Identifying the False Prophet - 10/01/2023

Which prophet should we believe? Which prophet is telling the truth? Which prophet is leading people astray? These questions were asked in the days of Jesus and are still being asked today. In His sermon, Jesus informs His listeners how to identify the false prophet (Matthew 7:15-20).

Jesus says false prophets dress “in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Outwardly they appear to be harmless and gentle, but inwardly their intention is to destroy. Pretending to be part of the community of believers, they are genuine impostors.

Jesus says the listener must use reason and examination to decide. While reasoning with them, Jesus states where grapes and figs are not gathered. After examining the fruit of the tree, they can apply the rule. Good trees produce only good fruit and never bad fruit. Bad trees produce only bad fruit and never good fruit.

Jesus specifies which tree will be “cut down and thrown into the fire.” He says it is the “tree that does not bear good fruit.” This indicates that the “tree” must be producing something worthy of human ingestion, not just any type of fruit. The purpose of fruit trees is to produce something good to eat.

Fruit that is not good does not strengthen a person. Likewise, a false prophet will be proclaiming something that will not strengthen a person nor help them to be living the Christian life.

Some think Jesus is talking about the lifestyle of the false prophet and whether or not it is harmonious with his preaching. However, it seems more likely that Jesus is talking about the message proclaimed and not the lifestyle lived.

By using the words, “false prophet” Jesus is speaking of someone who is telling something that sounds like the truth with the intent of building a person up, but in reality they are speaking something false and therefore tearing a person down. The false prophet is not helping the person be godlier, but rather is promoting an evil lifestyle. Every generation has had false prophets.

Jesus says the listener must examine the impostors. The listener must decide if the “tree” is a thorn bush, or a thistle. Do they want to eat from this “bad tree”? Or, do they want to refuse the fruit from this tree, which eventually will be cast into the fire and destroyed.

Just listening to a preacher is not sufficient. One must listen with the intention of understanding the message and then verifying it using the word of God. After identifying the speaker as a true prophet, one declaring God’s message, then the listener will eat from this “good tree,” giving him stamina to be living God’s way. - cgm

Scriptural quotations from the NASB1995.