Evidence of False Teachers

Evidence of False Teachers

"Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Ye shall know them by their fruits.  Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles?” (Matthew 7:15,16)

When Christ described the working of the false teachers, He was not talking about their characters so much as about the results of their teaching and their policies.  Suppose we were to attempt to judge the Lord according to those standards that are accepted in many quarters today.  We can well imagine a scene in a Palestinian home during the time Christ was here on earth.  Someone would say, "Well this Jesus cannot be a good man, for what He is saying does not make for peace. Now the Pharisees are men of peace.  They are such good men.  I have seen them praying in the market place.  They give tithes of all they possess.  They want harmony.  But this Jesus is a controversialist.  He uses such terrible language.  He calls these men ‘generations of vipers,’ and ‘hypocrites.’  Surely we must see that by their fruits ye shall know them, and we shall have to choose the Pharisees."

And in the days of St. Paul–how easy it would have been to make a case against him!  He even called men by name in accusing them of false doctrine.  Euodia and Syntyche were to stop fighting (Philippians 4:2).  Hymenaeus and Alexander were to be delivered unto Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:20).  Hymenaeus and Philetus were teaching that the resurrection was past (2 Timothy 2:17).  Demas had forsaken him (2 Timothy 4:10) and Alexander the coppersmith had done him much evil (2 Timothy 4:14).  John wrote that Diotrephes loved the preeminence (3 John. 9).

What false doctrine it would be to interpret "By their fruits ye shall know them " in such a way as to condemn these Spirit–filled men!  Were Paul and John not to be held in honor because they had thus acted?  What folly it would be to say that the Pharisees, soft–voiced and smiling, were to be revered above the Christ Who turned over the tables and drove out the money-changers!  No!  When our Lord said "By their fruits ye shall know them," He was not talking about the outward appearance of their lives, but about the spiritual fruit that resulted from their work.

Dr. Barnhouse urges that we judge the fruit that the teacher produces not his character alone.  A smiling, kindly heretic is no substitute for the firm, persevering servant called and anointed by God.

Further Reading: Matthew 7:15-20