Beware of Pseudo Shepherds Matt 7 15 to 23

The 8th Sunday After Trinity                                         26-July-2026
Sermon Text: Matthew 7:15-23
Sermon Theme: “Beware Of Pseudo-Shepherds!” I. Their Preaching Yields Death Not Life! (Vs.15-20) II. Their Popular Ministries Are Lawless and Without Christ! (Vs.21-23) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert.

I.N.R.I. Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! This is our triumphant confession before a world dying in the darkness of sin and satanic deception. The Holy Spirit preached through St. Paul’s pent to the congregation at Corinth and to us here at Emmanuel - 1Co 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, (2) by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (3) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, (4) and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,” And again to the Church at Rome also to us, Rom 4:25 [Jesus] who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
   As soon as God’s Holy angels preached the truth that Jesus had physically risen from the dead. Satan stirred up the hearts of psuedo-shepherds to proclaim a lie. St. Matthew records, Mat 28:11-15 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. (12) When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, (13) saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' (14) And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." (15) So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
  Through the God/Man Jesus’ sacrifice for all sinners upon the cross the devil lost all right to accuse us before God’s judgment seat. Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of God’s Holy Law for you, for me, for all sinners. The crucifix on our altar show you where your sins belong - on the Lamb of God - He takes away the sin of the world. Laying His life down into death. His lifeless body was laid into a borrowed tomb, but death could not hold the Lord of life. History records that three days later Jesus physically and triumphantly strode through Satan’s stronghold of hell and then forever robbed death of its sting. Death is forever broken. It is only a light sleep for those baptized into Christ Jesus who cling to Him by Holy Spirit Word sustained Faith given in His Church. Look at the bottom of our altar - there you see Christ’s tomb open - the stone has burst from its door - the triumphant Lamb of God marches forth to give His victory over death to you! He is the Alpha and the Omega - the Beginning and the End of your faith, your hope, your rescue, your peace!
    Pseudo-shepherds deny the physical resurrection of Jesus! On his final journey to Jerusalem St. Paul warned the Ephesian pastors, “Act 20:28-32 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (29) For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. (30) Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. (31) Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. (32) "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
     Likewise the Spirit of Truth through St. Paul calls every Christian to watch and reject with false teachers: Rom 16:17-18 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. (18) For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
    Therefore, in these latter dark days, let us stand fast. Listen to the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life - Jesus, who through His flesh and blood brings us to the Father by the Spirit in His Word. Our Good Shepherd calls to you today: “Beware Of Pseudo-Shepherds!” I. Their Preaching Yields Death Not Life! (Vs.15-20) II. Their Popular Ministries Are Lawless and Without Christ! (Vs.21-23)
I. St. Paul preaches to the church at Rome, Rom 8:12-14 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. (13) For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Pseudo-shepherds claim to be filled with the spirit apart from God’s written Word and the Sacraments He gave to His Church - baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These preachers may gather crowds they lead people away from the clear written Word of God to trust in their feelings, emotions, and self-chosen works.
       Listen, The Truth teaches you: (vs.15-16) “Beware!” Jesus calls to you this day! Pay attention to, be cautious about false prophets. They are wolves who camouflage themselves in sheep’s clothing. These wooly wolves follow in the footsteps of their father the devil - the Liar and Murderer from the beginning. They cannot abide in the truth, but lead us from the clear written Word of the Holy Bible whispering, “Has God indeed said... turn from the Tree of Life...and eat the thorn and thistle bringing fruit of the tree of knowing evil.”  
        The devil was the first enthusiast. Enthusiasts claim to be filled with God’s Spirit apart from God’s Word and Sacraments. They may gin their followers up with praise bands, new age mystical music, and hypnotic meditation to feel closer to God. Truth is they are like the fallen angel Satan leading us away from life to death. Turning us to trust our bellies, our feelings, our own reason - as our gods - our idols.
      Pseudo-shepherds are known by their fruits not by their claim to be full of the spirit. St. John teaches, 1Jn 4:1-3 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (2) By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, (3) and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” You cannot gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles! Grapes only come from the vine. False teachers lead you away from Jesus, though they may speak His name incessantly, to turning you to trust in your own path to God. Listen! Jesus preaches, Joh 15:1-5 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. (2) Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (3) You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. (4) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (5) "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
 Unless the sin cleansing eternal life giving blood of Jesus flows into you in the rose waters of baptism and the cup of His Supper - you whither and die - without the crucified, risen, and ascended Jesus drawing near to you in the flesh through preaching, baptism, and His blood in the Sacrament of the Altar - you have no Holy Spirit given life in you.
    Thistles are not life sustaining food. They flow from Adam’s rebellious sin into this world. False preachers turn you in on yourself. They whisper, ‘Trust your feelings, your gut, they won’t lead you astray.” Twice Wisdom warns, Pro 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Figs are harvested from a living tree, not a bramble bush. Pseudo-shepherds preaching and practice lead you away from feasting on the fruit of the Tree of Life - Jesus’ flesh and blood in His Word preached and His feast given - to the thorny feelings of your adamic heart.
    Watch! Be on guard against pseudo-shepherds! (Vs.17-20) If I grab a red delicious apple out of my refrigerator and zip tie it to a dogwood tree in my yard - I haven’t made the dogwood and apple tree. It could fool a child for a while as a joke, but it isn’t reality. Just as we cannot change the nature of male or female written by God upon our chromosomes from the moment our life began at conception - so we cannot make a bad tree good by ornamenting it with good fruit or works from a good tree.
    Pseudo-shepherds lead you away from Jesus’ Word and works to trust in your own word and works. They say, ‘You must first ask Jesus into your heart!’ ‘ You must do enough good works!’ to be saved. What is this but to tell the bad tree conceived and born in Adam’s sin that it can save itself? All our words and works are corrupt with sin - they cannot save. We need a word and work outside of self that changes our very nature. We need the Word of God spoken through His only begotten Son in our Flesh to change our very nature. Hear Him! ‘I baptize you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!” We are made new in Him! Adopted by God the Father as His beloved children! The Holy Spirit cries out from within us through the Word of Christ, ‘Abba, Father’ “Our Father....’
   Beware of pseudo-shepherds who lead you away from gathering every Sunday in the divine service! Here Jesus comes to us sinners in the flesh to wash us forgiven in His blood and strengthen us by the Holy Spirit to know that God is our Father and we are His beloved children!
II. Jeremiah was born in Judah in 628B.C.. He was a young man in his early twenties when the Lord God called him to be a preaching prophet. Few would listen, many hated this preacher whom the Lord called and sent to save them. The nation of Judah was on the verge of collapse and conquest. Jeremiah warned the congregation of Judah, Jer 23:16-17 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the LORD. (17) They continually say to those who despise Me, 'The LORD has said, "You shall have peace" '; And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, 'No evil shall come upon you.' "
   Pseudo-shepherds will scratch your itching ears. They will tell you what you want to hear, not the truth of God’s Holy Law exposing your sin. They anesthetize you with spiritual sounding contemporary lies so that you remain comfortable and proud of your sin, rather than applying the healing balm of the Holy Gospel. Pseudo-shepherds gather the greatest crowds and raise the most money. They live the American dream of success as they preach prosperity and not the cross of the Crucified God.
    Beware! The Life warns: (vs.21) Christianity isn’t words upon our lips. It isn’t saying the right words that save us. It is confessing Jesus’ Word from the heart before a godless world. The world will hate you as it hated Jesus, but fear not Jesus lives the victory is won - He has overcome the devil, death, the world, and yes even your own sinful flesh to win for you the victory! The will of God the Father is that you believe in His Son, Whom He alone sent to save all sinners. There is not other Way, no other Truth, no other Life - it is always and only been Jesus Christ who saves sinners from hell.
     Beware! Your works cannot save you from hell! (Vs.22-23) They enthusiastically call Jesus - “Lord, Lord!” They boast of all they did for Him! Sadly their works were only for show. They were mercenary works done to earn God’s favor. They thought that God was indebted to them for all the good they had done and were shoe-ins to heaven. Sadly, Jesus never knew them. Pseudo-shepherds well known and popular with our fallen world are unknown to the True saving Shepherd! Their works were all lawless - all sin!
     Repent! Learn from Paul! Throw all your good works onto the manure pile! Php 3:7-11 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. (8) Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ (9) and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; (10) that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, (11) if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. We must beware and publically condemn pseudo-shepherds. Their preaching and practice leads people away from the Good Shepherd. The 8th commandment teaches us to cover the secret sins of our neighbor, but not those of false teaching. We confess in the Large Catechism: All this has been said about secret sins. But where the sin is quite public, so that the judge and everybody know about it, you can without any sin shun the offender and let him go his own way, because he has brought himself into disgrace. You may also publicly testify about him. For when a matter is public in the daylight, there can be no slandering or false judging or testifying. It is like when we now rebuke the pope with his doctrine, which is publicly set forth in books and proclaimed in all the world. Where the sin is public, the rebuke also must be public, that everyone may learn to guard against it.
Source: https://bookofconcord.cph.org/en/large-catechism/part_1/the_eighth_commandment/
     The True Shepherd calls you:Mat 10:32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. And again,
Mar 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Amen!