Matthew 7:15-23

Day 55-Short version – part 1 (Mike Dressler filled in first me. Thanks Mike!)

6-08-25

FALSE PROPHETS, part 1

Pray

Read scripture: Matthew 7:15-23

(NIV 1984) “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

RECAP

We are at the end of the SOM in the “Summary section.”

All through this most famous sermon of all time, Jesus presenting us with choices.

In our book, The Holman Commentary, on page 99, the author says, “Jesus finished his sermon with a series of challenges to wise choice and obedient action.“

We start seeing this in In Matt 5:21, where there begins six main teaching blocks:

Murder, Adultery, Divorce, Oaths, Eye for an Eye and Love Your Enemies. 

In each of these blocks He is asking His original audience – and us by extension – to make a choice between what the Pharisees are teaching and what He is teaching, between what the culture is teaching – then and now – and what He is teaching.  

He repeatedly says something like, “You have heard that it was said…but I tell you.”

He is contrasting self-righteousness with Christ’s righteousness.

Each of these”You have it said” sections are one about form self-righteousness. And each of His following sections, “But I tell you… ” are Christ’s righteousness, a true Godly righteousness, not a righteousness of of our own. 

Jesus said in Matt 5:20, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” The ONLY way we can do that is in Christ’s righteousness through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Then in chapter 6 He compares and contrasts self-righteousness with true, Godly, Christ-centered righteousness in the sections on Giving, Prayer, Fasting, Teasures and Worry. Look for these things as you read and re-read the SOM.

* Everything with an asterisk and is italicized and purple is my own added words and thoughts and are not part of the actual verse or quote.