THE TWO TREES

January 26, 2003 AM

MT 7:15-20

INTRO: I was once invited to go fishing at Falcon Lake near Laredo, Texas. During the days we were there, we stayed at a small fishing camp at the very edge of the lake. Outside of the cabin in which I stayed was a beautiful orange tree. And it was loaded with ripe fruit. What an opportunity for me ... a lover of fresh fruit. I was just about to begin enjoying my first big bite of tree ripened orange when a friend cautioned me not to eat it. My natural curiosity required an explanation. This particular tree, he told me, had reverted to its undomesticated state, and the fruit would taste horrible. What had the look of a good tree and good fruit was in fact a corrupt tree ... known to be so by its fruits taste. Our text tells us of two trees.

I. A WARNING ABOUT FALSE PROPHETS

A. Jesus had just talked about the strait gate and narrow way

1. and He had said, Few there be that find it

2. it was a gate and way which required deliberateness, carefulness, commitment, vigilance, etc.

B. But along this way, there would be false prophets!

1. they would entice travelers off the narrow way into fatal detours

2. Beware - Jesus was not giving an empty warning ... this was real

C. And the false prophets would be disguised and deceitful

1. false prophets, false teachers do not identify themselves as such

2. in fact, they look like sheep ... no wolves - but they are wolves!

3. note Acts 20:29-31 - the reality which one really does not like to have to contemplate

4. I know of few people who want to have to raise this warning flag, expose the wolves - but the alternative to it is lost sheep!

D. What might the false prophets teach?

1. it might help us to read a description from Jer 23:15-22

2. of those false prophets several things can be observed

a. their message promoted profaneness (v. 15)

b. their message made them vain (v. 16)

c. their message was peace - no evil even if you do as you please to do (v. 17)

d. their message did speak of penitence and judgment (v. 22)

e. their message was not from God (v. 16)

3. false prophets blur the truth; they make everything seem o.k.; they are interested in having a good following

II. FALSE PROPHETS CAN BE, MUST BE IDENTIFIED

A. Here is where the two trees come into view

1. its the fruit which tells the story

2. first, grapes and figs do not come from thorn or thistle plants - noxious weeds cannot produce anything fit for consumption (false prophets are noxious weeds!)

3. but what about a tree which produces the expected fruit? (my orange tree)

4. if the fruit looks like good fruit but does not taste like good fruit, it is not a good tree!

5. fact: a corrupt tree cannot produce good fruit!

B. So, how is one to identify a false prophet? (Or a good one, for that matter?)

1. by the Lords warning we know there is a way to identify them

2. and it has to do with fruit - what they produce

3. their teaching compared to scripture, to sound doctrine (Jno 7:24) - does he clearly teach truth? (remember, truth matters!)

4. their lives and conduct compared to holy living described in scripture (2 Pet 2:2) - is his life a living example of godly, holy living? does his life challenge those whom he teaches to be better?

5. one very real problem is that they may appear so very attractive that one does not carefully test the message - they gain ones confidence by their apparent niceness and brotherliness

C. The ultimate fate of false prophets?

1. they will be destroyed!

2. here, again, is something not many want to confront ... but their fate (no matter how appealing they have been) is sealed

3. 2 Pet 3:3 - their damnation slumbereth not

CLOSE: An apostolic fear? 2 Cor 11:1-4 ... the fear that Christians would tolerate false teachers. Whether or not we want to admit it, the influence of false teachers will ultimately be harmful within the body of Christ. It is important, then, that we carefully, lovingly test the fruit of the tree.

Cecil A. Hutson

26 January 2003