Wolves in sheep’s clothing

In an era of diverse spiritual teachings and widespread information, the ability to discern truth from falsehood has never been more crucial for Christians. Jesus Himself, in His Sermon on the Mount, issued a warning about false prophets, a warning that echoes through the ages and holds particular relevance today. This exploration delves into the biblical perspective on false teachers, examining their characteristics, methods, and the spiritual danger they pose. From the Old Testament to the New, we'll uncover the consistent thread of caution against those who would lead God's people astray. By understanding the nature of false teaching and learning to recognize its signs, we equip ourselves to stand firm in the truth and protect the church from harmful influences. Join us as we navigate this critical aspect of spiritual discernment, guided by the wisdom of Scripture and the insights of apostles and prophets.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave a stark warning to His listeners: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15). False prophets weren't new to Israel. Throughout redemptive history, as God has had true prophets, Satan has countered with false ones. Moses warned about this danger:

"If a prophet or dreamer arises among you and gives you a sign or wonder, and it comes true, but then says, 'Let's follow other gods you haven't known,' don't listen. The Lord is testing you to see if you love Him with all your heart and soul. Follow the Lord, fear Him, keep His commands, listen to His voice, serve Him, and hold fast to Him. That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 13:1-5, paraphrased)

God spoke clearly about this issue to Jeremiah as well:

"The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I didn't send them, command them, or speak to them. They're prophesying to you false visions, worthless divinations, and the delusions of their own minds." (Jeremiah 14:14)

At times, God would even use false prophets as a means of judgment. He warned Zechariah:

"I'm going to raise up a shepherd in the land who won't care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken, or sustain the healthy. Instead, he'll devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hooves." (Zechariah 11:16, paraphrased)

Paul cautioned the Roman believers: "Keep an eye on those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine you've been taught; avoid them. Such people don't serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the hearts of the naive." (Romans 16:17-18, paraphrased)

Throughout the New Testament, false prophets are described in various ways: as "deceitful spirits" promoting "doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1), and as those who "will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them" (2 Peter 2:1).

They're referred to as false brothers (2 Corinthians 11:26), false apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13), false teachers (2 Peter 2:1), liars (1 Timothy 4:2), and false Christs (Matthew 24:24). John advises, "Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they're from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).

Paul's final words to the Ephesian elders included a somber warning about inevitable false teachers: "I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Even from your own number, men will arise and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!" (Acts 20:29-31, paraphrased)

These warnings are encapsulated in the word "beware" in Matthew 7:15. It's not just a call to notice something, but to guard against it due to its harmful nature. The word conveys the idea of keeping one's mind away from danger. False prophets are more than just wrong; they're dangerous, and we shouldn't expose our minds to their influence. They distort thinking and poison the soul. False prophets are spiritual predators, far deadlier than physical ones. Both Peter and Jude refer to them as "unreasoning animals" (2 Peter 2:12; cf. Jude 10). In Palestine, wolves were the sheep's most common natural enemy. They'd prowl the hills and valleys, looking for stray or lagging sheep to attack. Even a healthy adult sheep was defenseless against a wolf's ferocity.

Jesus uses this vivid imagery to illustrate the danger of false prophets. He says we can identify them by their fruits: 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.(Matthew 7:16-20)

This comparison is crucial. A fruit tree might look beautiful and offer pleasant shade, but its primary purpose is to bear fruit. It's judged by what it produces, not by how it looks. The same principle applies to discerning false prophets.

It's the cleverly deceptive false prophet that Jesus is warning about here. Anyone can spot a tree with obviously rotten fruit, or no fruit at all. The challenge comes with those who appear to bear good fruit but don't. From a distance, grapes stuck on thorn bushes or figs on thistles might look like they're growing on real fruit trees. The fruit is genuine, which might lead some to conclude that the tree itself is genuine. But eventually, a person's true character, their inner motives, standards, loyalties, attitudes, and ambitions - will show through in their actions.

True fruit-bearing, like all godly and righteous things, begins in the heart. Paul speaks of "having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:11). He also lists the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

A person who belongs to Christ, called by God and given His message, will show evidence of good fruit in both attitudes and actions. Someone who doesn't belong to God, especially a false prophet claiming to be God's messenger, will eventually reveal the bad fruit that their sinful life inevitably produces.

False prophets can hide their bad fruit for a while with religious trappings, biblical knowledge, and evangelical vocabulary. They might cover it by joining Christian organizations, associating with Christian leaders, and talking about spiritual matters. But how they speak, act, and react when not in view of Christians will eventually expose their true loyalties and convictions. What's in the heart will emerge, and corrupt theology will result in a corrupt life. False teaching and perverted living are inseparable and will eventually become apparent.

You can often recognize a genuine Christian by their demeanor. Someone who truly believes in God's holiness, recognizes their own sinfulness, understands the reality of judgment and hell, and knows that only Christ's sacrifice can save them, this person will reflect these beliefs in their character. They'll exhibit meekness and humility. Jesus warned us to be cautious of those lacking humility, as they may be deceiving us. False humility is often easy to spot and it is generally more about impressing others than genuinely acknowledging one's need for salvation. So, if someone's doctrine seems off, pay attention to how they carry themselves. A true Christian will demonstrate genuine humility and meekness, not just put on a show for others.

Throughout history, humanity has faced numerous threats. From natural disasters to wars, from famine to disease, we've encountered many challenges. However, there's a threat potentially more devastating than any physical calamity: the spread of false teaching within the church. While natural disasters and diseases may claim lives, false teaching has the power to lead souls astray, potentially resulting in eternal consequences. False teaching can spread rapidly, often disguising itself as truth. Church leaders must become spiritual watchmen, capable of identifying and countering the spread of false doctrines. 

Throughout church history, false teaching has taken various forms, adapting to the cultural and intellectual climates of different eras. In the early church, Gnosticism posed a significant threat, claiming secret knowledge and denying the full humanity of Christ. During the Middle Ages, indulgences and works-based salvation distorted the message of grace. The Reformation period saw conflicts over the authority of Scripture versus church tradition. In modern times, prosperity gospel teachings and moral relativism have gained traction in some circles. Each era's false teachings have required believers to return to Scripture and apply discernment. As the Apostle Paul warned of this danger, we see his words ring true across centuries. The Apostle Paul warned of this danger, describing false teachers as:

"false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it's not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their deeds." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, paraphrased)

Recognizing false teaching requires careful discernment. Paul provided Timothy with a set of characteristics to help identify those promoting false teachings:

"If anyone teaches differently and doesn't agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that promotes godliness, he's conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and arguments over words. From these come envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, and constant disagreement among people whose minds are corrupt and who have been robbed of the truth. These people think that godliness is a way to make a profit." (1 Timothy 6:3-5, paraphrased)

The first sign of false teachers is what they affirm. They "teach differently," promoting doctrines that contradict biblical truth. This might involve denying God's existence, misrepresenting His nature, rejecting the Trinity, or teaching errors about Christ's person and work. False teachers often spread misinformation about the Holy Spirit and may challenge the authenticity, inspiration, authority, or inerrancy of Scripture.

Another mark of false teachers is what they deny. They don't "agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ." False teachers aren't committed to Scripture. They might speak about Jesus and the Father, but God's Word isn't at the heart of their ministry. They may add to it, subtract from it, interpret it incorrectly, claim new "revelations," or reject it entirely.

A third characteristic of false teachers is their rejection of "the teaching that promotes godliness." The ultimate test of any teaching is whether it produces godliness. Teaching not based on Scripture will result in an unholy life. Instead of godliness, the lives of false teachers will be marked by sin (see 2 Peter 2:10-22; Jude 4, 8-16). The attitude of false teachers can be summed up in one word, pride. It takes an enormous ego to set oneself up as a judge of the Bible. Such arrogance blatantly usurps God's place. False teachers have an inflated sense of their own importance, not hesitating to rebel against God and His Word.

False teachers are also exposed through their mentality. Although they may be filled with pride over their supposed knowledge, in reality, they "understand nothing." Their imagined intelligence and supposed deeper insights amount to mere foolishness in God's eyes (Romans 1:22; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16). Those who know and believe God's Word have far more insight into spiritual reality than the most educated heretic.

Instead of focusing on truth, false teachers have "an unhealthy interest in controversies and arguments over words." They indulge in pseudo-intellectual theorizing rather than productive study of and submission to God's Word.

False teaching also fails to produce unity. The word battles of false teachers result in chaos and confusion, leading to envy, strife, malicious talk, and constant disagreement. False teaching can never truly unify believers; only the truth can do that.

The external cause of false teaching is satanic deception (1 Timothy 4:1). The internal cause, however, is the corrupt mind of the false teacher. "The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God" (Romans 8:7). Such a mind doesn't function normally in the spiritual realm; it doesn't react properly to truth. Being natural people, false teachers can't understand the things of God, which seem foolish to them (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The spiritual condition of false teachers is critical; they're in a state of apostasy. They've been "robbed of the truth," indicating that they once had contact with it but have been pulled away. This doesn't mean they were saved, but that they were exposed to the truth and rejected it. Like those described in Hebrews 6:4-6, they've thoroughly encountered the truth but turned away from it.

Unfortunately, their prognosis isn't hopeful. Their spiritual condition is terminal. Hebrews 6:6 warns that "it's impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they're crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace." Peter says they bring "swift destruction upon themselves" (2 Peter 2:1). The severest punishment awaits those who, having been exposed to the truth, turned away from it (see Hebrews 10:26-31).

Finally, false teachers often have a simple motivation money. They suppose that their version of "godliness is a way to make a profit." Unlike Paul, they can't say, "I haven't coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing" (Acts 20:33). Simply put, they're not "free from the love of money" (1 Timothy 3:3).

So, how can we identify these false teachers? Jesus gives us a clear method: "You will know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16). Just as you can't gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles, you can't expect good spiritual fruit from false teachers. A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. It's that simple.

This fruit isn't just about outward actions, though those are important. It's also about the fruit of the Spirit that Paul describes in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These should be evident in the life of a true teacher of God's Word.

We need to be careful, though. False teachers can be deceptive. They might appear to bear good fruit for a while. They might use Christian language, associate with Christian leaders, or belong to Christian organizations. But eventually, their true nature will show through in their words, actions, and reactions, especially when they think other Christians aren't watching.

You can often recognize a genuine believer by their demeanor. Someone who truly understands God's holiness, their own sinfulness, the reality of judgment, and the saving power of Christ's sacrifice will reflect these beliefs in their character. They'll demonstrate genuine humility and meekness, not just put on a show for others. Whereas false teachers often lack this genuine humility. They might display false humility to impress others, but it's not the same as the genuine acknowledgment of one's need for salvation that characterizes true believers.

The threat of false teaching is serious. While natural disasters and diseases can claim physical lives, false teaching can lead souls astray with eternal consequences. It's like a spiritual epidemic that can spread rapidly if not identified and countered. That's why Paul's warning to the Ephesian elders is so crucial: "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28). We must be vigilant, not just for our own spiritual health, but for the well-being of the entire church.

The danger of false teachers is real and present. But we're not left defenseless. By cultivating a deep understanding of Scripture and its teachings, Christians can develop a discerning spirit that recognizes falsehoods. Additionally, staying connected to a community of fellow believers who uphold biblical truth provides accountability and support. Engaging in regular prayer for wisdom and spiritual insight also strengthens one’s ability to discern between truth and deception. Ultimately, by relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance and remaining rooted in the foundational truths of the Gospel, believers can confidently navigate the complexities of today’s spiritual landscape, ensuring they uphold the purity of God’s Word and protect themselves and others from the subtle traps of false doctrine.