“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:17-20
Many take a large growing church as a sign of God’s favor and His blessing. It might be. The preacher might sell many books, have active speaking schedules and even be able to claim worldwide attention. Their ministry might be done in power with the signs and wonders of miracles, healing and more. But that is just a maybe. Those things were true of the apostle’s ministry, sometimes.
But too many today twist Scripture, cherry pick verses here and there in an attempt to justify their false teaching and explain away difficult passages such as, “Take up your cross…” These same teachers dismiss most of the Old Testament. Yet, Jesus warns us not to do that. He is a fulfillment of all the Law and the Prophets (most of the old testament by the way.) This means that if we are to understand Jesus, we must take the time to study to understand God as he is portrayed in the law and the prophets.
The law is a teacher. I really did not understand what coveting really was until I read the Torah. Honestly, apart from the law I think I am a pretty good person. My soul is dying but I have no symptoms that I am willing to acknowledge. But when I meditate on His law, I sense my own sinfulness. I see my own selfishness. Where when I only look at the New Covenant, I see that I am forgiven. I find peace with God and others through the saving Grace of Jesus. That is my only hope. But as long as I deny the symptoms, I will refuse the cure. The law and the prophets come together as a standard, as a covid-19 test to inform me of my illness.
But again, too many preachers today lie about numbers forgetting that lying is a sin. I have heard it justified saying that the end justifies the means. They manipulate people with soft music, shame and adjusted lighting so that they can claim “more souls for the Kingdom.” If they use the tools of the devil to gain an audience and they have twisted Scripture they are not of God. But since they have not examined their own hearts, they do not know that. Since they have not set their life alongside the law and the prophets, they don’t know that they are simply spreading their own sinful virus.
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 7-21-23
The day of the false teacher is here. Do not be deceived. Instead, examine yourself and then receive the cleaning of the King.
