Who is talking about false prophets and false ministers of God? Are you talking to yourself?
I know and I would suppose that most, if not all, of the people reading this thread know that such falsehood exists. Would you throw out the baby with the bathwater?
Jesus did not reject God and the things of God because of the many hypocrites He encountered. He was willing to walk with no followers at all if necessary:
"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?" John 6:66-67
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22–23)
Does this speak of today's Pentecostal Movement?
The early Church had the gifts of the Spirit because Christ knew them. They had the Holy Spirit and the gifts. But today's Pentecostals do not have the authentic gifts the first century Christians had. The prophetic gifts expired, being replaced by the New Testament canon. So these who Christ never knew, mimic first century Christians and their gifts.
First Work: Prophecy
The first work that Jesus mentions in His illustration is prophecy.On the Day of Judgment, the people respond, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name…” (
Matthew 7:22a ESV).
Prophecy is defined in many different ways.The Pentecostals see prophecy as the same thing that it was in the days of Moses.Other Protestants view prophecy as just the proclamation of the Word of God.However one interprets the definition of the word “prophecy”, we should let our interpretation of an English word be how we understand the Scripture text.We should look at the original Greek.
The word used here for “prophesy” is προφητεύω (propheteuo). The word literally means, “to foretell events, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office”.So both beliefs about prophecy are included under this one word.This means that these people were both making predictions in the name of the Lord and also proclaiming words and saying that they were the Lord’s words.On this issue, the Baker Commentary on the Bible states,
“Then Jesus warns against false prophets (vv. 15-23).The false prophets popularize the broad road by advocating a lawless way of life.They are easily recognized, for what they do reveals what they are (vv.15-20), and what they do contradicts what they say (vv.21-23).” (Baker Commentary on the Bible, Edited by Walter A. Elwell, 1989, Baker Books, p. 731)
Second Work: Casting Out Demons
The second work that those being damned to hell mention as doing in the name of the Lord is the casting out of demons.In the days of Jesus, they were very aware of the spirit world. Much of the things that we call diseases today would probably have been counted as demons in His day.So these people were healers.They proclaimed words in God’s name and healed people.Not much else needs to be said on this matter I don’t think.
Third Work: Many Mighty Works
The third thing that these poor, damned souls mention is a broad many mighty works.This could be anything from healings to service on the streets.They were doing good things in the name of the Lord.But the word in Greek does have an emphasis on the divine.The word in the Greek rendered mighty works in the ESV is δύναμις (dunamis).It means, “force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself)”.
So these people were performing miracles. Therefore, a more accurate and literal rendering of this verse would be similar to the New American Standard Bible says,
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ (
Matthew 7:22 NASB)
https://apuritanmindset.wordpress.com/2004/12/10/an-exegesis-of-matthew-721-2
