Wolves in Sheep Clothing

Matthew 7:15-20

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Mark 13:22

21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

Our ability to righteously discern truth is critical for our eternal positioning. The Lord Jesus has armed us with his Authorized Word and Spirit to navigate through deceptions and determine truth from evil. We must sharpen our minds by studying and learning God's authorized Word so that when we encounter wolves in sheep's clothing (false doctrines, false prophets, and false religions), our faith in Jesus Christ will stand strong and not waver.

Satan aims for us to fall by first doubting God's Word and then by denying God altogether. So he shrouds himself and his lies in what appears on the surface to be "good".

Luke 22:31
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

Genesis 3:6 & 13

And when the woman [Eve] saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

With the parable of Wolves in Sheep's Clothing in Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus teaches us how to righteously discern so that we do not follow an unrighteous religious movement or false doctrine. Jesus said we will know the difference by examining the product of the tree. A righteous, true prophet of the Lord God will manifest the righteous fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law [of nature]. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Notice that "miracles" and "healings" are not listed among the Fruit of the Spirit, nor is "speaking in tongues". These types of manifestations are often used to imitate an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. So we must be very careful to righteously assess and judge spiritual movements.

We cannot just take the appearance of goodness as a determinant of righteousness and we must measure every doctrine against the doctrine of Christ Jesus. Just like a counterfeit dollar bill is measured and compared against the authorized currency. For the Lord warns us in Mark 13:22 that the devil is so deceiving that, if possible, he would deceive even the elect of God.

Next time you hear of a "revival" or "great spiritual movement", examine the doctrine they are preaching. Does it match 100% of the Authorized Word of God? What fruit of the Holy Spirit is produced? Do they preach faith in Jesus Christ and put Jesus Christ in his rightful position as the Lord God Almighty? If not, then these are wolves in sheep's clothing.

Wolves in Sheep's Clothing
Matthew 7:15-20 Mark 13:21-23
Jump to list of Parables

Wolves in Sheep's Clothing Matthew 7:15-20 Mark 13:21-23 Jump to list of Parables

Wolves in Sheep's Clothing
Matthew 7:15-20 Mark 13:21-23
Jump to list of Parables