Beware of False Prophets

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).

Jesus told the people during the sermon on the mount to watch out for false prophets. These are people claiming to be speaking for God which they are only doing it for their own personal gain. False prophets/teachers have been in plaguing the church since day one.

To give you an example, There were people in the church who said that must obey the law of Moses in order to be saved along with faith in Christ. These men infiltrated the church in Galatia where Paul wrote a his letter to them denouncing this teaching and showing the gospel of grace.

In our modern day, we see false teachers all over the place. We see them in our bookstores, television, radio, YouTube, and even podcasts. They preach a different gospel completely different than the one God has given us in scripture, or they add something to the gospel as a means of having control over those who listen.

These false teachers may sound genuine but they only want selfish gain. Some of them may sound like they are preaching the whole gospel when they are really not. They preach only to appease the itching ears of their listeners, which Paul wrote to Timothy:

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

How do we recognize false prophets? Jesus said you will know them by their fruit. What fruit is produced in the lives of those he/she are reaching? Does it produce a fruit for righteousness to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord?

How do we defend ourselves from false prophets/teachers? The best and most simplest way is to know the Bible. False teachers will twist the Bible to suit their desires. We must know what God has said in His Word if we want to discern truth from falsehood. Even Satan tried to tempt Jesus by twisting scripture and Jesus replied back using scripture knowing what Satan was trying to do.

False prophets/teachers are out there so be on guard whether you are at home or with your church family.