How can Matthew 12:27 guide us in identifying false teachings today? Setting the Scene “Matthew 12:27: ‘And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.’” What Jesus Is Doing Here • He exposes a double standard: the Pharisees praised their own exorcists yet condemned Him for the same work. • He insists on logical consistency: a claim must be judged the same way no matter who makes it. • He lets the fruit speak for itself: deliverance from demons is evidence of God’s power, not Satan’s. Timeless Principles for Spotting False Teaching • Consistent standards – test every message by the same biblical yardstick (Isaiah 8:20). • Examine the source – does it point to Christ’s glory or undermine it? (1 John 4:2–3). • Look at the results – good fruit reveals a good tree; rotten fruit exposes deception (Matthew 7:15–20). • Honor scriptural authority – the Word is the final court of appeal (2 Timothy 3:16–17). • Beware of flattering credentials – even respected “sons” can mislead if they depart from truth (Galatians 1:8). Practical Discernment Checklist • Compare every teaching with clear Scripture. • Ask whether it elevates Jesus as Lord and Savior. • Inspect the teacher’s life and ministry for evident godliness or hidden compromise. • Watch long-term fruit in those who follow the teaching—greater holiness or confusion and bondage? • Seek counsel from mature believers who are grounded in the whole counsel of God. • Pray for the Spirit’s illumination, remembering He never contradicts the written Word (John 16:13). Scriptures That Echo the Same Safeguards • Acts 17:11 – the Bereans “examined the Scriptures daily to see if these teachings were true.” • 1 John 4:1 – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” • 2 Corinthians 11:14–15 – Satan “masquerades as an angel of light,” so appearances can deceive. • Ephesians 4:14 – grow in doctrine so we are “no longer infants, tossed by waves… carried about by every wind of teaching.” Living It Out Together When a new idea, podcast, or book crosses your path, remember Jesus’ challenge in Matthew 12:27. Apply one righteous standard, measure by the Word, and let consistent fruit tell the story. In doing so, you safeguard yourself and the church from subtle error and stand firm in the truth that sets us free. |
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