Luke 11:47-48 (ESV) Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs.
The false prophets and unbelieving Israelites opposed and even killed many of God’s true prophets in Old Testament times. Jesus now accuses these contemporary leaders as opposing true prophets as well. Of course, Jesus was more than a prophet, He was the Messiah. Yet, the Jewish leaders and the majority of Jews would oppose him and not believe in him.
Luke 11:49-50 (ESV) Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation,
Not only did the current leaders endorse their ancestors sins, they would continue them in their time. Jesus prophesied that these false teachers would persecute and even kill the true prophets and apostles that God would send. The generation of Israelites in Jesus’ time bore the greatest responsibility, for Jesus, the son of God had taught them and done miracles in their midst. Yet, they opposed and rejected him.
Luke 11:52 (ESV) Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”
Jesus announces one final woe against the lawyers. The lawyers or scribes prided themselves on having so much knowledge of God’s Word. Yet, Jesus accuses them of taking away the key of the knowledge of God from others. Not only did the lawyers not have a relationship with God, they hindered others who sought to know God.
Luke 11:53-54 (ESV) As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.
Here, Luke shows us that the scribes and Pharisees are acting in accordance with Jesus’ comments. They are opposing Jesus as a true teacher and prophet. They will continue to try to do whatever they can to stop Jesus’ ministry. When that fails, they will conspire to have him crucified. Beware false teachers who oppose true teachers.
We see the same thing happening all around us today, both in religious circles and in society. Those who are false teachers, promoting the lies of Satan, will always oppose true teachers. Usually, they will do what the Jews of Jesus’ day and the Jews of today do. False teachers will call the true teachers false and pass their teachings off as true.
As Christians, we have an objective standard of truth, the Bible. Those that teach contrary to God’s Word are the false teachers. And those who teach according to God’s Word are the true teachers. In order to discern God’s truth, an understanding of the Bible is required.
In order to understand the Bible, three things are necessary and taught in God’s Word. First of all, a person needs to believe in Jesus. Once they do, the Holy Spirit will help them understand God’s Word. Secondly, every person needs to read their Bible regularly. You have one book that God requires you to master in life, the Bible. Finally, every person needs to be part of a biblical church with true teachers that they can learn from.
As you grow in understanding God’s Word and knowing Jesus better, you will be able to discern the false teachers, prophets and churches that are all around us. Beware if false teachers who oppose true teachers.
In this message series, we’re learning to do what Jesus did. Today, we’ve learned how Jesus called out false teachers and warned us about them. We must be on our guard against false teachers who focus on outward rules. We must recognize false teachers who put themselves above others. We must beware of false teachers who oppose true teachers.
Many false teachers call themselves Christians and use God’s Word. Many denominations are made up of false churches and false teachers. They are no longer teaching the truth of God’s Word.Beware yourself and warn others to get out and become part of a biblical church. Truth matters. May God help us to know the truth and spread the truth.