SOTM 37-Prophets

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/som-37-prophets/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p><strong>15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:15-20).</strong></p><p><strong>Comment</strong></p><ul><li>Jesus tells us to be on our guard.</li><li>Peter predicted the rise of false prophets in the church (<strong>2 Peter 2:1-3</strong>). So did Paul, John, and others (<strong>Acts 20:29</strong>; <strong>1 John 4:1</strong>; etc.).</li><li>In biblical history, the false prophets nearly always outnumber the true. For example, in the days of Elijah (850:101) and Micaiah (400:1)—see 1 Kings 18, 22.</li><li>Even so, today there are 1000s of denominations claiming to represent truly biblical Christianity. Of course no church group is perfect, but many flagrantly flout the scriptures and flaunt their own traditions and ego.</li></ul><p><strong>False prophets</strong></p><ul><li>Twist God’s word.</li><li>May be sincerely deluded, but always delude others.</li><li>Some of their ideas and vocabulary <i>sound</i> right. Yet often basic terms and ideas have been given a twist.</li><li>(Extended quotation from Jerry Taylor, “Two Houses in a Storm, in <i>Leaven: A Journal of Christian Ministry</i> [Pepperdine University: vol.16, no.4, 2008], 187.)</li></ul><p><strong>Analogies</strong></p><ul><li>Three analogies: sheep and wolves, grapes and thorns, figs and thistles.</li><li>Earlier Jesus had commented on dogs and pigs. Now, he warns us of wolves. More subtle, less obvious, more strategic. </li><li>Bu