TEXT: Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets.” Our Lord, Jesus Christ, is the good Shepherd and His warning is to make His sheep to be watchful. He does not want to lose any of His own to “ravening wolves.” “Beware” – be watchful, be on your guard, take warning. In sounding this alarm and giving this warning, Christ was motivated by perfect love on the basis of His perfect knowledge. There would be no warning if there were no danger. Knowing the presence of false prophets even at His own time and foreseeing the rise of teachers of damnable error in our time, He gave this warning over and over.
“Beware of false prophets.” Our Lord, Jesus Christ, is the good Shepherd and His warning is to make His sheep to be watchful. He does not want to lose any of His own to “ravening wolves.” “Beware” – be watchful, be on your guard, take warning. In sounding this alarm and giving this warning, Christ was motivated by perfect love on the basis of His perfect knowledge. There would be no warning if there were no danger. Knowing the presence of false prophets even at His own time and foreseeing the rise of teachers of damnable error in our time, He gave this warning over and over.
The Apostles have also given us the same warning. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders. Behold, I have told you before. After my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Therefore watch. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways. Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness” (Matthew 7:15; 16:6; 24:11,24,25; Acts 20:29-31; 2 Corinthians 11:13; Philippians 3:2; 2 Peter 2:1,2; 3:17).
“Beware of false prophets.” If it was a necessary warning at the time of Christ and the Apostles, it is a much-needed warning today. Satan, the world and the flesh are not the only dangers in the way of the believer; there is another great danger: false prophets – wolves in sheep’s clothing. Beware, watch and be on your guard.
1. CHRIST’S WARNING CONCERNING FALSE PROPHETS
Matthew 7:15; 16:6-12; 24:4,5,11-13,24,25; Jeremiah 14:14; 23:21-32; Deuteronomy 13:1-11; 2 Corinthians 11:2-4,11-13; Galatians 1:6-10; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1; Jude 4,12-19; Revelation 22:16-19.
Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the great King and true Prophet, the faithful Teacher Who came from God, had just described the narrow way of life and righteousness that leads to heaven and the broad way of sin and self that leads to perdition. Then, He immediately gave the warning and sounded the alarm: “Beware of false prophets.” The chief aim of false prophets is to deceive us and point us to the wrong way, thereby leading us astray. They call good evil and paint evil as good. They encourage people to walk in the broad way that leads to hell and discourage them from walking in the narrow way that leads to heaven. The warning was necessary for sinners who were already accustomed to the broad way, sinners who were thoughtless about spiritual matters, sinners who took religious deceivers as their final authority, sinners who entrusted the eternal destiny of their souls into the hands of ignorant leaders in religion. This warning is needed by awakened sinners on the verge of decision, sinners who are concerned about their spiritual welfare, who are asking what to do in order to have eternal life. Which way should they turn – to the right or to the left; to the narrow way or to the broad way? Which people should they identify with – the multitude on the broad way or the few on the narrow way? The warning must be taken to heart by new converts who have just repented and believed in Christ, by believers who are suffering persecution, by Christians who are under pressure to reconsider their commitment to Christ, by disciples who are feeling the weight of the cross they bear, by preachers of the gospel who are not popular with the world and whose lone voice is almost being drowned by multitudes of world-acclaimed preachers. “Beware of false prophets.” For the sake of souls, take heed.
2. CRAFTY WOLVES CLOTHED AS FAITHFUL PROPHETS
Matthew 7:15; Ezekiel 22:25-27; Acts 20:28-31;1 Kings 13:11-24; 2 Chronicles 18:4-11,28-34; Isaiah 9:13-16; 44:20; Jeremiah 28:10-15;2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; 2 Timothy 2:17,18; Revelation 2:14-16; 20:10-15.
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Appearance can be very deceptive. Gifts without grace, charisma without character, love without light, tenderness without truth, hospitality without holiness, worship without the Word, eloquence without enlightenment, fellowship without food for the soul, faith without faithfulness, prosperity without purity, success without salvation, revelation without righteousness, can be very deceptive in religion. Beware of ravening wolves in sheep’s clothing, destructive adversaries clothed with dazzling affection, dangerous friends (foes) clothed as delightful friends, poisonous serpents clothed as peaceful saints, cruel tormentors clothed as compassionate teachers, wicked murderers clothed as winsome messengers, determined destroyers clothed as devoted defenders. Beware, wolves are still wolves inwardly, whatever be the outward pretense or polish. Even when they pretend and pose as shepherds, they are looking for sheep to devour, not to defend, protect or feed. Jesus said, beware.
3. CONCEALED WICKEDNESS OF FALSE PROPHETS
Matthew 7:15; 23:13-15; Luke 11:44; Job 20:12-14; Psalm 10:8-10; Jeremiah 23:11-14; Acts 8:9-11,18-23; 13:6-12; 2 Peter 2:17-20; Revelation 2:20-26; Proverbs 19:27; Romans 16:17,18.
False prophets come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Be wise and be watchful. Look beyond their outward appearance, deep beneath the outward, pleasing personality. Watch and listen to the witness of the Holy Spirit, examine the fruit of their lives and evaluate the fruit of their labour. Beware, lest you throw your soul into the claws and jaws of a ravening wolf because of an untested assumption that you are entrusting your soul to a good and faithful shepherd. Deception, eternally dangerous deception is the trade of Satan and his servants and false prophets – at their best, really, at their worst. False prophets so conceal and hide their wickedness and cleverly proclaim error as truth that even elites and educated people in different areas of life and discipline are easily deceived. Scientists and philosophers, the mighty and the wealthy, the intelligent and the wise, the educated and the civilized, the religious and the zealot, the secular mind and even the spiritual man have been deceived by false prophets in the past, in all generations and in this generation. If we are to escape the false prophets’ deception and the damnation it brings, we must diligently watch. We must be constantly guided by the Holy Spirit and the Scripture. Beware, watch, take heed.
“Beware of false prophets.” If it was a necessary warning at the time of Christ and the Apostles, it is a much-needed warning today. Satan, the world and the flesh are not the only dangers in the way of the believer; there is another great danger: false prophets – wolves in sheep’s clothing. Beware, watch and be on your guard.
1. CHRIST’S WARNING CONCERNING FALSE PROPHETS
Matthew 7:15; 16:6-12; 24:4,5,11-13,24,25; Jeremiah 14:14; 23:21-32; Deuteronomy 13:1-11; 2 Corinthians 11:2-4,11-13; Galatians 1:6-10; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1; Jude 4,12-19; Revelation 22:16-19.
Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the great King and true Prophet, the faithful Teacher Who came from God, had just described the narrow way of life and righteousness that leads to heaven and the broad way of sin and self that leads to perdition. Then, He immediately gave the warning and sounded the alarm: “Beware of false prophets.” The chief aim of false prophets is to deceive us and point us to the wrong way, thereby leading us astray. They call good evil and paint evil as good. They encourage people to walk in the broad way that leads to hell and discourage them from walking in the narrow way that leads to heaven. The warning was necessary for sinners who were already accustomed to the broad way, sinners who were thoughtless about spiritual matters, sinners who took religious deceivers as their final authority, sinners who entrusted the eternal destiny of their souls into the hands of ignorant leaders in religion. This warning is needed by awakened sinners on the verge of decision, sinners who are concerned about their spiritual welfare, who are asking what to do in order to have eternal life. Which way should they turn – to the right or to the left; to the narrow way or to the broad way? Which people should they identify with – the multitude on the broad way or the few on the narrow way? The warning must be taken to heart by new converts who have just repented and believed in Christ, by believers who are suffering persecution, by Christians who are under pressure to reconsider their commitment to Christ, by disciples who are feeling the weight of the cross they bear, by preachers of the gospel who are not popular with the world and whose lone voice is almost being drowned by multitudes of world-acclaimed preachers. “Beware of false prophets.” For the sake of souls, take heed.
2. CRAFTY WOLVES CLOTHED AS FAITHFUL PROPHETS
Matthew 7:15; Ezekiel 22:25-27; Acts 20:28-31;1 Kings 13:11-24; 2 Chronicles 18:4-11,28-34; Isaiah 9:13-16; 44:20; Jeremiah 28:10-15;2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; 2 Timothy 2:17,18; Revelation 2:14-16; 20:10-15.
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Appearance can be very deceptive. Gifts without grace, charisma without character, love without light, tenderness without truth, hospitality without holiness, worship without the Word, eloquence without enlightenment, fellowship without food for the soul, faith without faithfulness, prosperity without purity, success without salvation, revelation without righteousness, can be very deceptive in religion. Beware of ravening wolves in sheep’s clothing, destructive adversaries clothed with dazzling affection, dangerous friends (foes) clothed as delightful friends, poisonous serpents clothed as peaceful saints, cruel tormentors clothed as compassionate teachers, wicked murderers clothed as winsome messengers, determined destroyers clothed as devoted defenders. Beware, wolves are still wolves inwardly, whatever be the outward pretense or polish. Even when they pretend and pose as shepherds, they are looking for sheep to devour, not to defend, protect or feed. Jesus said, beware.
3. CONCEALED WICKEDNESS OF FALSE PROPHETS
Matthew 7:15; 23:13-15; Luke 11:44; Job 20:12-14; Psalm 10:8-10; Jeremiah 23:11-14; Acts 8:9-11,18-23; 13:6-12; 2 Peter 2:17-20; Revelation 2:20-26; Proverbs 19:27; Romans 16:17,18.
False prophets come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Be wise and be watchful. Look beyond their outward appearance, deep beneath the outward, pleasing personality. Watch and listen to the witness of the Holy Spirit, examine the fruit of their lives and evaluate the fruit of their labour. Beware, lest you throw your soul into the claws and jaws of a ravening wolf because of an untested assumption that you are entrusting your soul to a good and faithful shepherd. Deception, eternally dangerous deception is the trade of Satan and his servants and false prophets – at their best, really, at their worst. False prophets so conceal and hide their wickedness and cleverly proclaim error as truth that even elites and educated people in different areas of life and discipline are easily deceived. Scientists and philosophers, the mighty and the wealthy, the intelligent and the wise, the educated and the civilized, the religious and the zealot, the secular mind and even the spiritual man have been deceived by false prophets in the past, in all generations and in this generation. If we are to escape the false prophets’ deception and the damnation it brings, we must diligently watch. We must be constantly guided by the Holy Spirit and the Scripture. Beware, watch, take heed.
May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you.
==Culled from DCLM Bible Study Outline ==
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