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Answer
Jesus warns us to “watch out for false prophets” in Matthew 7:15. He compares these false prophets to wolves in sheep’s clothing. Jesus also instructs us on how to recognize these false prophets: we will identify them by their fruit “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”, (Matthew 7:20).
Throughout the Bible, individuals are cautioned about false prophets (Ezekiel 13; Matthew 24:23-27, 2 Peter 3:3). False prophets assert to represent God, yet they speak lies. To gain acceptance, they approach people “in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”, (Matthew 7:15). Regardless of how innocent and harmless these instructors may seem outwardly, they possess the nature of wolves—they are determined to undermine faith, sow spiritual chaos in the church, and enrich themselves. They “secretly introduce destructive heresies,” “bring the way of truth into disrepute,” and “exploit you with fabricated stories” (2 Peter 2:1-3).
The false teachers don “sheep’s clothing” so they can blend in with the sheep without raising suspicion. They typically do not openly declare their beliefs; instead, they mix some truth with their lies and carefully select their words to sound orthodox. In reality, they “follow their own ungodly desires” (Jude 1:17-18), and “they never cease from sinning; they entice the unstable; they are experts in greed” “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent so that you may be found by Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” , (2 Peter 3:14).
By contrast, a true prophet teaches God’s Word completely “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.” , (Deuteronomy 18:20). Wolves in sheep’s clothing distort God’s Word to deceive or manipulate the audience for their own purposes. Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light “And no wonder; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” , (2 Corinthians 11:14), and his ministers pretend to be servants of righteousness “Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness; whose end will be according to their works.” , (2 Corinthians 11:15).
The most effective way to guard against wolves in sheep’s clothing is to pay attention to the warnings of Scripture and understand the truth. A believer who “accurately handles the word of truth” “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” , (2 Timothy 2:15) and diligently studies the Bible will be able to recognize false prophets. Christians must evaluate all teaching based on what Scripture states. Believers will also be able to recognize false prophets by their fruit— their words, actions, and lifestyles. Jesus said, “A tree is known by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33; cf: Matthew 7:20). Peter described false teachers as having “depraved conduct” and who “carouse” as “slaves of depravity” «And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. », (2 Peter 2:2, 13, 19). If a teacher in the church does not live according to God’s Word, he is one of those wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Here are three specific questions to identify false prophets, or wolves in sheep’s clothing:
1) What does the teacher say about Jesus? In John 10:30, Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” The Jews understood Jesus’ statement as a claim to be God and wanted to stone him «The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. », (John 10:33). Anyone who denies Jesus as Lord (1 John 4:1-3) is a false prophet.
2) Does the teacher preach the biblical gospel? Anyone who teaches an incomplete or unbiblical gospel is to be eternally condemned «As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. », (Galatians 1:9). Any gospel apart from what the Bible tells us (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) is not the true good news.
3) Does this teacher exhibit godly character qualities? Jesus said to beware of teachers whose moral behavior does not match what the Bible says. He says we will know wolves in sheep’s clothing by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20)
It doesn’t matter how large a church a preacher has, how many books he has sold, or how many people applaud him. If he “teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,” then he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing «If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; », (1 Timothy 6:3).
