A Tree and Its Fruits | Miracles and Parables Series | Matthew 7:15-23 | Pastor Sam Oyeyinka

In Matthew 7, Jesus makes it imperative for His church to beware of false teachers. Yet in our modern culture, we are plagued by doctrinal passivity, often disguised as “grace.” The truth, however, is that refusing to exercise discernment against false teaching is not charity. On the contrary, it is quiet cowardice.We also learned that false teachers do not announce themselves. They come in sheep’s clothing. Neither miraculous signs nor supernatural acts are proof of truth. The fruit of the Spirit is. When a ministry is driven by self-pleasure, the pursuit of human honor, or the approval of the world, its fruit is rotten (Gal. 5:19-23).It is especially important to beware of false teachers because they cause division and dissension in the Lord’s body. Those who knowingly fraternize with them partake in their sin, for false teachers are at enmity with God and under His judgment (2 John 10-11; Rom. 16:17-18; Titus 3:10-11).Ultimately, God calls all who bear His name to love Him with all their minds, anchor themselves in His Word, and faithfully bear the fruit of the Spirit so that they may be recognized as children of their heavenly Father. When we falter and grow weary, we must not give ourselves over to despair. Rather, we are to persevere in the practice of righteousness, with a godly sorrow that bears the fruit of true repentance.