The Sheep Judge Their Shepherds

Introduction

God give you all much grace and peace through the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus!

God's church upon earth has from the beginning been a militant church. It has ever been oppressed and persecuted by the mighty ones of the world. Also within the church at all times, men have arisen who have spread false teachings and made factions for themselves, thus disturbing the church and causing divisions and offenses. In Adam's church there was Cain, the self-righteous; in Noah's church, Ham, the despiser of his father; in Abraham's church, Ishmael, the mocker; in the church of the prophets, many false prophets preached though the Lord had not sent them and they gave the people false comfort and led them into the sin of idolatry.

Even in the apostolic church, in nearly all places where the gospel was preached and received, there arose heretics who caused divisions, yes, often disturbed entire flourishing congregations. Among these, St. Paul especially names Alexander the coppersmith, Hymenaeus, and Philetus; and St. John mentions the whole sect of the Nicolaitanes. And so also to this day. Wherever and whenever the pure doctrine has been heard, opponents have arisen. Satan has never been able to leave the church in peaceful possession of its heavenly treasures. The church therefore has ever had to use God's Word, not only as food for the soul, but also as a weapon in unceasing warfare against false teachers. If a church cease to strive, it cannot remain a church for long.

Now we ask, why does God permit His flock which is to be guarded by its shepherds, also to be attacked by wolves, who present themselves as shepherds that they may deceitfully capture the sheep and destroy them? God could prevent this. Why does He not do so? Two reasons especially are given by God's Word. God permits it partly to prove His children and partly to punish the unthankful hearers. If pure doctrine were never attacked, Christians would soon become indolent, lazy, and lukewarm. But when false teachers arise, those who sincerely care for the pure Word reveal themselves, and the faithful are driven to search the Scriptures more diligently.

Therefore, my dear hearers, think it not a little thing, that you now can hear the pure Word of God every Sunday. Yet in accordance with my office, I am to be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. It behooves me not only to lead you upon the pastures of the gospel, but also to warn you against false teachers. Therefore let me now seize the occasion which our gospel for the day offers: Matthew 7:15-23.

"Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits...." After Christ had presented the true doctrine, He now warns against false teachers and says to his hearers, "Beware." With these words, Christ takes judgment from the teachers and gives it to the pupils. He takes it from the shepherds and gives it to the sheep.

The Sheep Are Judges

Christ says in his sermon on the mount, where not only disciples, but also a great multitude were present, "Beware of false prophets ... Ye shall know them by their fruits." This admonition by the Son of God shows plainly how false the principle is that the preachers should teach and the hearers only listen, that the shepherds should lead and the sheep only follow, that the clergy should resolve and the congregation only acquiesce. No, when Christ calls upon his hearers to beware of false prophets and to know the true and the false by their fruits, Christ thereby seats all hearers upon the seat of judgment and bids them confidently execute judgment on their teachers.

All that is taught in the church of Christ concerns our soul's salvation. In these matters no one shall be dependent upon some other person. No one shall establish his faith upon another person. Each one shall live in accordance with his own faith, and only by his faith be saved. No other person can die for us, no other person can appear in our stead before God, and no other person can stand before His judgment seat in our place. If you permit yourself to be deceived, you have deceived yourself. The responsibility is yours.

In God's Kingdom we are all equal. Holy Baptism takes the purple from the king, and the rags from the beggar, and clothes them both in the robes of Christ's righteousness. In divine matters it does not depend upon learning, cleverness, or earthly standing. Therefore in divine matters no one is excluded from the judicial office. All Christ's sheep are judges, both learned and layman, man and wife, young and old, for it concerns each one's soul, his own life, his own salvation.

Walther points to the Bereans, to St. John's command to test the spirits, and to St. Paul's own call, "Judge ye what I say." Christians are not to receive a book, lecture, resolution, or instruction without testing. "One is our Master, even Christ." Such matters are not to be decided by majorities, but by the Word of God itself.

The Sheep Shall Know the True Doctrine and Be Steadfast in It

If the sheep are to judge the shepherds, then they must know the doctrine by which that judgment is made. Even in secular matters a judge dares not pass sentence arbitrarily; he judges according to a lawbook. So also in the church, where spiritual and divine matters are at stake. It is the inalienable right of the congregation and of every member to judge doctrine, to prove it, and to receive or reject it. But no one in the church rules by force. Christ alone is the head, the Chief Shepherd, the Lord, the Master, and the Judge.

With respect to love, we are one another's debtors and servants; but with respect to faith, no one is another's slave. All are bound only to Christ and to His most holy Word, the only unchangeable rule and guide. Shepherd and sheep alike must bow before that Word and be judged by it.

Since Christians are called to this office of judgment, they are seriously admonished to search daily in the Scriptures so that they can separate the true from the false and gold and silver from hay, straw, and stubble. Walther urges his hearers not to despise diligent searching in Holy Scripture, in orthodox teachers, and especially in the public confessional writings of the orthodox Lutheran church. The salvation of the soul is concerned. Christians must regard the pure doctrine of God's Word as dearer and more precious than anything else in the world and be so firm in it that they would rather die than depart from it by so much as a letter.

He then makes the pastoral point that many drift into sects because they have not known the teaching of their church, or because they have accepted it merely on the recommendation of others instead of on the basis of God's Word. Such people are tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. Yet even the weaker Christian is not left helpless: Luther's Small Catechism gives a clear summary of the Christian faith and its chief articles, so that what is not in accord with it may boldly be rejected.

The Sheep Must Not Let Themselves Be Deceived by a Mere Good Appearance

Christ says, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Walther emphasizes that the most dangerous false prophets are not those who openly mock the faith, but those who present a good appearance. When Satan would lead astray the children of God, he clothes himself like an angel of light. When the wolf would enter the sheepfold, he puts on sheep's clothing.

True prophets appeal to God's Word, but so have heretics. Even the prince of darkness quoted Scripture in the temptation of Christ. Therefore Christians must not trust every teacher merely because he says, "It is written." They must compare Scripture with Scripture. Nor is a regular call itself enough to prove soundness. A preacher may truly have an office and yet teach falsely. If the rightfully called become wolves, Christ bids the sheep to flee from them.

Neither a godly outward life nor impressive gifts can settle the matter. A preacher may appear patient, charitable, zealous, honorable, unselfish, eloquent, learned, and spiritually powerful. He may move hearts, comfort the sorrowful, and answer objections skillfully. Yet even false prophets may possess striking natural gifts and an attractive appearance. Christians therefore must not let themselves be deceived by holiness of appearance, by office, by zeal, or by ability. Christ's command still stands: "Beware."

The Sheep Must Above All Look for the Proper Fruits

When Christ says, "Ye shall know them by their fruits," Walther argues that these fruits are not first of all works of life, but fruits of doctrine. If a teacher does not bear the fruit of pure teaching, he is a false prophet, though he be a Paul or an angel from heaven. No one is sent by God except he who proclaims Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation for poor sinners. The Father wills that all who see the Son and believe on Him should have everlasting life, and the true prophet is the one who plainly lays this foundation before the world.

Where souls are not helped by the plain preaching of Christ, there are false prophets, however wise, gifted, or holy they may seem. False teachers always fail at precisely this point: they do not proclaim Christ alone, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. But where this article remains pure, soul-destroying errors are driven away like mists before the sun. If from a teacher's sermons you learn how to come to Christ, abide with Him, suffer with Him, and die a blessed death through Him, then you have found a true prophet.

A pious life without pure teaching does not make a preacher true. Yet the godly life of an orthodox preacher is a glorious confirmation and adornment of pure doctrine. Where the pure doctrine is preached, at least some hearers will become fruitful trees of righteousness and bear the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. And where God's love is shed abroad in hearts by the true Gospel, men love not merely their own party, but all who love Jesus Christ.

Walther closes by returning to Christ's warning and promise together: "Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits." Amen.