False Prophets and Priests

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’” (Matthew 23:1-7).

A false prophet or priest is a person who says he speaks for God and serves God but speaks his own words and serves himself. Jesus classified the Scribes and Pharisees as false prophets and priests. In His last public ‘sermon’ Jesus publicly rebuked those who slandered, maligned, and condemned Him as being a servant of Satan.

The first false prophet was Satan. In the Garden of Eden he took the word of God to Adam and Eve and twisted it, contradicted it, and rendered it without authority. He’s been actively engaged in that same activity ever since. In the Garden he spoke through the serpent. Since then he has spoken, and continues to speak through men and women, false prophets, false teachers, false religious leaders, etc.

Jesus called them false Christs and prophets who work powerful signs and wonders to mislead the saints (Matthew 24:24). Paul called them preachers of a perverted gospel (Galatians 1:8) and agents of demonic doctrines (1 Timothy 4:1). Peter called them men who secretly introduce heresies, denying the Christ who saved them (2 Peter 2:1). John called them antichrists who deny that Jesus is the Christ of God (1 John 2:18,22). Jude called them dreamers who defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries (Jude 8). Paul warned the Ephesian elders of the ‘savage wolves’ who would come and ravage the flock of Christ (Acts 20:29).

A simple scanning of religious magazines, newsletters, television and radio programs, and visitation of numerous churches will convince the man and woman of God that these false prophets and teachers are alive and well and are more popular than ever. They say they are Christian but deny the words, the deity, even the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Rather than bring people to faith in Jesus, they cause people to turn away from Jesus.

By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world (1 John 4:2-3).

“Holy Spirit, alert us to those whom Satan uses to destroy the Gospel, weaken the church, and keep people enslaved in sin. Encourage us to lift up Jesus as the only hope of salvation, Amen.”

Pastor