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In His conversation on the last times, the first thing the Lord warns about is: Take heed that no man deceive you (Matt. 24:4). There will always be deceivers. They have their own peculiarities in every era, but there’s also something common to all of them, for which the Lord had just rebuked the deceivers of His time, who had appointed themselves to sit in Moses’ seat (Matt. 23:2).
First, we must always distinguish words from deeds and deeds from words, and evaluate both separately. In other words: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works (Matt. 23:3). There are no perfect people, and we must beware of the temptation to reject a teaching, disingenuously citing that the preacher himself doesn’t observe it well. Even an unpleasant man can give you a wise word.
But we should always be wary when men try to bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne upon us (Matt. 23:4), when they don’t want to see our strength and capabilities. After reading some books, you may say in despair: “If that’s how it is, then it’s impossible to be saved!” But can you really say that after reading the Gospel? The Gospel has a spirit of living love. The Lord will have mercy, and not sacrifice (Matt. 9:13); alms, not tithes—and for a start, at least a cup of cold water (Matt. 10:42). So everything we read and hear must be compared with the evangelical spirit.
We should also be wary of piety when it’s too conspicuous. The Lord repeatedly said that true piety is always in secret, always only for the Heavenly Father. If everything is emphatically on display, this certainly conceals some kind of self-interest. Everything that appears beautiful outwardly, such as whited sepulchers, may conceal dead men’s bones, and all uncleanness (Matt. 23:27).
We mustn’t be deceived by heightened missionary activity, when they compass sea and land to make one proselyte. In fact, this can only lead to making the proselyte twofold more the child of hell (Matt. 23:15) than the missionary himself. Sectarians don’t sit around; they go from house to house and pester people on the street. Any false teaching, which can’t bring any true benefit to its followers, tends to rush in all directions in order to attract more and more members into its trap.
The Lord also warns against those who love to exalt themselves with lofty words: “Teacher! Mentor! Father!” For example, someone who rushes to declare himself your spiritual father. But don’t you rush to call someone that. Sometimes quite a long time passes before it’s revealed who truly is your spiritual father in Jesus Christ, in our only Heavenly Father.
Take heed that no man deceive you, says the Lord. And the deceitful can not only present themselves as someone great—they can also evoke self-confidence and vanity in us. Thus, wanting to provoke Jesus Christ into a hasty judgment about whether or not to give tribute to Caesar, the Pharisees first tried flattering Him: Master, we know that Thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest Thou for any man (Matt. 22:16). How easy it is after these words to hastily say something thoughtless, to our own destruction!
The sudden coming of the Son of Man will expose everything, will put everything in its place. As a magnet snatches particles of iron from the ground, then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left (Matt. 24:40–41). And of course, there will be two praying, two preaching, two teaching, two called “father.” The foliage is lush, but there is no fruit. I go, sir: and [he] went not (Matt. 21:30).
And again, the Lord’s words, which allow us to recognize true greatness and avoid both deception and self-deception: He that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted (Matt. 23:11–12).
