The self-deception of professors.
The professors here are the "prophets" of Matthew 7:15. But the sadness of their condition comes out in a very striking way when they are seen to be both deceivers and self-deceivers. There may be a designed allusion to the characteristic teachers of the day, some of whom were hypocrites, and some of whom were self-deceived. Illustration may be found in the mischievous influence of the Judaist teachers who followed St. Paul and eagerly laboured to destroy his spiritual work.
I. THE SELF-DECEPTION OF THE FLUENT SPEAKER. "Have we not prophesied in thy Name?" Reference may be made, not merely to glib and easy public speaking, but also to glib and easy expression in prayer; and in the utterance of religious feelings and experiences. Strange is the power of self-deception in these things. Because we can express, we feel sure we must feel. Because we can express earnestly, we satisfy ourselves that we must be feeling deeply. It costs great heart-searching, and continuous watchfulness, if our speech is made and kept strictly sincere. And it will soon be found that the talker is too often a mere talker.
II. THE SELF-DECEPTION OF THE EXORCIST. "In thy Name have cast out devils." Remember that, in our Lord's day, there were many who claimed power to exorcise devils. Noticing that Christ cast out devils, it was easy to deceive themselves into the idea that they could exorcise as they had been accustomed to do, only using Christ's Name. They stand to represent those professors who continue life on precisely the old principles, but think they secure themselves by freely using Christ's Name. Everything depends on their right, as disciples, to use the Name. They must belong to Christ first.
III. THE SELF-DECEPTION OF THE MIRACLE-WORKER. Miracle-worker, in those days; successful man in religious work, in these days. We are constantly deceived into saying of a man, "He must be a good man, for see how successful he is." Then, how the man may be sell-deceived by the success! Success may be won on purely human principles, and may have nothing Divine in it. Personal relation to Christ is the beginning of all good work.—R.T.