Matthew 7:15-16 ESV
Matthew 7:15-16: 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Introduction
It is God’s desire for His children to walk in truth, discernment, faithfulness, and purpose (Matthew 7:15-16). Sadly, a false prophet will distort the Word of God, creating confusion in families, weakening faith, and derailing destinies.
In fact, many profess to be spiritual yet have not been sent by God. Fortunately, Jesus instructed believers to detect false prophets by their fruit, not by their appearance, charisma, popularity, or ability to speak well, but rather by their alignment with God’s truth.
Body
The clearest biblical case study of a false prophet can be found in Jeremiah’s confrontation with Hananiah (see Jeremiah 28), whose prophetic word was one of comfort, ease, hastiness, and national restoration. At the same time, Jeremiah had a contrasting message of repentance, endurance, submission to God’s chastisement, and long-term hope. Because false prophets can be very convincing, which makes them dangerous.
However, when Jesus spoke about identifying false prophets in Matthew 7:15-16, He said the following: “You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16).
1. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY EXTERIOR APPEARANCES
“They come to you in sheep’s clothing…” — Matthew 7:15
False prophets don’t typically look like they will cause harm. They are often:
- Persuasive
- Use of the Word of God
- Spiritual in nature
- Confident
- Draw crowds
- Promise instant success
- Emotional
- Compassionate and enlightened
Hananiah appeared as if he were a true prophet. He had been openly recognized as a prophet, and he spoke with confidence publicly to both the priest and the people. The prophecy he spoke was one that people wanted to claim: hope.
Nevertheless, Jeremiah indicated that Hananiah was not sent by God.
Key Insight:
- False prophets generally value popularity more than truth.
- Jeremiah’s message was difficult, while Hananiah’s was one of comfort. And man usually chooses comfort over hardship or correction.
- The risk of false prophets and prophecies is present today.
Application:
A mature Christian will not follow others blindly; they will evaluate their messages against the Word of God, which reveals God’s character (who He is) and the truth of Him (not just excitement about Him).
Faith must be built on the Word of God.
Additionally, families need to learn how to discern. Parents cannot simply “outsource” to the church spiritual leadership for their kids. Children must learn:
- To read the Word of God.
- To test the teaching.
- To recognize someone trying to manipulate them.
- To separate what is being said out of emotion vs. what is being said truthfully.
If a family has no discernment about spiritual matters, they are vulnerable.
Finally, believing false things can derail your life purpose. A false voice can lead to:
- Seeing your priorities incorrectly.
- Wanting to take shortcuts instead of the right way.
- Being passive.
- Being fearful.
- Being drawn away from God’s purpose for your life.
Aligning with your godly purpose will require discernment.
2. INSPECT THE FRUIT
“By their fruits you shall know them” (Matthew 7:16).
The Lord Jesus introduced a new way of evaluating others by focusing on the fruit instead of the outward appearance. Because the fruit will reveal: character, doctrine, influence, and long-term results.
While a tree may look perfectly healthy on the outside, it can actually be rotten inside. So, eventually, the tree will produce fruit that will reveal the truth about its health.
Anyway, what fruits should the believer look at?
A. Fruits of Character
Are the leaders demonstrating: humility, holiness, integrity, self-control, love, and submission to God?
Or are they demonstrating: pride, greed, manipulation, immorality, intimidation, obsession, or the desire for power?
B. Fruits of Doctrine
Does the doctrine line up with scripture, exalt Christ, encourage people to repent, and produce spiritual growth?
Or does it: glorify man, encourage materialism, encourage people to depend on others spiritually, and not teach about holy living?
C. Fruits with People
What kind of discipleship is being produced?
Are they: growing spiritually, taking responsibility, building families, walking in love, and serving faithfully?
or
Are they: living in fear, living in dependence, causing division, acting arrogantly, being unstable, and emotionally manipulated?
Jeremiah 29
In Jeremiah 29, God instructed His people to:
- Build houses
- Plant gardens
- Get married
- Have children
- Seek the peace of their city
- Remain faithful during times of waiting
Even though the false prophet said they would be able to escape soon, God told them that they had to endure until His plan was fulfilled.
Key Insight
False prophets often give people an easy way out instead of allowing God to develop their character through the process of time. Remember, God is about processes.
Application
- True faith is rooted in truth, regardless of what that truth may be like at times.
- Healthy spiritual leaders build up their marriages and families, and they create stability through their responsibilities. The opposite of this is caused by the false teaching of being responsible for one’s actions, which undermines practical responsibilities.
- God’s purpose for us is not just to have fun. He wants us to be: Obedient, Patient, Grow rapidly, Steward well, and Endure long, putting faith into action.
Reflection
Jesus didn’t tell us to ignore spiritual voices; rather, He told us to discern them (Matthew 7:15-16).
Remember, we live in a world where there are so many persuasive people, viral teachings, emotional promises, and spiritual trends; discernment is more important than it has ever been. False prophets don’t always seem to come in a harmful way. They often sound as though they are compassionate, confident, smart, and very spiritual. This is why Jesus warned that false prophets come in sheep’s clothing.
The interaction between Jeremiah and Hananiah is a great example of how an uncomfortable truth can be. Hananiah’s message contained lies when he told people that they would have quick restoration and immediate relief. Jeremiah told the people they were called to repent, be patient, and submit to God’s process. The popular message was false; the message that was true was Jeremiah’s.
We must look beyond the outward appearance of what we see and be diligent about observing the fruit of the teachings around us.
We can ask:
- Is this teaching consistent with Scripture?
- Does this teaching produce holiness and spiritual maturity?
- Does this teaching encourage faith and responsibility?
- Does this teaching give glory to Christ, or does it exalt man?
Discernment is not about developing mistrust for all people; it is about developing a solid, strong foundation in the Scriptures to the point that when you hear truth, you will be able to recognize it. Because:
- Your faith matters.
- Your family matters.
- Your purpose matters.
The voices that you choose to spend time with will affect all three of these areas. So, may we be encouraged as believers to learn to avoid being easily influenced or impacted by those who may exhibit charm, new age philosophies, and emotional excitement, and instead stay grounded in the Truth, wisdom, and spiritual maturity.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for loving Your children by warning us against deception. Help us to build our spiritual discernment and wisdom, and teach us what is true and how to remain grounded in Your Word.
As we grow in our faith, we ask You to protect our hearts, our families, and our purpose from all misleading voices. Please give us the humility to test every teaching by what is in the Bible, and the courage to follow the evidence of what is true, even when it may be challenging.
Help us not to be confused by outward appearances, popularity, or emotional promises, but to carefully examine the fruit of someone’s life and walk in obedience to You.
May we produce and reflect good fruit in our lives that resembles Christ (love, holiness, integrity, wisdom, faithfulness, and maturity in the Spirit).
Raise leaders to serve You sincerely and who will faithfully teach Your Word. Help us, as believers, build wisely on the solid foundation of Your Truth.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
Call to Action
Have you ever been exposed to a teaching that appeared to be good and yet caused you to be hurt spiritually later on?
This week, I would encourage you to spend some time in prayer behind the voices that are influencing your faith, your family, and your purpose. Stay grounded with Scripture, grow in your ability to discern (or judge), and pursue leadership that has produced godly fruit.
I hope you have found this devotional encouraging or challenging. If so, please share this message with someone who desires a deeper understanding of the Bible. And if you are interested in more faith-based, family-oriented, purpose-driven, and spiritually growing material, be sure to check out my YouTube channel, blog, and join me as we sharpen each other using the Bible as our guide.
Additionally, explore How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners)
