Matthew 7:15

Translations

Modern

Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Traditional

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Literal

Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Latin

Attendite a falsis prophetis, qui veniunt ad vos in vestimentis ovium, intrinsecus autem sunt lupi rapaces:

Original

Greek

English

Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Notes

Matthew 7:15–20

False prophets tell people what they want to hear instead of calling them to obey God's will. Deuteronomy 13:1–5 and 18:21–22 provide guidelines to determine if someone is a true prophet. A prophet's words must match with God's word, and a prophet's prophecies must come true.

Jesus explains the first rule. A prophet's actions must match his words to be trustworthy. So, a true prophet's actions will also match God's word. In the same way that fruit shows what kind of tree it comes from, a person's life shows if their inner being is good or not.

Christians should expect false prophets at the end of time (see Matthew 24:11, 24; Acts 20:28–35; Revelation 13:11–18; 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). Christians can avoid these false prophets misleading them. But Christians must be careful and wise (see 1 Corinthians 12:10; 14:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1–3; Revelation 2:20).

Matthew 7:13–27

The Sermon on the Mount ends with a call to decide about Jesus and his teachings (see Matthew 4:23; 9:35). Those who hear the message of Jesus about the kingdom must obey him to gain eternal life. Or else, they reject him and God will condemn them. There is no third way (Deuteronomy 30:15–20; Psalm 1; Proverbs 12:28; Jeremiah 21:8).

Theme notes and profiles

Moses Faith and Good Deeds The Gift of Prophecy

Events

Sermon on the Mountc. AD 28

Related verses

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 Peter 2:1–3
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Matthew 24:11
…and many false prophets will arise and deceive many.
Acts 20:29–31
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
Mark 13:22–23
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
Deuteronomy 13:1–3
If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:13–15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
Revelation 19:20
But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Jude 1:4
For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”
Micah 3:5–7
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:

Matthew 7:15

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

Parallels?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Events

Related verses

Parallels

Glossary

Topics