What does "twice as much a son of hell" imply about false teachings? Context of Matthew 23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.” (Matthew 23:15) • Spoken during Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem. • Part of a series of “woes” exposing religious hypocrisy. • Addresses leaders who prided themselves on missionary zeal yet corrupted their converts. Meaning of “son of hell” • “Son” is a Semitic idiom for someone who fully bears the character of something. • “Hell” (Greek: Gehenna) refers to final judgment and eternal punishment. • A “son of hell” is therefore a person whose life and destiny align with perdition. Why “twice as much” • The convert not only inherits the teachers’ errors but adds fresh zeal to them. • False teachers reproduce their beliefs plus their hypocrisy, compounding guilt. • Jesus underscores escalating danger: deception intensifies with each new generation of error. What This Reveals About False Teachings • They are contagious—spreading through sincere but misguided evangelistic effort. • They enslave both teacher and disciple: “Both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14) • They grow in severity: each successive follower may become more fanatical. • They provoke greater judgment: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better…to have a large millstone hung around his neck.” (Matthew 18:6) • They masquerade as truth: “Such men are false apostles… disguising themselves as servants of righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 11:13–15) Implications for Today • Counterfeit gospels multiply rapidly (Galatians 1:6–9). • Doctrinal error mixed with religious passion is more destructive than open unbelief. • Leaders bear heightened responsibility (James 3:1). • Spiritual zeal must be tethered to sound doctrine (Romans 10:2). Safeguards Against Becoming “Twice a Son of Hell” • Know the Scriptures thoroughly (Acts 17:11). • Test every teaching: “Examine all things. Hold fast to what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) • Submit to the whole counsel of God, not selective proof-texts (2 Timothy 3:16–17). • Watch both life and doctrine closely (1 Timothy 4:16). • Stay under biblically qualified shepherds (Hebrews 13:17). • Depend on the Holy Spirit to guide into all truth (John 16:13). Key Truths to Remember • False doctrine can make converts zealously wrong. • Error compounded equals harsher judgment. • Fidelity to Scripture is the only antidote to becoming—or making—“twice as much a son of hell.” |
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