False Teachers, Prophets, and perversion of the Gospel part 1

How important is it to know the Truth, and obey it?

The Bible has many things to say about false prophets and false teachers. Jesus himself warns us to beware of false prophets. (Matthew 7: 15-27)

Matthew 7:

15 - Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16- Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17- Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil frui.;
18-A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19- Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.
20- Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 - Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.
22 - Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?, and in thy name have done many wonderful works?
23- And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity.
24- Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 - and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26- And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27- and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Why does it seem that we don't hear many sermons on this subject today? Perhaps because, in many ways, we have become complacent and our guards have been lowered somewhat, compared to the awareness and vigilence that the Scriptures say we must have.

I would imagine that if any of the Old or New Testament prophets were alive today, they would probably be horrified by the things going on in churches. Israel had problems with false prophets even when they were of one religion and faith. There was a constant struggle in New Testament times, between believers in the Old Testament teachings of Moses, and the Christ-centered faith held by the apostles. Now, there are many Christian "religions", all claiming to be the true church, but with slight variations on the theme - the Bible - that they all claim to believe in.

There are accounts of false prophets in the Old Testament that let us know how God dealt with those who claim to be bringing the word in His name. In Jeremiah chapters 27 and 28, the story of the Word that came to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the fate of Israel at the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar. And in verse 9 of chapter 27, God says to Jeremiah:

9- Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchangers, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king og Babylon;
10-for they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.
11-But the nations that bring their neck under to yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the Lord; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.
12- I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and service him and his people and live.
13-Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the Lord hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?
14-Therefore, hearken not unto the words of the phrophets that speak unto you, saying,k Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.
15- For I have not sent them, saith the Lord, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.

The Lord repeats this several times in His message to Jeremiah. He warned Jeremiah not to trust in the prophets who were telling the people they wouldn't have to serve the King of Babylon. And after all, wasn't that something the people surely wanted to hear? However, it was not in God's will for Israel. Chapter 28 gives an even more stunning account of the prophet Hananiah who, in a dramatic display, broke the wooden yoke off the neck of Jeremiah (symbolic of Israel's struggle and bondage), and declared that Israel would return to their own land in two years. Even Jeremiah was happy to hear this as it is recorded in verse 6 of chapter 28, Jeremiah, upon hearing Hananiah's prophecy, said "amen." But after this "feel good" message from the prophet Hananiah, the Lord spoke to Jeremiah again, and set things straight:

Jeremiah 28: 12-17

12 - Then the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah saying,
13- Go and tell Hananiah saying, Thus saith the Lord; thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.
14- For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.
15- Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah, the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah: The Lord hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
16 - Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord.
17 - So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

We see then, that false prophets are liars. They speak "in the name of the Lord", when God has not told them to say anything.

How can we be sure that what a teacher or preacher is saying about the Word is true? This goes back to the first question - how important is it to know the Truth, and obey it?

We will discuss more on false teachers, prophets and doctrines from the Old and New Testaments in the second part of this study.