Passion: Marks of False Teachers•
A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
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Matthew 23 begins Jesus last public sermon. He will share a private sermon on the mount of Olives. He will give chapters of instruction on Thursday night before His betrayal and arrest but those are just to His disciples. But this is for everyone . . and it is the most negative message of His 4-year public ministry! It is just the OPPOSITE of the sermon on the mount . . and is designed to confront the unchanged error, characterizing and condemning false teachers.
I Tim 4:1 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons”
II Tim 3:1-5 “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.”
II Peter 2:1-3 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”
II Peter 3:3 “Knowing this first off, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires”
Acts 20:29-30 “Know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.”
Let us examine and understand the error of False Teachers in religions of the world today to examine our own faith, and to arm ourselves in the battle for truth.
I. DESCRIPTION OF FALSE SPIRITUAL LEADERS
A. DEFICIENT IN SUBSTANCE
1. NO ENEMIES
Mt 23:1-2 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples
2. NO AUTHORITY
Mt 23:2 The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in Moses’ chair
B. DEFICIENT IN STANDARDS
1. NO INTEGRITY
Mt 23:3a so do and observe whatever they tell you to observe, but not their actions.
2. NO REALITY
Mt 23:3b For they don’t practice what they preach.
C. DEFICIENT IN SERVICE
1. NO CONCERN
Mt 23:4aThey bind people, saddling their shoulders with heavy, unbearable burdens,
2. NO SYMPATHY
Mt 23:4b while they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to carry such.
D. DEFICIENT IN SPIRITUALITY
1. NO HONESTY
Mt 23:5a They do all their actions to be seen by people.
2. NO RESERVE
Mt 23:5b For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
E. DEFICIENT IN SACRIFICE
1. NO HUMILITY
Mt 23:6a and they love the place of honor at feasts
2. NO SUBMISSION
Mt 23:6b and the best seats in the synagogues
3. NO COMPUNCTION
Mt 23:7a and greetings in the marketplaces
4. NO RELUCTANCE
Mt 23:7b and being called ‘rabbi’ by others.
II. DISTINCTIVES OF TRUE SPIRITUAL LEADERS
A. DISTINGUISHED BY SELF-DENIAL
1. MARKED BY BROTHERHOOD
Mt 23:8 But you are not to be called ‘rabbi’, for you have one teacher, the Messiah, and you are all brothers.
2. MARKED BY PERCEPTION
Mt 23:9 Also, don’t call any earthly man your ‘father’, since you have one Father in heaven.
3. MARKED BY LEARNING
Mt 23:10 Neither be called ‘instructors’, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.
B. DISTINGUISHED BY SERVICE
1. MARKED BY MINISTERING
Mt 23:11 The greater among you shall be your servant.
2. MARKED BY HUMILITY
Mt 23:12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”