Matthew 7:15 ¶ 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.
Prophets foretell things to come and teach as most commentators
agree. Prophets teach about what God is going to do and what God has said. So,
they are also teachers.
We have another warning against false prophets and teachers in
Peter’s letters.
2Peter 2:1 ¶ 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. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways;
by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 ¶ And through covetousness shall they with
feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time
lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned,
but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be
reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not
the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness,
bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha
into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those
that after should live ungodly;
7 ¶ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy
conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that
righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous
soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out
of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be
punished:
10 ¶ But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in
the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they,
selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power
and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to
be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and
shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of
unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots
they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while
they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full
of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart
they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are
gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages
of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked
for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of
the prophet. 17 These are wells without
water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is
reserved for ever. 18 For when they
speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the
flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who
live in error. 19 While they promise
them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man
is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions
of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they
are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them
than the beginning. 21 For it had been
better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they
have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the
true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was
washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Matthew Henry links false prophets and teachers with false
apostles warned about in Revelation.
Revelation 2:2 I know thy
works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which
are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not,
and hast found them liars:
Paul warns about these false workers.
2Corinthians 11:13 For such
are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the
apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel;
for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great
thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness;
whose end shall be according to their works.
What are the fruits of what a prophet prophesies or a teacher
teaches? Does their teaching draw you closer to the Bible and to God or does it
cause you to doubt and have anxiety over God’s words and over His will and your
salvation?
Does it deny God’s authority even or Christ’s incarnation?
Jude 1:4 For there are
certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this
condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,
and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
1John 2:21 I have not
written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and
that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a
liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that
denieth the Father and the Son. 23
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that
acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
This warning is continued in the next passage.
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