The prophet’s fruit reveals who they are

Scripture ref: Matthew 7:15-20

Introduction
This portion of Scripture is classified in the teachings of Jesus known as ‘The Sermon on the mount’ in which Jesus taught about living as citizens in the Kingdom of God (Matt 5-7)

The Sermon on the mount
As Jesus brought the Sermon on the mount to an end, He concluded by four comparisons;
1. A comparison between two paths (Matt 7:13-14); some people entering through the narrow gate and others through the wide gate
2. A comparison between two fruits (Matt 7:15-20); fruit from a corrupted tree and another from a tree that is not corrupted
3. A comparison between two kinds of people (Matt 7:21-23); those who hear but don’t do and those who hear and do what they have heard
4. A comparison between two kinds of builders (Matt 7:24-27); those building on the sand and those building on the rock
Which group do you recognize yourself with?

The False teachers
The Church has widely been warned against the false teachers by;
• Jesus (Matthew 7:15-20)
• Apostle Paul (Rom 16-17, 1Tim 4:1-5)
• Apostle Peter (2 Pet 2:1-4)
• Apostle John (2John 1:7-11)

These false teachers are people who either; never received Christ or something happened to them along the way and they stopped following Christ. The false teachers may look very similar to the true ones but their fruit will reveal who they really are just like the tares will be separated from the wheat at the harvest.
Jesus compared the false teachers to ravenous wolves. This denotes extremely hungry people.

The early signs to detect the false prophets
According to the Didache;
1. Every apostle or prophet who comes to you must be received well. But if he stays for more than 3 days, he is a false prophet.
2. Whoever shall request for money or something else in the spirit of prophesy should not be listened to. Not unless he asks for the sake of others (e.g the poor).
3. Every prophet or apostle is worthy of bread or food, but if he asks for money then he is a false prophet.
4. Not everyone who speaks in the Spirit is a prophet, except with the behaviour of the Lord. If they do not have the behaviour of the Lord, do not entertain them.

No one should take advantage of others in the guise of salvation. Do not be deceived and lose your money or other valuables by looking at the external appearance (e.g dressing and titles) of prophets. That is how the old prophet deceived the young prophet and caused his death. If you do not know someone very well, do not entrust them your stuff.

In Matthew 7:17-18, we are exhorted to produce the good fruit. These two verses talk about the same thing but in different ways;
• the practical experience (v 17)
• the general fact about the necessary law that happens (v 18)

These false teachers are people who started very well as brothers but later failed to wait upon the Lord. We should wait upon the Lord even when we have needs. Our God will surely come to our aid. The fate of the bad tree is sealed- they will be recognized, cut down, and burnt. Let us not wait for destruction.

Conclusion
Let us strive to enter through the narrow gate, be the wise builders who build on the rock, people who hear and do, and be the good tree growing steadily to become what we were meant to be (bear good fruit).