BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS

2Kings 22,8-13; 23,1-3; Ps 118; Mt 7,15-20
27 JUNE
A false prophet is anyone who says to man a contrary and different word from the one uttered by the Lord. However, it is urgent to distinguish the guilty from the not guilty false prophecy, because it is research of the spirit of the man of truth. Searching God groping around is not a false prophecy, even if the results are not perfect. False guilty prophecy is that of one who knows the Word of God and teaches things contrary to it. It was the false prophecy of the priests, scribes and those who were in charge of the people of Israel and Judah who first caused the destruction of Samaria and then of Jerusalem. The Lord has words of fire against these false prophets who are the ruin of his people.

Tell them: Thus says the Lord: When someone falls, does he not rise again? if he goes astray, does he not turn back? Why do these people rebel with obstinate resistance? Why do they cling to deceptive idols, refuse to turn back? I listen closely: they speak what is not true; No one repents of his wickedness, saying, “What have I done!” Everyone keeps on running his course, like a steed dashing into battle. Even the stork in the air knows it seasons; Turtledove, swallow and thrush observe their time of return, But my people do not know the ordinance of the Lord. How can you say, “We are wise, we have the law of the Lord”? Why, that has been changed into falsehood by the lying pen of the scribes! The wise are confounded, dismayed and ensnared; Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, of what avail is their wisdom? Therefore, I will give their wives to strangers, their fields to spoilers. Small and great alike, all are greedy for gain, prophet and priest, all practice fraud. They would repair, as though it were nought, the injury to the daughter of my people: “Peace, peace!” they say, though there is no peace. They are odious; they have done abominable things, yet they are not at all ashamed, they know not how to blush. Hence they shall be among those who fall; in their time of punishment they shall go down, says the Lord. I will gather them all in, says the LORD: no grapes on the vine, No figs on the fig trees, foliage withered! Why do we remain here? Let us form ranks and enter the walled cities, to perish there; For the Lord has wrought our destruction, he has given us poison to drink, because we have sinned against the Lord. We wait for peace to no avail; for a time of healing, but terror comes instead. From Dan is heard the snorting of his steeds; The neighing of his stallions shakes the whole land. They come devouring the land and all it contains, the city and those who dwell in it. Yes, I will send against you poisonous snakes, Against which no charm will work when they bite you, says the Lord (Jer 8, 4-17).

Today, false prophets in the Lord’s people are all those ministers of the Word, those professors and doctors, those who exercise any other authority and teach things contrary to the Gospel. This is a guilty prophecy because all that is necessary for the salvation of man has been revealed and also written. It is enough just to remember it, without any alteration, without adding or removing anything. It is enough to say what the Gospel says and not to say what the Gospel does not say. Instead they teach not only things contrary to the Gospel, but also that it is no longer the foundation of the truth of salvation. But if the Word of God is no longer a foundation, on what word can we base ourselves? Once the Word of God is removed, only the word of man remains. But not a single word of one man. But every word and all the words of every man.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.

Everyone is obliged to remain firm in the Word of Jesus. The whole world can deny, annul and alter the Gospel. Every alteration of the Gospel is a temptation for the Christian. Between a man and Christ, one must always choose Christ. Between the Gospel and the word and the words of men the Gospel must be chosen. The other words are a temptation.

Faithful Virgin, Angels and Saints make us a firm faith in the Word of Lord Jesus.