In our gospel reading, as Jesus is nearing the end of the Sermon on the Mount, he warns against false prophets. Christ has spent the three previous chapters of Matthew’s Gospel teaching the correct interpretation of the law of God. The law of God, the Ten Commandments, makes sin a matter of the heart. It is simply not enough to live by the letter of the law of you shall not murder. For Jesus, to avoid harming your neighbor also means to care for his needs of body, soul, and reputation. To keep the law is to know what it says and what it means. And now Jesus tells them to beware of false prophets, who will come like wolves in sheep’s clothing to rob the Christian Church of the saving power of Christ and his cross.
Martin Luther once said, “Wherever God builds a church, the devil builds a saloon or tavern at the side of it.” Satan hates the church and what it stands for. Satan does not want sinners to hear the forgiveness of sins on account of Christ through saving Faith by the Holy Spirit. He despises it when we baptize children and bring them into the kingdom of God. And most of all, in the Lord’s Supper, when Christ is present in the bread and wine for us Christians to eat and to drink, this makes the devil tremble in fear as all his works become unraveled. For in the church where Christ is worshiped, the devil is put to shame. Where the victory of the cross is proclaimed, satan is cast out. Where children of Adam become children of God, the devil’s power is overthrown.
It is for this reason that Christ warned against false prophets. These prophets come by their own authority to devour the sheep. They are not placed as under-shepherds of the Lord, put in the stead of Christ to preach and administer the sacrament. The false prophets go where they have not been called. As they are wolves in sheep’s clothing, they are meant to appear as good, and if they desire to do no harm. Yet, at the opportune time, the wolf removes his wool and shows his bloody teeth.
Our Lord does not give us this warning to scare us. Yet, they are to ensure us that Christ is the Lord of the church and he has the final victory. While satan prowls around like a roaring lion waiting for someone to devour, the devil knows that the battle has already been lost on the cross of Calvary. For our Lord calls himself “the good Shepherd” who does not abandon his sheep when danger comes upon the flock. Christ says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” So when wolves, threats of danger, and false prophets come upon his little ones, Christ is our sure defense, sparing nothing, even his own life, for the sake of the sheep. For he would much rather suffer the cross than see any of his sheep snatched away from his hand.
While our Lord is ascended to the right hand of God, the Father, he is still with his church. As our Lord’s last words to his disciples were “And, lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the age.” For Christ has ascended upon high to give us assurance that he is with the church wherever the church may be. Christ is in the midst of us even today, for two or three are gathered in his name, Christ is there. So when false prophets came as our Lord promised they would, do not be shaken or dismayed, for Christ does not abandon even the lost sheep.
We must take Christ seriously at his word. As Christians, we are warned of coming false teachers who will attempt to rob Christ’s Saints of the certainty of salvation. They whisper doubt of God’s word, make up sins that were not actually there, or change the definition of sins so that Christians see no need to repent. All these things glorify man’s desires over the one true God. That is the goal of false prophets: the worship of the self over the worship of God. There is one way to bring to light the dissension of their lies, and that is the word of God.
To avoid falling into the trap of those who twist God’s word, we should always be in the Word of God. For “Scripture is breathed out by my God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” The word of God is given to us for our good, and it is faithful and true, so we can put our trust in it. When faith is grounded in the word of God, we cannot be shaken or moved. For the word of God also says this: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.” So when these prophets come, hold them to the word of God that teaches that Christ has come into the flesh, and you will know if they are true.
Gladly hear and learn the word of God. And what does the word of God say? The word of God says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.” John 14. “I and my Father are one.” John 10. “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” Matthew 16. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16. Jesus took bread, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body.” And after supper, he took the cup and said, “Take and drink, this is my blood given for you.” Matthew 26. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set as a perpetuation by his blood, through faith” Romans 3. “For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2.
These passages are essential to our Christian faith, and knowing that they are the Word of God, these words are true. If anyone teaches otherwise, you may know that these spirits are not from God. For God’s word is certain because it points to Christ, the second person of the Trinity, who has become flesh and blood. Christ, who has suffered, died, and rose again. The scriptures bear witness to Christ and bring Christ, for they are trustworthy and true.
When we hold fast to the word of God, who is there to harm us? When we rejoice in the promises of God, what can take this great comfort from us? When we find rest in God’s sure foundation, why would we need to put trust in anything else?
So do not fear the false prophets. For you have a very word of God. Come what may, nothing will separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. His word is filled with his promises of forgiveness, life, and salvation. The word of God has made his dwelling with you and in his church and in his sacrament.
For in the sacrament of bread and wine, there is the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ, the word of God incarnate. This word in the sacrament strengthened you and preserves you in true faith in his holy word. Here is your salvation. Here is a refuge from all the terrors of this world. Here is your Lord Jesus. So come, this word is for you.
St. John's and Grace Evangelical Lutheran Parish 