, Jesus first addresses the perverted purpose of His mission. He states plainly that He did not come to do away with the law and the prophets. These terms were generally understood to mean the Old Testament which was all the scripture known at that time. His opposition to the traditions taught by the religious leaders was not any opposition by Him to the Word of God but was opposition to false teaching. The traditions of men are not equal to scripture. He often opposed men who were teaching and prophesying falsely but He never opposed scripture.

In verses 13-14 Jesus teaches of the inescapable choice before us. It is so striking that He is careful to present this teaching as absolute with no variable for interpretation. He actually insists that there is ultimately only one choice for those who wish to be His followers. There are two paths to the choice but only one path will prevail in the hearts of Christians.

First there are the two ways. This concept is already found in Psalm 1 which shows the way of the righteous versus the way of the wicked. Jesus elaborates. He says one way is easy and His word choice means broad or roomy. It is the way of tolerance of false teaching and there are no boundaries of either thought or conduct. Those who take this road follow their own inclinations, which are the desires of the fallen human heart.

The hard way is narrow and its boundaries are clearly marked. The narrow boundaries are found in divine revelation which God has given within His Word.

Second there are two gates. The gate leading to the easy way is wide, because it is a simple matter to find the easy road and many are there. There is no limit to the luggage we can take with us through this gate. We leave nothing behind, not even our sins or our pride. The other gate is narrow because there are only a few who enter through it. Those who enter there carry nothing with them. Everything is left behind, sin, ambition, selfishness, covetousness, and even family and friends if necessary. No one can follow Christ who has not first denied himself and all he carries along with himself.

Third, there are two destinations. The easy way, entered by the wide gate, leads to destruction. The hard way, entered by the narrow gate, leads to life which Jesus means is eternal life with fellowship with God, beginning here but perfected hereafter. (Hebrews 12:23)

Fourth, there are two crowds. Entering through the easy road and wide gate are many. The narrow and hard way, leading to life, seems in the teaching to be deserted by comparison. He says those who find it are few.

There is no middle way.

FALSE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS

Jesus warned His followers of false prophets because they already existed among those of His time. We hear of them in almost every New Testament letter. The history of the Christian church has been a long and dreary story of controversy with false ones. False prophets and teachers are dangerous and deceptive. Their danger is that in reality they are wolves. Christ’s flock of followers are either at the mercy of good shepherds or wolves. The good shepherds feed the flock with truth while the wolves who are false divide it with error.

It is not by accident that Jesus’ warning about the false ones immediately follows His teaching about the two ways, the two gates, the two crowds and the two destinations. The false ones are expert at blurring the issue of salvation. They are more than dangerous as they are also strongly deceptive. Unwary followers actually can mistake them for fellow sheep and provide them warm welcome. Jesus uses a strong warning word, beware!

We must be on guard, pray for discernment, use our critical views founded on the Word, and never relax our vigilance. We must look beneath the appearance to the reality. What is it that lives under the fleece we see? Is it a sheep or a wolf?

As a traveler on the hard and narrow road, a believer enjoys fellowship with his fellow pilgrims and focuses his eye on the goal of life, As a seeker of God’s revealed truth, he heeds the warning of Jesus Christ to be watchful for false prophets and false teachers who would pervert the Word and therefore ravage the flock of Christ’s truth.