The first thief, pretending to be a traveller, came near the man and asked, “Where are you going, pulling this dog along with you?”
The man replied innocently, “You are mistaken. This is not a dog. It is a lamb. I got it as a gift. I am taking it home.” He lifted the lamb affectionately and continued the journey, carrying the lamb on his shoulders.
A little later, the second thief came along the road. He asked the man, “Hello, why are you carrying this dog on your shoulders?”
The man asserted that it was a lamb and not a dog. But the repeated question raised a little doubt in his mind. He examined the lamb carefully and continued to carry it.
After a while, the third thief appeared as another traveller. He asked the man, “Hey, why do you carry a worthless dog on your shoulders?”
The man was now in deep confusion. He thought that the unanimous opinion of three different persons cannot be wrong. He was convinced that he had been carrying a dog so long. He cursed the friend who gifted the animal and left the lamb on the road. He walked home happily, relieved of the burden.
The two thieves who met him earlier were silently following him. They joined the third thief and caught the lamb. They were happy that they could easily deceive the simple traveller. They killed the lamb, cooked it and enjoyed a lavish dinner with their friends.
We believe in the principles and practices of our parent Church. We believe that they are based on the Sacred Scriptures and holy traditions gifted to us by God. Like the three thieves in the story, persons disguised as scholars and advisers may meet us and try to confuse us with their eloquent words. They may try their best to misinterpret the Scriptures and argue that our faith and rituals are wrong and against the words of God. We should be aware of their tricks. We must love our Church and learn the Scriptures and the doctrines of the Church systematically. Then false prophets cannot mislead us from the path of truth.
Jesus warned us, “Be on your guard against false prophets; they come to you looking like sheep on the outside, but on the inside they are really like wild wolves. You will know them by what they do. Thorn bushes do not bear grapes, and briars do not bear figs” {Matthew 7: 15, 16}.
Jesus advised us, “Be on your guard, and do not let anyone deceive you. Many men, claiming to speak for me, will come and say, “I am the Messiah!” and they will deceive many people” {Matthew 24: 4,5}. “For false Messiahs and false prophets will appear; they will perform great miracles and wonders in order to deceive even God’s chosen people, if possible” {Matthew 24: 24}.
St. Paul preaches, “There are some people who are upsetting you and trying to change the Gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you, may he be condemned to hell!” {Galatians 1: 7-9}.
St. Peter predicts, “False teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive, untrue doctrines, and will deny the Master who redeemed them, and so will bring upon themselves sudden destruction” {2 Peter 2:1}.
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