Fruit Inspection 8-18-24 AM
I. The warning (Matt. 7:15).
a. The word for beware comes from a means to guard oneself.
i. It is the same word that is translated “take heed” in Matt. 6:1.
ii. It is a word of warning to be watchful and aware.
b. We have to be aware of the fact that there are and will be false teachers.
i. Paul warned the elders of the Ephesian congregation about this (Ac. 20:28-31).
ii. Peter warned his readers about them (2 Pe. 2:1-3).
iii. Jude warned of them already being on the scene (Jude 1:3-4).
iv. John warned his readers to test what they heard (1 John 4:1).
c. The need for being on guard is because of the way in which the false prophets will come.
d. They will look like they are sheep but they are not.
i. Listen to how Paul was inspired to describe them.
ii. 2 Cor. 11:13-15.
e. At that time, they looked like scribes and Pharisees, who looked like everyone else.
f. There are false prophets today.
i. They look and sound good.
ii. They don’t walk in with a trumpet and begin shouting that they are false teachers.
g. There are those who teach that you can get to Jesus by choosing your own path– this is pluralism.
h. There are those that teach God is going to save everyone – universalism.
i. There are those that teach you have to do certain things and if you do them you will be saved – this is legalism.
j. There are those right now who are teaching that you have to be a good American – this is Christian nationalism.
k. There are those that teach a prosperity gospel.
l. One thing we need to keep in mind is that not everyone that is teaching error, or who hold wrong views, are false prophets.
i. Sometimes people just don’t know better.
ii. Apollos would fall into this category (Acts 18:24-28).
iii. We need to be those who know the difference between a false teacher and someone who doesn’t know better.
m. This naturally takes us to the next point Jesus made.
II. Inspect the fruit (Matt. 7:16-18, 20).
a. Twice Jesus says you will know a false teacher by his fruit.
b. I am not a tree expert at all.
c. However, if there is fruit on the tree I can tell you what it is.
d. This is how Jesus says to distinguish between a false teacher and teacher of truth.
e. We will know if someone is a true or false teacher by what they produce.
f. This will be by their words as well as their actions.
i. At some point, whatever teaching that is contrary to God’s word will be spoken by them.
ii. It is going to come out.
iii. Jesus dealt with this when talking with those that questioned His being from God or Satan because of His ability to cast out demons (Matt. 12:31-37).
iv. The thing is, if we listen to what people say, they will tell us who they really are.
v. This is true in virtually every area of life.
vi. It is also true when it comes to false teachers peddling some false doctrine.
g. To tell their fruit by their words requires knowledge of God’s word on our part.
i. When John told them to try the spirits, they were to test what was said against God’s word.
ii. Paul was inspired to write “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good (1 Th. 5:21).
h. We will also be able to inspect their methods.
i. Oftentimes, as Peter points out, they work in secret (2 Pe. 2:1).
1. They should be open to all.
2. If someone tries to hide everything, it usually means they have something to hide.
ii. They will often appeal to coveteousness (2 Pe. 2:3).
1. This is the prosperity gospel.
2. This is not how Jesus or the apostles did it (Matt. 10:22; Lu. 9:57-58; 2 Tim. 3:12).
iii. They will often use deceptive words (2 Tim. 3:13).
1. They twist the scriptures as Peter said false teacher were doing in his day (2 Pe. 3:15-16).
2. If you are hearing something new, chances are it is false.
i. We will also be able to inspect their actions.
i. Oftentimes, those with false doctrinal stances end up in sinful situations.
ii. When doctrine leaves, morals tend to follow.
iii. They will tolerate sins in the lives of others, such as family members.
j. The idea of good trees and bad trees needs to be understood.
i. This is not teaching that one cannot change.
ii. There have been plenty of people who once taught false doctrine who now teach the truth.
iii. There are also those who once taught truth who now teach error.
iv. When we look at the passage in Matthew 12, Jesus made it clear that truth and error both come from the heart.
v. If one changes his heart through the gospel or hardens his heart in error, that person can and will change.
k. Jesus lets us know that, as long as your heart stays the way it, good won’t come from bad and bad won’t come from good.
III. The result of false teaching (Matt. 7:19).
a. If one refuses to change from a bad tree to a good one, destruction awaits.
b. The truth is, all of us are to be good fruit producers.
i. Jesus mentioned this when He made the “I am the vine” statement.
ii. If we don’t produce fruit, good fruit to be exact, we will be cut off (John 15:1-6).
c. Paul wrote about the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).
i. This is produced in the lives of those who are following Christ.
ii. If it is not being produced, then we are going to be cut off.
d. If we are producing bad fruit, the end that awaits is destruction.
i. There is nothing good that comes from this life.
ii. It is a life spent in leading others from God.
e. When Jesus says cast into the fire, He was speaking about hell.
f. The profit of false teaching is only in this life.
g. The reaping of the false teaching is an eternal reaping.