And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you (Matthew 24:4)
During his earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus Christ warned of others who would follow him, each one claiming to be the true Christ. The warning continues into the next verse describing exactly what deceit Jesus is referring to: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many (Matthew 24:5). Since God first revealed Himself to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Satan has always introduced a counterfeit to humanity. All it takes is a quick look into modern society to see that where God offers truth to humanity, Satan offers counterfeits. There are counterfeit gospels, counterfeit beliefs about salvation, counterfeit churches, counterfeit Bibles, and counterfeit Christs and gods. Young Christians or those who are weak in the faith are often preyed upon cults and charismatic leaders into believing that only they have the true knowledge and means of salvation. It can even happen to even the most well-versed and rehearsed Christian.
It is extremely important that as Christians, we view everything through the lens of the Bible. Pay attention to the preacher’s sermon, take notes, and then challenge it through scripture. Is the preacher preaching doctrines in line with the teachings of the Bible or counterfeit teachings and doctrines given by some other dispensation? Does the preacher demand that you listen to him, as the sole authority and representative of God, able to alone properly discern scriptural truths? It is for this reason that Paul exhorted Timothy to Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15). For both the spiritually young and older Christian, it is essential that we study the Bible, know where we can find scripture that defines or supports our beliefs, and constantly challenge what we are being taught against what the Bible actually says. It is for this very reason the apostle Paul wrote, Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them (Romans 16:17).
And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given (Mark 4:24)
In this instance, Jesus is telling the crowd to pay attention to what they are about to hear – the simple truth that whatever standards we use to measure others by is the same standard we will be measured with. He then adds that those who actually hear what he is saying – meaning those that comprehend it and will put it into practice will actually gain more from it. Too often we find ourselves quick to judge others. It is a part of the human condition, and as I often mention in my history classes, when we meet someone new or encounter a new situation, we oftentimes will use our past experiences and people we know to make snap judgments about them. We also have a tendency to see the sins and shortcomings of others as being more serious than our own. When we do this, we actually open ourselves for similar judgment. It prevents us from being able to truly see the need for intercessory prayer for one another, it serves to justify our sins, and creates division within the body of believers.
The second part of that verse is where the understanding comes in. As we mature in our faith as Christians, we will gain a deeper understanding of our faith and our relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. With that knowledge comes a deeper responsibility and the Holy Spirit will continue to open doors that we may learn even more about the grace of God. This coincides with an interesting but sad verse written by the apostle Paul, For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat (Hebrews 5:12). Paul is writing to older Hebrew-Christians in Jerusalem that they, having known the gospel of Christ longer than nearly all the other groups of Christians on his missionary journeys, should be ready to take on the leadership roles within the church body because of their knowledge in their faith. In fact, he is admonishing them that this is not the case, and he is having to return to them to retrain them in the fundamentals of the Christian faith. This is an area of responsibility that all Christians share – as we gain more knowledge through the Holy Spirit about our faith, more is expected out of us. We are expected to prove a living faith that is Christ centered, nurtures the faith of younger Christians, and are to demonstrate the peculiarity of their faith.
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(1) Ed F. Vallowe, Biblical Mathematics: Keys to Scripture Numerics. (Columbia, S.C.: The Olive Press, 1977; reprint, Columbia: The Olive Press, 2010), 111-112 (page citations are to the reprint edition).
