Back to the Bible: Matthew 7:5-20

There is a danger along the way. False teachers will look to deceive those who are trying to follow Jesus. They may appear like fellow followers of Jesus, but they are actually wolves looking to rip apart the sheep. They are like the devil (I Pet. 5:8).

Jesus says that they can be identified by their fruit. You know what kind of tree it is by the fruit it produces. If the fruit they are bearing doesn’t line up with what truth would produce, they are not telling the truth. The fruit Jesus is referring to is the teaching.

If one is found to be a false teacher, they need to be removed and silenced. Ultimately, God will bring judgment (see Rom. 16:17; Titus 1:9-11). We should not adopt an approach of allowing everyone to share their view.

If their teaching doesn’t line up with the Father’s will made known through Jesus’ teaching, they are false teachers (Mt. 7:21, 24). We should not provide an audience to them. An orchard planter wouldn’t tolerate rotten trees!

Lessons to Learn:
Be aware of the danger of false teachers. Not everyone who claims to teach about God’s will has it right. What can you do? Continue to examine the Scriptures to see if what they teach is what God actually said. See the example of the Bereans in Acts 17:11 who searched the Scriptures to see whether or not what they were being told was really true. Back to the Bible!

John said that there were many false teachers that had gone into the world. The way that one could know whether or not they were telling the truth was whether or not they lined up with the teaching of Jesus’ ambassadors, the apostles (I Jn. 4:1-6).

Don’t be someone who wants false teaching. Why would you? Because it might make you feel better about the way you’re living. It might allow you to continue down the path you are traveling. Paul said some people wanted teachers who would “scratch their itching ears.” Be aware of the danger.

*For a helpful consideration of the gospel according to Matthew, check out Kenneth L. Chumbley, Christ Revealed: A Commentary on Matthew

We’re thankful to share these considerations of God’s word. It’s best if you have a Bible close to evaluate what we say. We want to go “back to the Bible” for all we teach.

Tune in to 100.7 WGOL Sunday at 8:30am for our Back to the Bible Radio Program.

Reach out with your questions, comments, or requests for personal Bible study at backtothebiblepodcast.com or at info@backtothebiblepodcast.com.