SAS Chapel: Matthew 7:15-23

·25 min·2 clips

How did Harvard University, founded to train gospel preachers, end up with an atheist head chaplain?

The episode opens with a reading from Matthew 7:15-23, where Jesus warns to watch out for false prophets who come in sheep's clothing but are ferocious wolves. Pastor Jim Wood begins by explaining why this warning is necessary, noting that false prophets may look harmless, religious, or hold positions of authority. He uses a Gary Larson cartoon analogy of a polar bear disguised among penguins to illustrate how wolves decimate the flock from within. Wood then traces how institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, founded to train gospel preachers, gradually abandoned the faith by allowing non-believers to infiltrate under false pretenses. He describes a specific case of a minister in an evangelical church in Atlanta who admits to not believing the church's doctrine but remains for job security, labeling him a wolf in sheep's clothing. The sermon shifts to Jesus' metaphor of recognizing false prophets by their fruit, distinguishing between spiritual gifts (like prophecy or miracles) and the fruit of the Spirit (like love and joy). Wood cites Argentinian pastor Juan Carlos Ortiz's book 'Disciple' and an anecdote about Christmas gifts versus apples on a tree to clarify that gifts don't indicate spiritual life. He emphasizes that many religious people will be shocked on Judgment Day when Jesus rejects them despite their impressive deeds, as shown in the scripture where many say 'Lord, Lord' but are told 'I never knew you.' Wood shares a personal story of talking to his wife's dying grandfather, who answered that his only hope for heaven is Jesus, contrasting this with typical resume-based responses. The episode concludes by urging listeners to examine where their trust lies—in themselves or in Jesus—and to surrender to God's will, manifesting the fruit of the Spirit. Throughout, Wood promotes Weir's Valley Ranch, a Christian home for children from crisis families, and provides contact information for the program.

As heard by us

A sober warning about false prophets, spiritual gifts, and the fruit that reveals the tree.

Matthew 7:15-23 is handled as a sober test of religious claims. Jim Wood traces Jesus' warning from wolves in sheep's clothing to trees and fruit, then draws out the difference between spiritual gifts and the Holy Spirit's fruit.

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Why you'd press play

You want Matthew 7's wolves and trees brought close enough to test the fruit.

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