How can you tell a false prophet, pastor or Christian leader?
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| The Reformed Church of France, Paris, France (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Following His call for us to pursue the narrow way that leads to salvation
(Matt. 7:13–14), Jesus warns us to beware of false prophets in today’s passage (vv. 15–20). Just as there are two ways, one of salvation and another of damnation, so too are there only two kinds of teachers: true ones and false
ones. Being able to distinguish these teachers from one another is vital if we
want to promote our spiritual well-being. Otherwise, false prophets will lead us to destruction.
Recognizing prophetic impostors is not always easy, but Jesus says the fruit
of their teaching helps us evaluate our instructors (vv. 15–16a). Some
buckthorn bushes in Palestine produce black berries that look like grapes from
a distance, and certain thistles have flowers that appear to be figs. However,
a close inspection of both these fruits reveals them for what they really are
— things unfit for consumption. Likewise, we must examine the fruits our
teachers produce in order to determine the nature of the source from which
they come (vv. 16b–18).
Since the church’s foundation has been laid (Eph. 2:19–21), no one today
exercises the gift of prophecy as the prophets and apostles of old did. Yet
the prophetic responsibility to explain God’s Word to the people remains, and
teachers are obligated, like the prophets, to preach true doctrine (Deut.
13:1–5; Titus 2:1). Therefore, teachers who exhort us to live out Jesus’ rules
for kingdom life bear good fruit. Sound teachers call us to repent (Matt.
5:3), live as salt and light (vv. 13–16), recognize our inability to keep
God’s law under our own power (v. 20), and follow Christ wholeheartedly
(6:19–24). True teachers never knowingly reject Scripture’s clear teaching
(Gal. 1:8–9; 2 John 9). John Calvin comments, “All doctrines must be brought
to the Word of God as the standard, and that, in judging of false prophets,
the rule of faith holds the chief place.”
Good fruit also includes purity of character and life. This does not mean
moral perfection, but general conformity to Christ. Those whom the Father
calls to shepherd His flock must not live in debauchery (2 Peter 2). They must
not preach and practice envy or divide over minor matters (1 Tim. 6:2b–5). By
their holy conduct, they are to set a good example for God’s chosen people
(4:12).
Though we are all responsible to evaluate our teachers by the fruit of their
teaching and lives, it does not necessarily follow that this evaluation is
solely an individual responsibility. In fact, we need other Christians who are
grounded in the faith to help us do this. The study of church history, our
church’s confessions, and membership in a good, local church is necessary to
help us weed out the good teachers from the bad. Are you involved in such
things?
