“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” — Matthew 23:15
“Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” — Acts 13:43
In Matthew 23:15, Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they worked hard to gain followers, yet led them away from the truth. Their converts became more devoted to error than to God. In Acts 13:43, however, Paul and Barnabas persuaded new believers to continue in the grace of God. One group produced bondage; the other produced spiritual growth.
The lesson is simple: Who you follow determines where you end up. False teachers make disciples of themselves, but faithful servants point people to Christ and His grace.
Jeroboam — 1 Kings 12:28-30
Jeroboam established golden calves in Dan and Bethel so the people would not return to Jerusalem. He influenced an entire nation into idolatry. Many followed him sincerely, but sincerity could not make error truth. His followers became trapped in the very sin he promoted.
Wrong leaders produce wrong disciples.
Timothy — 2 Timothy 3:10
“But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,”
Timothy followed Paul’s godly example and sound doctrine. Because he followed a faithful servant of Christ, he grew into a faithful servant himself. Godly leaders produce godly disciples.
Every believer is following someone. The question is not whether you are influenced, but who is influencing you. The Pharisees led people into deeper darkness, while Paul and Barnabas led people to continue in God’s grace.
Ask yourself: Am I helping people follow Christ, or merely follow me?