“JESUS THE TRUE PROPHET”
Saint Matthew 7: 15-23
8th Sunday after Trinity: 22 July Anno Domini 2018
Father Jay Watson SSP
You like The Lord’s opening words of admonition: “Beware of false prophets…” Your sinful self likes this warning because it justifies itself and love pointing an accusatory finger at your enemies. And by enemies, I mean those people who don’t do things your way and who don’t let you be in charge so that you might “be like gods.”
And yes, to be sure, televangelists, sectarian minister-types, female imposters, synergists, career bureaucrats, and all who turn The Gospel into a new Law, are false prophets—and you must beware of them—but the truth of Christ’s statement cuts a whole lot closer to the bone…your bones!
The false, and by false Jesus means diabolical, Luciferian, DAMNING you to hell, prophets do not approach you stinking of brimstone, horns on their heads, and blood dripping fangs slavering in their maws…that would be Islam, Hinduism, and the like. Those monsters can be recognized if one so chooses.
No. The false prophets come to you in sheep’s clothing. That does not mean they are necessarily dressed as meek and mild but rather that they are dressed just like you. For you are sheep—if you’re Christian. If you do not belong to The Good Shepherd then you are not sheep. If you bristle at the thought of “belonging to” or being “owned by” then you are not a Christian. Only one who is held captive first by sin, then freed from the old jailer Satan, comes under Christ’s Lordship. First the Law of God, the commandments kill your self-reliance and then tutors you in the severity of God’s demands. Finally, the Good Shepherd picks you up on His bloody back with His bloody hands and washes you blazingly white—in His Blood…from His Body…from His mouth “you are forgiven.” This “loosing” takes you from slave to brother, from disciple to royal priest, from brood of the viper to sheep.
So yes, The Lord wants you to reject the false teaching and false teachers, be they other denominations or falsely bragging “non-denominations.” But the real enemy that comes preying upon your unguarded throat is the sheep clothed predator of your own trespassing heart. You in your unrepentant, arrogant, pharisaical, excuse making, defensive self-justifying ego is the real wolf—the most dangerous false prophet. “Did God say?” When you answer that lie of Satan by looking within, at your own blackened heart, you are the wolf and you have devoured the lie. The Gospel is trampled under the feet of the infernal wolf-pack.
Christ is not some simpleton shepherd, traipsing about with a whistle on His lips and naivety in His heart. Jesus is the warrior, guardian, hunter first! While seeking the lost and separated lamb, He first tracks down the old evil foe…snake, dragon, wolf, world, “old Adam” traitor. Jesus saves you by luring the enemy towards Himself. He had already angered the devil by refusing the devil’s temptations. Jesus obeyed The Heavenly Father’s will, The “Decalogue” perfectly. And then, Jesus, as the lonely scapegoat, the goat staked down in the opening to lure out the roaring lion, gave up The true Fruit to ensnare the hellish beast of rebellion. Jesus nailed onto the tree. Jesus becoming the final fruit of all your misdeeds and hatreds and selfishness. Jesus becoming your bad fruit at Calvary is what satisfies God’s perfect justice and spares you the fitting punishment. Jesus suffers death and hell so that you are entered into the kingdom of heaven—on His back. You become the good fruit of God by being in, with, and under the Good Fruit of God—Jesus, the Fruit of The Mystic Rose—The Fruit of The Tree of Life.
Jesus clothed in the dead skin of the wolf so that you would be robed in the Righteous white fleece of the Agnus Dei. Jesus crowned with thorns, spiked by iron thistles that you might feast not on just figs and grapes but upon The Bread of Heaven. Jesus casting out all devils, and the Prince of devils, with His own Name: Savior, with His own works: Salvation so that you might now and forever more be known By Him in Word and Supper. Jesus the Way, The Life, and The Truth. Jesus The Truth Prophet for you.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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