Beware of False Teaching

Massachusetts open your Bibles to Matthew chapter 16 going through the gospel of Matthew consecutively.

So in a sense I don't choose what I preaches Sunday it is chosen for me and that were going to be looking at this passage in Matthew chapter 16 it is possible to have eyes enough to see it is possible spiritually speaking to of ears enough to hear another study of Matthew. I thought of this during the week that we have been listening to the words of Jesus.

We have been seeing Jesus in action and I asked myself as – you know, are we understanding as it made any difference in our lives, our attitudes being changed is our faith being strengthened as a parts being softens. Are we basing our lives on the truths of the word of God that were learning what is your response how important it is that our lives conform to the word of God began by reading Psalm one how easy it is what our lives conform to our culture to contemporaries rather than our very lives being conform to the word of God and drive scriptures were going to learn in this passage through Scripture. There are many warnings against false teachers. The apostle Paul speaks of deceitful spirits and teaching of demons in first Timothy four verse one. Jesus described the enemy as a liar and the father of lies. Think of many lies we hear almost every day in our culture and our media yes will and hearts. We are, we must admit difficult.

Although it is that we are rather easily slide easily deceived. Where there is truth that is always outer and so we are praying I trust as we read the word of God that are eyes will be open that her ears will be open that our hearts will not be hardens and that we will respond to the word of God with humble obedience. Humility is key. Obedience is key and then our passage is 100. The Lord Jesus gives every star in warning against false teaching. Matthew chapter 16 then and I'm going to need the first 12 verses Matthew 16 verse one the Pharisees and Sadducees came in to test him. They asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

He answered them when it is evening, you say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red and then the morning it will be stormy today for the sky is red and threatening. You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times an evil and adulterous generation seeks were assigned but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah, so he left them and departed. When the disciples reach the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, watch and be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and they began discussing it among themselves.

A we brought no bread.

But Jesus aware of the said oh you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves. The fact that you have no bread, do you not yet perceive do you not yet remember the five loaves for the 5000 and how many baskets you gathered or the seven loaves for the 4000 and how many baskets you gathered. How is it that you fail to understand that they did not speak about bread beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Then they understood that he did not tell them to be where of the leaven of Brad's but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees lesson intriguing portion of Scripture is wonderful and visible from this passage that sinful and stubborn attitudes prevent spiritual understanding that it's all too possible to hear the truth.

The accurate truth to hear the word of God but because of our attitudes because of sin in our life. We fail to understand.

We here at one level, but we totally miss the spiritual truth here in this passage of Messina before the Hyde Park essay of the religious establishment, the Pharisees and the Sadducees blinds them as to the true identity of Jesus, hear me out again and conflict. Here they are again confronting Jesus we saw in chapter 12 verse 14 that the Pharisees, these evil men had been conspiring to put Jesus said that conspiring to destroy faced with the very miracles of Jesus face with his brilliant, gracious teaching their hearts are hardened, the refutable evidence is right before the but I don't see it.

The truth is presented to them, but they don't hear it. In fact, the greater the evidence, pneumothorax, sanding the medicals and will brilliantly teaching the harder and harder their hearts.

But, until eventually going to crucify spiritually blind spiritually that the audit Jesus taught in chapter 12 there are in danger of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the unforgivable sin. And so Jesus gives this very sad morning to the disciples. Verse six watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees again. The end of verse 11. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Verse 12 he understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. These warning them against false teaching leaven yeast starts small is applying and he quickly spreads be exposed to Little Falls featuring a quickly spreads the leaven of the Pharisees is the hypocritical attitude and their unbelief. Look in Luke chapter 12 verse one says in meantime when so many thousands of the people gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to the disciples here.

This first beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypoxic. He spells it out. What is this, this evil that so quickly spreads, it is hypocrisy. It's on belief they like many religious people said that we attempted to be like this the honor the Lord with her lips but her heart is far from swelling as were saying you are. You were saying very well and is anyone they look at you, it would seem like a very spiritual person you're honoring the Lord with your lips are worshiping God with your heart's heart your mind as far away from God blessed us in Pharisees to the Pharisees added the legalistic traditions to the word of God. The Pharisees added to the word of God with her traditions with the legalistic regulations, the Sadducees, on the other hand, reject part of the word of God. They don't believe in the supernatural. In particular, they don't believe in the resurrection is why we call them side regarding their side. You see by joke with will help to remember you never forget that one rejects the resurrection are good or bad. So the word of God. Our group takes away from the word of God.

By the way, always, always beware of those who add to Scripture. Of those who go to be on Scripture with her special visions and and and dreams and always beware of those of callers who selectively hold to Scripture. They take this part, but they reject that part. That's leaven and it quickly spreads along to Scripture adding to Scripture or taking away the parts of Scripture that we don't like that the don't that we don't think of any cool the don't conform to our unbelieving culture that we reject that posting should quickly spreads our thinking with an example of this today over false teaching progress. But you know I mentioned this before, but that I'm the arise of these prophets and apostles. They call themselves and and and some of you want me to listen to listen to them. I we have one false prophet, claiming that God told him not to take the vaccine really thinks of acting on not who cares, but he's actually claiming think of it, think of the blasphemer that God told him and he says I'm a prophet and the sad thing is that so many people yes so many Christians lack the discernment because some person say something like that and puts on YouTube and go so far to say to take the vaccine. In fact, this is the mark of the beast is the op mark of the Antichrist in the vaccine. There is the mark of the beast that could be true. Listen, it's nonsense. Absolute nonsense is a false prophet clearly hasn't read Revelation 13, which says the mark of the beast is going to be in the right hand to tune the right hand on the forehead. When I got my vaccine I wasn't tattooed.

Furthermore, the antichrist is going to come during the tribulation out before I'm just giving a rather bizarre example of what is there about people who claim to be prophets who claim to be apostles and thousands of people listen to that nonsense on YouTube rather than reading the word of God and said oh I wonder if it's true, it's not true. You'll need to email me about it. You need to call me about it it's not true and is very very I think very many discouraging to me, a pastor at Calvary church to think their people and tell the church are swelling that nonsense it is voltage my talking strongly enough this morning. It was the Pharisees want like maybe they want a sign from heaven.

But does that they ignore the medicals but it want something spectacular, perhaps like Elijah who brought down the fire from heaven. Show us a sign from heaven. They say they're there to test Jesus there there to discredit Jesus there there to trap Jesus.

This is not good question asked in good faith. Jesus says how is it you can interpret the weather but you can't interpret the signs of the time I was brought up with the setting red sky at night, shepherds the light red sky in the morning, shepherds warning Pharisees were brother was something else they could for the weather very good to interpret the weather but you can't interpret the signs of the times you're asking me Jesus is saying for a sign from heaven and he is the sign right in front of them is the Messiah, the son of God, and they cannot see they cannot understand that right in front of their eyes, the Christ, as were going to see you next week, the Christ, the son of the living God. You've got the Scriptures Jesus think you've got the sign of Nora of Jonah. You've got all the evidence you need. Your problem is not that they're not signed. Your problem is that your hearts are hardened that your rejecting the very evidence in front of you and I say to you, my dear brothers and sisters at Calvary don't add to or reject the word. I ask you I ask is I asked myself when faced with God's truth. How you responded you a hard heart you become quite argumentative sometimes about spiritual things, but you ignore the evidence on engine and the privileges morning watching the sunrise absolutely incredible, beautiful, beautiful sunrise. The beauty of creation, the evidence of change lives. Did you hear these baptisms on on Easter Sunday.

The testimonies of these young people the door the living God is at work in the lives of young men and women very voice of your conscience.

The powder of the word of God. You really committed to pursuing the truth all our you like the Pharisees and the Sadducees are argumentative your hostile your hardened testing God just covering up the onset your sin in your own life for all of us stubborn and sinful attitudes keep us from humbly trusting that Junior on life.

You know that I know that that attitude will keep you from growing in Christ Lord Jesus is going to tell as were to become my little children, not naïve know about trusting in the leaven of unbelief.

The leaven of hypoxia playing apart so easily keeps into our lives thousand and so Jesus is saying watch and beware and I'm saying it to you today watch and beware, yes, it is false teaching couple of months ago after a message or dear lady I'm sure she's well-meaning to men out of come back but twitchy. She said to back. I can't believe that you are saying that some doctrine is wrong to you I guess that all doctrine is just a jerk of your being judgmental said no I'm declaring the truth of God and where there is truth that is and here's the Lord Jesus Christ them was loving and caring of people saying to his followers watch and beware don't fall for the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And did you lose at the end of verse four that he left them and departed was a time when dialogue comes to an end and there's a time, as were talking to people that there's a time just to stop and say okay were going to leave it there and he Lord Jesus turns from them and speaks to the disciples.

The disciples are like us to go identify with them the disciples see but they don't truly see the disciples here, but I don't truly hear the disciples understand, but they don't fully understand that even though Jesus said in these verses the feeding of the 4000 than the 5000 and and you were there.

I use you in the distribution of the of the fish in the Lord, you still haven't yet God you see the medicals you hear my teaching, but they have not yet fully grasp Jesus as were going to see that next week.

Also they have all they need to do God's will for their wedding about verse seven we brought no bread. You've got the supreme breadmaker right with you and you are getting about no bread.

Would you note there when they fed the 5000. We go there when we fed the 4000 Nebraskans were there when buy something learning about you but I had and the supreme breadmaker was worry about your health. When the Creator of the heavens and there's the one who made you the one who says you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Is there with you as the disciples success of sometimes our eyes are closed to what the Lord Jesus is doing in our life's. The disciples were there, but they haven't yet grasped the wonder of who in their midst is doing the medicals and that's like sometimes isn't it God is at work in our very lives.

God is at work in the lives of other people around us here at Calvary church and sometimes we can hardly see it again.

Ask your ears open humility is open to hear Jesus you trusting in Jesus to accomplish his purposes through you couldn't be that Jesus is saying to us this morning at Calvary church. Verse 80 you of little faith, do you not perceive do you not remember do not remember what God did to you last year do not remember how God acted in your life. Did you know here that testimony of that individual. How is it that you failed to understand verse 11 that I didn't speak about sinful and stubborn attitudes prevents potential understanding but yet you say what what's what's with the real point. What do we really have to understand coming to the cross of Christ is essential for spiritual understanding the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ the disciples and will think of this in detail next week. Lord willing.

The disciples now are going to begin to understand who Jesus is. Here they are at Caesarea Philippi verse 13 and the disciples are going to begin to realize that Jesus is more than a prophet.

See the medicals that had the teaching and Jesus is not calling for a personal response from them.

Who do you say that I and Peter is going to respond with divine revelation. You are the Christ, the son of the living God.

Verse 60 but although they recognize that he's the Christ is the Messiah, although they recognize that he's the son of the living God. They still do not understand what kind of Messiah. What kind of Christ, he is, and in particular they don't understand that he comes as the suffering Messiah read with me from verse 21 from that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes be killed and on the third day be raised, but Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, far be it from you, Lord. They shall never happen to you, but he turned and said to Peter, get behind me Satan for your hindrance to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God but on the things of mine. The understand that Jesus is the Christ, but they don't understand what kind of Christ is they think of the Messiah in political and social and economic liberation. Think of the Messiah comic was going to deliver them from Rome as well as it is a deadly verse 20 Jesus quickly charge the disciples to tell no one. He was the Christ. He didn't come from Arlington Hill.

He didn't come from Marley to release people from prison. He comes as the Savior becomes is Matthew told us in chapter 1 verse 21 he comes as Jesus who's going to die for the sins of his people. He comes as the suffering Messiah.

I know this verse 21 from that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and on the third day, the race, he must go to Jerusalem to suffering is killing our divine necessities as prophesied in the Old Testament.

This, incidentally, is the first direct announcement of the cross in Matthew's gospel, and did you notice that Jesus rebukes Peter a rather Peter rebukes Jesus. Verse 24. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, far be it from you, Lord. This will never happen. Peter few moments ago you said that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God. And now you're rebuking him. Peter is still not seeing clearly in particular Peter doesn't want the cross, he does want to follow Jesus, but he wants to follow in his own terms.

He wants to Christ, but he doesn't want the cross of Christ in the sense he saying to Jesus I know better and there's another way you don't need to be killed. You don't need to be crucified. That is a better way and Jesus has to correct the disciples misunderstanding of his true identity. This what he says in verse 23 behind me Satan your hindrance to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God but on the things of mine. This is this is absolutely essential, substantively essential we get this point the cross is central to the mission of Jesus is very interesting, that is Jesus. In chapter 4 verse seven Matthew four verse 17 it says.

From that time. Same expressions we have in verse 21 of chapter 60 from that time. The context in chapter 4 is Jesus and being baptized is gone into the wilderness is being tempted by Satan and now he begins from that time, he begins to announce the kingdom of God. Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand and as he does that Satan is trying to stop here as he announces that he's going to die, that he must go to Jerusalem. Again, the devil get you buying me, Satan, the devil is trying to stop them going to the cross you notice you, but when God is at work in your life doubles there as well. When God does great things are Calvary church.

The devil is never far away tries to divide tries to hinder us.

He tries to harass process on the devil, the world unbelievers are quite happy with a Christianity without the cross by the cross and the resurrection of this verse 21. The Jesus says you must be killed and on the third day be raised the cross and the resurrection and essential to the Christian faith and Jesus is not going to teach the 12 rather than the card what it means to follow him.

He's going to teach them from now on the way of discipleship and he's going to do that by teaching him by teaching them the way of discipleship is the way of the cross were good to see that particularly verse 24 through 28 in a couple of weeks. When Jesus says if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow the shadow of the cross is that over the rest of Matthew.

But why must he suffer. Why must you be killed on the cross was very, very important that we had Calvary understand that that the top of the agenda of Calvary church is not political action is not social justice is not self-help techniques is not inspirational storytelling.

It is the cross of Christ. That is of supreme importance. Isn't that what Jesus is saying usually wise that is so important because the cross and Satan does all he can to distract us from this the cross is essential for the salvation of sinners, without the death and burial of resurrection and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

That is no authentic Christianity and the message of the cross.

But Satan wanted to stamp out and still wants the standpipe message of the cross was the message that the apostles preach lookover in your Bibles to first Corinthians 2 Corinthians 1 and first Corinthians 2 saying that the message of the cross is of supreme importance. Nothing.

Nothing can put that into a secondary position. First Corinthians 1, verse 18. Here's the Paul for the word of the cross log also is that is it for the word, the preaching of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Verse 23 but we preach Christ crucified verse two of chapter 2 for I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. The apostles of Jesus Christ did not preach a message of self-help. They did not preach a message of human potential. They did not preach a message of prosperity. They did not preach a message of politics preach the message of the cross was a message of the cross. And Paul is saying, God used uses the folly the foolishness of preaching to bring people to saving faith in Christ crucified on the cross of Christ, then must be sent to you notice so many of our churches, and so much of Christianity.

The cross of Christ, while not being actively denied is being put in a subordinate position. Notice what happens. Verse 22 of first Corinthians 1.

For Jews, the man signs the rabbit again same word as in Matthew 16 revising the Sadducees say common shorts assigned as a spectacular sign. Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom you've got one group seeking signs you got another group seeking wisdom and what does the apostle do do good. He designs yes is an apostle could he preach with words of man's wisdom. Yes, this is training his intellect are beyond. Of course, he could have debated the exhibit on level with all that her philosophy on speculative philosophy and ideas he doesn't do that one seeks signs one seeks wisdom. Paul says we preach Christ crucified on the Pharisees and the Sadducees them on the sign there's still those here are still those who want not to date on the one something sensational when they come to church.

It seems as if it top of that agenda is excitement that is as something that is sensational. You know that's an indication of immaturity at best and unbelief at worst as the Jews, they seek signs with this folder. He does while his Savior is instructing us to do is to preach Christ. Paul doesn't preach traditions. The Jews problem with find of the religion he doesn't preach speculative wisdom.

The Greek problem was pride of intellect. He preaches Christ crucified instead of Carl presenting a message of human power and of human wisdom.

He preaches to Jews and Greeks a message and it's the same message.

The message of the cross which they both regard as weak, foolish and offensive, and that still the case today.

The cross of Christ is God's only way of salvation because of Christ is the only way of being saved again. Verse 18 first Corinthians 1.

The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God is the only way of salvation in the gospel and the preaching of Christ crucified, that is the power of God and the wisdom of God you notice that unbelievers will happily discuss and even accept an un-crucified Jesus. Jesus was a moral teacher, Jesus was a prophet of love. Jesus was a girl who leads us into more enlightenment. Jesus was an inspiring example of love, although happily embrace that kind of Jesus. You see an uncrucified Jesus rarely offends anyone on uncrucified.

Jesus is politically correct on uncrucified. Jesus is tolerant of the most bizarre of conduct with an uncrucified Jesus is false teaching on uncrucified.

Jesus never saves on uncrucified.

Jesus is not the gospel, and so we sat and addresses. Calvary church is always that we preach Christ and him crucified. What does our Lord Jesus say in John three verse 14.

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even sold Maas the Son of Man be lifted up, though whoever believes in him will have everlasting life.

He modestly says go to Jerusalem, he must be lifted up, referring to his crucifixion. Paul Cézanne Romans 58 but God shows his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Central to Paul's teaching is Christ is about. What does Peter say and in first Peter 318, but Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, they might bring us to God.

What is the right of the Hebrew of Hebrews say in Hebrews 10 verse 12 but when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God having the physically our blessed Savior makes one single sacrifice for all time for sinners. His work is complete. He said sign at the father's right hand, you grasp that the pharmacies couldn't. The disciples are finding it difficult but is very very important that we understand that the very center of our faith and no one kind.

I backed us from this or should direct us so that we spend our time and other things that central to the gospel is Christ crucified boy going to school. We use the same that is a green hill far away, without the city wall where there where their weird their dear Lord was crucified, who died to save us all. There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin.

He only could unlock the gate of heaven in medicine by different if you're going to be in heaven is going to be through the way of the cross is going to be through you humbly coming as millions and millions of done done done through the centuries that you come humbly to the cross of Christ. That's why we have a cross on the ceiling, not just something that looks good something that reminds us that this is very center of our faith and the way to begin to follow Christ is to come the way of the cross people are saying on how to know you don't need to be tilted on the cross we can just follow here you can keep on doing the medicals we get rid of that the Romans and then we will will be right with you, Jesus is no. I must go to Jerusalem, I must be killed and on the third day I will rise again. Of course that was prophesied in the Old Testament Scripture which your personal response to Jesus.

It either perishing or you're being said there's no middle ground to the cross feels not just with the symptoms of sin or felt needs and our selfish desires, but rather the root problem are sinful part in a false gospel.

Jesus is presented in all kinds of ways. Perhaps as a guru to enlighten us through life as a kind of business partner to help us be successful in life is a kind of therapist to give a psychological help in tough times and all of that and absolutely not at the center of faith.

The very center of the Christian faith is Jesus crucified. Risen seated on the father's right hand in certain coming for his bride, the church without the cross.

There is no salvation of sinners.

The cross always humbles us and exalts our Savior.

False religion false teaching always exalts the individual or here's an individual who's got these wonderful insight he had this vision. This vision from God. God told him that is what a wonderful person. Notice her glory goes to the individual, but with the cross were all in the same level sinners saved by grace are you saved you received Christ as your Savior or do you only have a partial understanding of Jews, of who Jesus is. You see, but you don't see clearly you hear but you don't hear plainly close.

We ask God to soften your heart open your eyes. Perhaps if you're following Christ. You've got your you for your eyes off Christ in you been following yourself and your sinful desires undergoing a false way I'm saying today that is no authentic Christianity without the cross, Lord Jesus Christ, the son of God comes to forgive our sins to transform our lives through this credit to empower us to do God's will for our lives. What are we to do with the trust we trust them for salvation. We trust him with a problem you're worrying about bread as it was like the likely disciples and the supreme breadmaker is with you and worried when a reminder that Christ is with you the all powerful Christ trust him, love him, follow him, follow him the way of the cross maternal gardener father, thank you for the magnificent Savior, we thank you that he was undeterred and went on to the cross. Yes, there was no other good enough to pay the price of said we thank you that he's the one who unlocks the gate of heaven to lead the sin maybe some weary sinners today come to the cross and trust Christ and those who were following Christ, may we keep her eyes on him, may we keep in your word may we follow with humble obedience, having her ears open, having our hearts sensitive to his call, having our minds focused on his work. We ask it in this precious time