Jesus’ Struggle with False Teachers

(Message delivered by Pastor at the RELC 10.30 am Service, Mar 28, 04)

Text: Matt. 21:33-46

This parable that ends with the stone falling on the False Teachers, Jesus’ enemies, and grinding them to powder seems quite paradoxical. For Jesus in the same Gospel of Matthew has taught “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). Take note that these are private enemies whose hatred against you can be forgiven.

What Jesus cannot forgive are false teachers like the Pharisees whose evil doctrines run counter to the Son of God’s and mislead innocent souls to hell. The Pharisees speaking against their own conscience were doomed.

Let us read the full Bible account that condemns them. “Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” (Matt. 12:22-32) God cannot forgive any public enemy like the Pharisees that have committed an unpardonable sin.

Let me illustrate from what a black man in America did but only a year ago, and is fresh in your memory. He bore two holes into the back of his car to fit his gun. He would drive to some high places and hide himself in the car. By firing out from his hidden position he would kill someone, young girl or old man. This went on for a fortnight and 13 were killed. When the public finally caught him could he ask pardon from Jesus’ teaching on private enemies? By no means. He was sentenced to death.

The repudiation of our Lord’s teaching which is the truth by the Pharisees or by any erroneous Christian teacher is the same. If the latter should speak against his conscience like the former, beware, lest you run into blasphemy, and if against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven you, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. (Matt. 12:32). “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matt. 12:36-37)

SERMONS FROM THE EIGHT-PEAKED MOUNTAIN OF BLESSING IX

“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? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 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 done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 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: 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. 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: 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. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matt. 7:15-29)

Jesus is the True Prophet, the Son of God. He hates therefore every false prophet. He here calls him a ravening wolf in sheep’s clothing.

He calls them thorns and thistles, corrupt trees that bringeth forth evil fruit which must be hewn down and burned up.

Not everyone calling Jesus Lord shall enter heaven but he that does God’s will. Many will claim they have preached in His name, have cast out devils and performed miracles but I will say to them, “I never knew you, get out of my way, you wicked worker.” Such a person may be seen in Billy Graham.

When he first started out in 1947 he preached the true Gospel, saving film stars to Christ. Now he preaches a social gospel and says as long as one has a feeling for God even without Jesus Christ or the Bible, from every Muslim or Buddhist background he expects to meet him in heaven. This statement he made to Bob Schuller in a T.V. interview in California in 1997. Billy Graham has become a false prophet, worse than the Pharisees.

Without a firm foundation like rock which is Jesus Christ Billy Graham has now totally fallen. Hear what Peter says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Jerusalem