Greetings!
After giving the invitation to "enter by the narrow gate" (Matt. 7:13), to come to God by the only way He has provided, Jesus warns that not everyone who claims to belong to God and to speak for Him actually does so. When we stand at the crossroads of decision, we should remember that the true way to God is narrow and that the false way is broad; the true way is difficult and demanding, and the false way is easy and permissive; the true way has relatively few following in it, and the false way has many.
Jesus now says, in effect, "As you strive to enter that narrow gate and walk that narrow way that leads to life, beware of those who would mislead you. Just as there is a misleading gate and a misleading way, there are also misleading preachers and teachers who point to that gate and promote that way." Just like the false gate and way, they will claim to show the way to heaven and life, but they actually show the way to hell and destruction. The false gate has false prophets standing in front of it who seek to lead people into the false way and hinder them from entering the true.
In the present passage Jesus first gives a warning and then calls us to be watchful. Just as He described the true and false ways (Matt. 7:13-14), He now describes the true and false teachers of those ways.
BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS
MATTHEW 7:15-20
Part 4
THE DECEPTION OF FALSE PROPHETS
Matthew 7:15 (NASB)
"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."
The danger of false prophets as discussed in Part 3 of this series of devotionals is greatly increased because of their deception. When an enemy is seen for what he is, we are alerted and can be prepared to defend ourselves. But when an enemy poses as a friend, our defenses are down. The dogs and swine of Matthew 7:6 are much more easily recognized because of their open sinfulness and rejection of God.
- Matthew 7:6 (NASB)
- "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."
- Matthew 7:6 (NLT2)
- “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you."
In Old Testament times prophets were often recognizable by what they wore. Like Elijah, they often wore rough, hairy, uncomfortable clothing as a symbol of their foregoing the normal comforts of life for the cause of God. John the Baptist, as the last prophet of the Old Covenant, wore a camel's hair coat and ate locusts and wild honey. There were exceptions, but prophets generally could be identified by their plain, coarse clothing. For that reason, a person who wanted to impersonate a prophet would sometimes wear such clothing. Zechariah speaks of such men who "put on a hairy robe in order to deceive" (Zech. 13:4).
Similarly, shepherds invariably wore woolen clothing, made from the wool of the sheep they tended. That is the "sheep's clothing" of which Jesus here speaks. "False prophets" do not deceive the flock by impersonating sheep but by impersonating the shepherd, who wears "sheep's clothing" in the form of his wool garments. Just as the ancient false prophets often wore the garments of the true prophet, so false shepherds often disguise themselves as true shepherds.
Satan's man goes under the guise of God's man, claiming to teach the truth in order to deceive, mislead, and, if possible, destroy God's people.
Scripture speaks of three basic kinds of false teachers: heretics, apostates, and false shepherds (deceivers).
Heretics are those who openly reject the word of God and teach that which is contrary to divine truth. Apostate teachers are those who once followed the true faith but have turned away from it, rejected it, and are trying to lead others away. Those two kinds of false teachers at least have the virtue of a certain honesty. They do not claim to represent orthodox, biblical Christianity. The false shepherd (the deceiver), on the other hand, gives the appearance of orthodoxy, frequently with great declarations and fanfare. He is not a liberal or a cultist but one who speaks favorably of Christ, the cross, the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and so on, and who associates with true believers. He may go out of his way to appear orthodox, fundamental, and evangelical. From his looks, vocabulary, and associations he gives considerable evidence of genuine belief. But he is not genuine; he is a fake and a deceiver. He has the speech of orthodoxy, but is a living lie.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NASB)
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For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (AMP)
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For such men are false apostles [spurious, counterfeits], deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles (special messengers) of Christ (the Messiah). 14 And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light; 15 So it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. [But] their end will correspond with their deeds.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NLT2)
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These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.
These "false prophets" are especially dangerous because they masquerade as true prophets and therefore are able to creep into Christian circles unnoticed (Jude 4) and rise up within a congregation (cf. Acts 20:28-32).
"False prophets" are almost always pleasant and positive. They like to be with Christians, to talk like Christians, and to be identified as Christians. They know and use biblical terminology and often appear highly knowledgeable about Scripture. The doctrines they affirm are seemingly biblical.
Many "false prophets" also appear to be sincere, and because of that sincerity they can more easily mislead others. Paul warns,
- 2 Timothy 3:13 (NASB)
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But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
- 2 Timothy 3:13 (AMP)
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But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and being deceived and led astray themselves.
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2 Timothy 3:13 (NLT2)
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But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.
Being themselves deceived by the ultimate deceiver, such people can be thoroughly convinced in their own minds that their perverted beliefs are true. They have become so deeply devoted to falsehood that darkness seems to be light, and black seems to be white.
HOW IS A FALSE PROPHET IDENTIFIED?
If they are so deceptive, how then can they be identified? Most frequently they show their true colors by what they do not affirm.
In other words, they are identified not so much by what they say as by what they do not say. They usually do not openly deny Jesus' divinity, His substitutionary atonement, the depravity and lostness of man, the reality and penalty of sin, the destiny of hell for unbelievers, the need for repentance, humility, and submission to God, and other such "negative" and uncomfortable truths. They simply ignore them.
In order to carry out their deceit effectively, these spurious leaders live moral and upright lives on the surface.
One great commentator of the 1800's wrote that
- "Many of the false prophets have come from traditional religious training, and because of the ingraining of early traditional Christian moral values they find it difficult to overtly overcome the restrictions on their minds by their early training."
Outward morality helps give the impression of spiritual genuineness and therefore helps perpetuate the deceit. But the truth is they are energized by "deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" and have become "liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron" (1 Tim. 4:1-2). They are motivated by the desire for "sordid gain" (1 Pet. 5:2). Their false faith cannot restrain their unregenerate flesh, so the true sensuality of those "slaves of corruption" (2 Pet. 2:19) often becomes known, and it is evident that "in their greed" they exploit people "with false words" (2 Pet. 2:3). They also have "eyes full of adultery" and "never cease from sin," possessing a "heart trained in greed" (2 Pet. 2:14).
In The Didache, one of the earliest Christian writings after New Testament times, we find a section devoted to dealing with false prophets. The term used to describe them is Christemporos, which means "Christ merchants." "False prophets" use Jesus Christ and His gospel and church as means for serving their own ends. They use the things of God as mere merchandise to promote and dispense to their own advantage.
HOW TO DISTINGUISH TRUE PROPHETS FROM FALSE ONES
The Didache gives several means for distinguishing true prophets from false.
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The first test was that a true prophet would not remain as a house guest more than two days, because he would need to be up and about his work.
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A false prophet, however, would willingly stay indefinitely, since he had no real mission to accomplish except serving his own interests.
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The second test was in regard to asking for money. The true prophet, said The Didache, would ask for bread and water, but nothing more—that is, only for necessities to keep himself going.
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A false prophet, on the other hand, is not the least averse to asking for or even demanding money.
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A third test was in the area of life-style. A person who does not lead a life that corresponds to the standards he teaches is clearly not a man of God.
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A fourth test was in regard to willingness to work. If a person wanted to live off others and would not work for his own keep, he was a Christ trafficker.
A false prophet is always in church work for himself, to pad his own pockets, to satisfy his own greed, ego, and prestige and to gain power, influence, and recognition for himself.
Our day has more than its share of Christ merchants. Through books, radio, television, recordings, in churches, conferences, seminars, crusades, and by various other means they package and sell the gospel in much the same way that Madison Avenue sells cars and soap.
They are insincere peddlers of the Word of God who corrupt it for their own ends.
That is not the way of a true servant and prophet of God (2 Cor. 2:17).
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 (NASB)
- For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 (AMP)
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For we are not, like so many, [like hucksters making a trade of] peddling God's Word [shortchanging and adulterating the divine message]; but like [men] of sincerity and the purest motive, as [commissioned and sent] by God, we speak [His message] in Christ (the Messiah), in the [very] sight and presence of God.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 (NLT2)
- You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.
Proverbs 22:19 (NASB)
So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you.
Amen.
