When Naming The Wolf Makes You The Problem?

Text: Matthew 7:15-23

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

You have heard it before, 

“Those who point out the problem often become the problem.”

In other words, often, the troublemaker is not the person causing the problem but the one who dares to say, 

“There’s a problem here.” 

That’s how it works in a polite society. For example, if the road in front of your house has a massive pothole and you call the city hall, you’re “complaining.” If a restaurant’s food made your family sick and you speak up, you’re “stirring the pot.” And in the church, if you say, “That preacher’s doctrine doesn’t match God’s Word,” you’re “being divisive.” 

You see, according to the world and especially in cultures that are drenched in chronic niceness, the sin is not in the pothole or the spoiled food or the false doctrine. The sin is in pointing it out. Again, the one who names the problem becomes the problem.

But in today’s Gospel reading from Matthew, Jesus Himself shatters this worldly logic. He tells us plainly, 

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.” 

Now, dear friends, notice that Jesus did not say, 

“Ignore the false prophets so that everyone can get along in the church.” 

He doesn’t say, 

“It’s unkind and unloving to point out bad fruit.” 

No, He says that we will recognize - that we will know false prophets by their fruit. In other words, to know a false prophet is to: find out, understand, and perceive who they are. In other words, to name the bad fruit of a false prophet is not to create a false prophet—it is simply to identify what already exists.

Now, please listen and sit up in your pews: false prophets are not restricted to the Old Testament.  They do not belong to crazy cults inside religious compounds.  False prophets exist right now in the church – even in our Missouri Synod.  They are in pulpits and pews; they write religious books and record podcasts; they teach at conferences and seminary classrooms. They wear sheep’s clothing. They look like faithful shepherds. They talk like Christians. They smile warmly and shake your hand. But under the wool, they are wolves, and their teeth are sharp. 

Now, it must be said that many Christians don’t want to know this. Why? Because this knowledge disturbs comfort. For example, if you know there’s a wolf among the sheep, you can’t relax in the pasture. And so, many well-intentioned parishioners prefer the wolves to keep their wool on. It’s easier that way; less awkward. It’s less “divisive.” Ah, but ease and ignorance are not fruits of the Spirit—they are an invitation to disaster.

This is why it is so tragic when a faithful Christian who warns about a false prophet is accused of causing division. Please listen up: division does not begin when someone names the wolf. Division begins when the wolf enters the fold. Listen to the Apostle Paul; he says in Romans, 

“Watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.”

Notice, Paul does not say, 

“Watch out for those who notice divisions.” 

Again, Paul says, 

“Watch out for those who cause division.” 

Dear friends, mark this: false prophets create division from God’s Word. The one who warns you about them is not dividing the church; they are defending the church. Woe to the congregation that scolds a faithful watchman for sounding the alarm on false theology. Woe to the synod that disciplines pastors for naming bad fruit. For when the voice that warns is silenced, the wolf is only empowered to destroy more sheep.  

* * *

All of this begs a question – if we are to beware of false prophets and know them by their fruit, we must ask, what is this bad fruit that Jesus tells us to look for? What exactly are we to recognize? 

We must understand that Jesus is not speaking first and foremost about a person’s morals or outward behavior. Some false prophets indeed live scandalously, but many live very respectable lives—moral, upright, even admirable in the eyes of the world. And so, the fruit Jesus points us to is their teaching—the doctrine they confess before the sheep. You see, a false prophet misuses God’s name by taking the Lord’s holy truth and twisting it into a lie. This is a violation of the Second Commandment, and such bad doctrine will always lead to bad practice. 

Dear friends, please do not let this point escape you.  Bad practices shape churches.  And bad practices, if left unchallenged, will shape entire generations. Listen carefully: the yeast of error from a false prophet, even in small amounts, works its way through the whole lump.  And so, what is sown in error right now by false prophets, our children and grandchildren will need to clean up tomorrow.  

And so, make no mistake, the words of false prophets often sound sweet to the ear at first. It comes polished and pleasant, wrapped in humor, kindness, or stories that tug at the heart. But beneath the sugar is poison. 

Perhaps you may be thinking right about now, 

“But we’re part of a confessional Lutheran synod. We have doctrinal review. We have well-trained pastors. Surely, we’re safe.” 

Do not be deceived. False prophets care nothing for synodical constitutions or doctrinal review boards. They can rise from our pulpits, graduate from our seminaries, sit beside us in our pews, and teach Sunday School. Yes, there is safety with Christ our King, but it is the safety of a fortress under siege. Remember that the devil never sleeps. The ideologies of the world are relentless. And the wolves are always circling Christ’s holy church to devour the faithful with their poisonous false doctrines.

This is why we can never be a church of ease.  Mark this: if St. Paul’s becomes a church at ease, we will not survive fifty years. A lazy and sleeping church will be easy prey for false prophets; it will not last. We must be sober-minded, alert, discerning, and awake.    

* * *

With all of this in mind, let’s get practical: how do we know the false prophets by their fruit? Do we need to get a master’s degree in theology, learn New Testament Greek, and read thick academic books?  No, we don’t.  However, please know that these things are not bad.  If you want to learn theology, you can do so at our monthly Book of Concord Study. If you want to know New Testament Greek, we have that available as a class and on video.  If you want to learn more, we have bible studies throughout the week, we have monthly podcasts and newsletters, and we have a free Small Catechism for anyone who wants one. These are great gifts here at our church to sharpen and equip you, the saints.     

But back to the question, how do we know false prophets by their bad fruit?  

As mentioned in previous sermons, you can ask three straightforward questions when you hear any religious teaching. 

1. Is Christ even mentioned at all? 
2. If Christ is mentioned, is He the leading actor - the center of the theology that is being taught? 
3. If Christ is the center of the theology, what is He doing?  Is He bleeding, dying, and rising for the forgiveness of your sins and the resurrection of your flesh?  

If the answer is “no” to any of these, beware—chances are that you are dealing with a false prophet.  You see, false prophets will always coddle sin while teaching you to follow the desires of your heart.  They will not point you outward to Christ’s words of Law and Gospel or Christ’s gifts because Christ is not the center of their theology – they are.  Mark this: the rotten fruit of false prophets is Christless.  It is man-centered.  It does not focus on the power of Christ over sin and death but instead peddles their empty pious thoughts.    

* * *

Baptized Saints, here at St. Paul’s, we do not guard the Word of God to win petty arguments or to prove ourselves smarter than others. This isn’t about our ego or being right.  Instead, we guard the Word of God because it is true, good, and beautiful.  And make no mistake about it, over the upcoming decades, false prophets will try to take this from us. They will not announce their intent. They will not say, “I am here to rob you.” They will come saying, “Let me help you find a deeper meaning,” or “Let’s make the church more relevant,” or “We can reach more people if we adjust this teaching.” And in that moment, when this happens, when the bad fruit and the wolf are pointed out, we don’t criticize the one pointing it out but say, “God be praised.”  Indeed, when the bad fruit is judged and the alarm is sounded, we know that this is not divisiveness at work but Christian love in obedience to Christ.  

Baptized Saints, abide in the truth you have received, hold fast to sound doctrine that has been given to you, so that, though the wolves may circle and the world rage, you may remain steadfast as Christ’s Church.  The peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, as you rest in Him who is your Good Shepherd.  

Amen.