“How do we defend ourselves against these false prophets?” Trinity 8 2025

10. August 2025

Trinity 8

Matthew 7:15-23

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Mt 7:21–23).

This is the Word of the Lord that came to me, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His + Name. AMEN.

Jesus warns us to watch out for those smooth-talking charlatans, those snake-oil salesmen who masquerade as preachers sent from God. But do they slide up alongside of us, dressed in snake-skin suits, with forked tongues and hypnotic stares? Not usually. Usually, they come right up to us, concerned for our well-being, asking how they can help. They often wear a pastor’s collar, quote the Bible, and teach us to believe in God, to behave ourselves, and to belong to this church, the only true Christian church within a thousand miles! 

Hang around churches and Christians long enough, and we will learn that false prophets aren't just a thing of the past; they're alive and well in our culture, and especially in the churches. They come with their warm smiles and sweet-sounding words, promising a quick fix to all our problems if we do our best to work with the raw materials God gives to us. But, they're nothing but wolves in sheep's clothing, leading us astray with their deceptions.  

In our culture, we see false prophets all around us. From the drug-pushing, feel-good self-help gurus to the charismatic political and cultural messiahs, they offer us empty promises of happiness, success, and fulfillment. They tell us that if we do what they ask us to do, if we buy their books, if we attend their seminars, if we vote for them, if we just get in line and do the right thing, and follow their steps, God will reward us with a good and satisfied life. But it's an ungodly illusion.  

And especially within the churches do we see this. Some claim to speak for God, but their message is far from the truth. They preach a watered-down Gospel, avoiding the hard teachings of sin, repentance, and the cross. They tickle our ears with feel-good sermons, neglecting the weightier matters of God's Word. They lure us from the truth with the false hope of prosperity and blessings, without acknowledging the reality of Jesus’ call to take up our cross, and to suffer and die for others.

And listening to false prophets has dire consequences. Jesus himself warns that not everyone who claims to speak in His name will enter the kingdom of heaven. They may perform miracles, prophesy, and even cast out demons, but if they do not know Jesus personally, He will say to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23).

So, how do we defend ourselves against these false prophets, these preachers who offer us their enticing lies? The answer lies in faith in Christ and a firm grasp of what the Gospel truly declares. Because we have made Christ’s own in Baptism, because we trust in His saving work on the cross, and because we rely on His grace alone for forgiveness, we are less susceptible to the deceptions of false preachers.  

But it doesn't stop there. We also dive deep into the Scriptures and pray to understand God's Word in its entirety. We ground ourselves in the teachings of forgiveness, new life, and eternal salvation that are found throughout the Bible. We wrestle with the harsh truths and embrace the radical message of Jesus’ love and grace that elects sick, faithless sinners for eternal life.  

It is not enough to merely acknowledge the existence of true and false prophets and the truth of God's Word. We must actively engage with the ways the Holy Spirit uses to strengthen us to resist false preaching and teaching, in the life-giving discipline that nourishes and strengthens our faith. Rarely attending worship, neglecting the preaching of God's Word, and shunning the Lord's Supper leaves us vulnerable to the attacks of false prophets who are driven by their master, Satan, to lead us astray.  

To push this truth even further, when we fail to gather together as the body of Christ, we miss out on the God’s family feast, where the Word of God is proclaimed, and the Holy Spirit works to kill the old, faithless sinner who has no use for God’s Word and preaching, and makes us alive in Christ so we can gladly and gratefully hear the Gospel and study God’s Word. When we avoid or ignore God’s gifts given in worship, when we turn up our noses at the communion of saints, our souls become parched, and our defenses weakened, making us easy targets for the enticing lies of false prophets.  

Then there’s Bible study, another part of worship that we are tempted to neglect willfully. Neglecting the opportunity to delve deeper into God's Word through study and discussion leaves us ill-equipped to discern truth from falsehood. It’s like heading into a battlefield without knowing how to use your weapon, and believe me, the devil is just waiting to exploit our lack of knowledge. As we are all children of God by Baptism, we all rely on the instruction of our Heavenly Father. The littlest crave the pure spiritual milk of the Word. And as the Spirit gives us mature faith, we crave the hearty meat of daily and lifelong catechesis.

Treating the Divine liturgy and Bible study as less than they are — as the source of our comfort and confidence amid life’s turmoil and uncertainty — we also think little of our baptismal promises to our children, which are not to be taken lightly either. When we commit to raising our children in God's Word and bringing them regularly to worship, we are not just ticking off boxes on a checklist. We are establishing a foundation of faith and a shield of protection against the tactics and intentions of false prophets. When we neglect these promises, we are leaving our children exposed to the cunning schemes of the enemy. 

It is through this three-fold discipline of worship, bible study, and living out our baptismal promises in our vocations that God fortifies us against the attacks of false prophets, and ultimately the evil one. He draws us closer to Jesus, the source of our hope and salvation, so that we can receive comfort and certainty in His promises. We receive from him the strength to bear our crosses with hope, knowing that we do not walk this path alone and that our suffering has purpose. 

So in this spiritual battle, may we be guided by the true prophets who point us to Jesus, the ultimate source of life and salvation. May we stand firm in the authenticity of God's Word, receiving strength from the proclamation that we are sinners saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. And may we arm ourselves with God’s Word, God’s baptismal promises, and the body and blood of Jesus Christ, which gives us the certainty of our salvation and the faith to trust that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  

The stakes are high, and the Evil One and his demons are relentless. But with your faith firmly grounded in Jesus and your hearts opened to the power of His Word and Sacraments, you can withstand the attacks of an army of false prophets. So be vigilant, bold, and steadfast in your devotion to the One who has already won the victory for you. When you’re with Jesus, with his gospel in your heart, with his promises in your ears, and his body and blood on your tongues and in your guts, you don’t have to budge for anyone. And why would you? You have God’s Word and faith, the ultimate defense against the schemes of the devil. 

In Christ, and nowhere else, from no one else, do you receive the limitless forgiveness, the relentless grace, and unwavering truth that sustains you in the spiritual war for your souls today and always.

This is the Word of the Lord that came to me, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His + Name. AMEN.

Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie
St. John Ev. Lutheran Church & School - Sherman Center
Random Lake, Wisconsin