THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Matt. 5, 6, 7

January 22, 2019

Key: SCHAFF: “When the Lord open his mouth, we should open our ears and hearts.

BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS. Matt. 7:15-20 …2

“God holds prophets or leaders responsible as well as the people ‘who love to have it so.’  Is. 24:2, Jer. 5:31. God not only condemns those who sell in the temple, but also those who buy. The leadership you follow is going to govern what you are and who you are. It was leaders that kept the people of Israel out of the Promised Land Num. 13:12-17.” The Shepherd Staff

  1. Matt. 7:16-20 “You can identify them by their fruit that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” NLT “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. And good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them” NKJV
  2.  Luke says “A good man out of the treasures of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Lk. 6:45
  3. You can only give out what you have, either good or evil.
  4. A good teacher with a good life give out good teaching which will have a good effect upon his pupils; and a bad man the reverse.
  5. “A false prophet would pretend to be members of the flock; making great pretence of both to a holy life and to a sound teaching. But is his life holy, is his teaching sound, and does it make his pupils wiser and better?” Broadus Jon A
  6. Let us examine some qualities of good or bad prophets.
  7. The hireling and the shepherd Jn. 10:12-13 The only motivation of the hireling is what he will get {material things} from the sheep. As far as he is concerned, they are just ‘dumb sheep’ to be taken advantage of. A true shepherd cares and he is willing to lay his life down for their protection, and to go hungry, if necessary, to see that the sheep are fed. Take note that a true shepherd also needs support from the sheep. 1Cor. 9:7-11, 1Tim. 5:17-20
  8. Good or bad example. True prophets lead by being good examples to the congregation. 1Thess. 2:3-11, 1Tim. 4:12, Act. 20:18-34
  9. A false leader seek authority 1Pet. 5:2-3, they have a hidden agenda and want to ‘be a lord over God’s heritage’ 3Jn. 9-10, while a true teacher seeks responsibility Phil. 2:19-21.

It continues