Listen To God!

”My heart is broken because of the false prophets, and my bones tremble. I stagger like a drunkard, like someone overcome by wine, because of the holy words the LORD has spoken against them. For the land is full of adultery, and it lies under a curse. The land itself is in mourning—its wilderness pastures are dried up. For they all do evil and abuse what power they have. [Jeremiah 23.9-10] 

This is a serious indictment against false prophets. Who are false prophets? First we have to understand what a prophet is and that is simply one who speaks for God. So, a false prophet is one who presumably speaks for God, but does not.

In the Bible, false prophets are recognized for making allowance for idolatry (adultery against God) and declaring "all is well" in the midst of curses when, in fact, God's Word said (and still says) otherwise. False prophets remain among us today doing the exact same thing.

It is the work of a false prophet to discount or even dilute God's Commandments. But, it is also the work of a false prophet to discount or dilute God's blessings and curses. When God established His Commandments, He also established and decreed blessings and curses respectively for obedience or disobedience to His Commandments (Deuteronomy 28). The Ten Commandments are cumulatively God's unmistakable Word in its purest, most concentrated form.

A false prophet will never point out that curses are the result of sin and will never acknowledge the adultery against God (idolatry) that is the sin. A false prophet will never "rock the boat" of established and comfortable religion. In so doing, a false prophet inadvertently, but severely discounts the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross by confusing the gravity of idolatry and sin and curses. Likewise (and understandably so), the false prophet waters down the implications of the Ten Commandments today teaching a false grace that Jesus never taught!

For everyone thinking right now, "well, that's Old Testament you are talking about, and Jesus has redeemed us from that..." let me just point out a couple of things that Jesus, God in the flesh, said to thoroughly dispute such a notion:

“Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” [Matthew 19.17]

First, Jesus was very clear to the rich young man in the context of Matthew 19 that only God is truly good. Mark 10.18, Luke 18.19 and Matthew 19.17 harmoniously dispute the notion that bad things happen to good people, because there are no good people! The Apostle Paul confirmed this:

As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. [Romans 3.10]

But also, in Matthew 19.17, Jesus clearly said, "keep the commandments." What is interesting about this is that Jesus only quoted the manward Commandments (Commandments 6-10 or Exodus 20.12-17) to the rich young man. 

“Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” [Matthew 19.18-19]

What Jesus did next is IMPORTANT! When the rich young man stated he had kept the manward Commandments (in the context of Matthew 19) and asked what more he must do (evidently, curses on his life were telling him there was indeed something still missing), Jesus conjugated and condensed Commandments 1-4 (the Godward Commandments) to this:

Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” [Matthew 19.21]

Why would Jesus do that? Because, as God with us, Jesus wrapped the first four Commandments: no other God, no idols, no misusing the Name, and keeping the Sabbath, all into Himself. In so doing, Jesus revealed that there is no way to experience eternal life without the Godward part - which is only complete in following Jesus - and doing so requires giving up one's claim on everything. 

The false prophet will offer more 'palatable' explanations for Matthew 19.21 saying it doesn't necessarily apply to all, allowing people to violate the most important Godward Commandments with all their warning against self-exaltation. Consequently, people who have not given up all are given a false sense of well-being resultant to the false teaching of the false prophet.

As already stated, false prophets abound today. Their false teaching allows idolatry and gives a false sense of well-being in the midst of curses fulfilling Jesus' words:

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]

It would seem "the few" are those who fully comply with Jesus' demand:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24, Mark 8.34, Luke 9.23] 

Bottom line: Don't be a false teacher and don't listen to false teachers. Listen to God (hint: the red letters).

Father, I know this article will win no popularity contests. I also know that most will choke on the severe implications of it. I know that I have some serious changes to make in my life. Most importantly, I know that Jesus is my only hope if I intend to be one of the few who find Your Kingdom. May I and all who read this give up our own ways and follow Jesus. So be it.