The Danger of Deception and Need for Discernment
Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
You will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-16 NIV84) [see full text in button/link below]
Deception and manipulation
How can a person avoid being deceived? Greed, laziness, or a combination of both often leads people to fall victim to scams, Ponzi schemes, and pyramid sales programs.
But what about people who get caught up in spurious conspiracy theories, cults, and aberrant or abusive ministries? These types of things take advantage of people’s trust and eagerness to believe. Some may ask, how are people so easily deceived?
At the height of the Jesus People Movement and Charismatic Renewal of the ‘70s, I saw many people—men and women—who manipulated others with personalized “words from the Lord” to gain influential power and even profit at the expense of others. [1]
One of these false prophets established a communal church ministry in a neighboring town near the church and retreat ministry where we served. The elders would give words of prophecy promising blessing if those receiving the prophecy would sell all their possessions, move there, and give all the proceeds to the commune.
When the leader, who called himself a pastor, used all the funds these people had given or if the people questioned his leadership, he would have another word of prophecy telling the people it was time for them to leave the commune.
It was a heartless and manipulative scam with a spiritual veneer powerful enough to dupe people willing to believe it. Why would people fall for this? Because they wanted to be part of what this leader claimed were “great things God was doing.” [2]
The man and his family abandoned the communal settlement and moved out of the area after their true nature was revealed. In their wake, they left many families and young believers bitter, cynical, hurt, and financially and spiritually bankrupt.
A few years after this, the Lord directed my wife and me to plant a church in the same town. Much of the early years of our ministry involved spiritual restoration for those people and others with similar stories of abuse and manipulation by deceptive church leaders.
So, I ask again—
Why are people so easily taken advantage of in this way?
Because people generally want to believe and may be too quick to trust where they should be more cautious and discerning. We are to be childlike in our faith but wise when we make commitments (see Matthew 10:16). When people extend their trust freely, and that trust is broken, it’s hard to restore.
Insights
False prophets and false teachers, and other untrustworthy leaders have been around a long time. Actually, the first false prophet was the serpent, who deceived the first man and woman in the middle of paradise. Consider the serpent and his ways as a prototype for false prophets.
Balaam is among the more notable false prophets in the Old Testament. But he had his limitations, and a talking donkey confronted him with his corrupt nature and ways (see Numbers 22:18, 28-31).
The primary message of Jesus concerning His return to earth (His second coming) is to watch out for false prophets and false messiahs (see Matthew 24:4-5, 24).
But again, how and why are people so easily deceived?
What is it that draws them in to believe these deceivers?
When people mix a little truth with a lie and know how to present it convincingly, it’s easy to swallow the lie with the truth. When we want to believe one truth or part of the truth, it’s easy to ignore or justify what isn’t true. This sets people up to be taken in by false prophets, false teachers, and corrupt leaders.
Isn’t this what we see with the serpent’s deceptive message to Eve?
“God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened. You’ll be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5 GW)
Because God created Adam and Eve in His image, they were already like God (see Genesis 1:26-27). Were their eyes opened to know good and evil? Yes, but at a terrible cost! Not only for them but for all humanity.
We could call false prophets—“prophets for profit” or “profitable prophets.” But it isn’t all about money, although it’s often a factor. False prophets, false teachers, and abusive and corrupt leaders seek to influence and gain power over others. It fills some insecure need in them, but at the cost of others.
Here is the grand deception and lure of the serpent’s lie and why we are vulnerable to deception—“You’ll be like God….” The pursuit of a corrupted god-likeness is an enticement for those who seek power and influence over others. It is also a stumbling block and a trap for those deceived by these false prophets.
True Wisdom
Jesus warns us to watch out for these false prophets. This is everyone’s responsibility, especially those who follow Jesus. In His warning, Jesus uncovers and reveals the deception and true nature of these purveyors of false truth so we can recognize them. Jesus gives several ways to uncover their true identity.
First, they appear as sheep, but are in fact ravenous wolves. These people look and play the part of prophets and leaders, but their nature is corrupt. Their hearts and motives are evil and selfish.
Their true desire isn’t to care for God’s people but to feed upon them. The Lord spoke of such leaders through the prophet Ezekiel and later through Peter and Jude (see Ezekiel 34:1-10; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Jude 4, 12, 16).
Then Jesus tells us how to recognize them by asking us an obvious question—“Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” Again, Jesus makes it clear that we are responsible to discern this for ourselves. If we are truly following Jesus by denying and dying to our selfish nature, then we should be able to recognize them (see Matthew 16:24-26).
I’ve encountered various false prophets and teachers and corrupt leaders over the years. Even though it seemed obvious in an objective sense, I realized how and why they could deceive people. It served as a warning to me to guard my own heart against having corrupt motives.
Jesus goes on to explain why we should be able to recognize them. It’s both simple and obvious—a good tree bears good fruit and a bad one, bad fruit. They can’t do anything else.
The life of a tree or vine is inside the trunk or stalk, and so is our life in both a physical and spiritual sense. The life of a tree or vine is nourished and dependent on what it takes in through its roots. So it is with us.
Whichever we are reliant on in our life—a godly nature or a corrupt one—will determine what our life produces.
It’s natural and logical.
Finally, Jesus extends His warning further when He declares that every tree not bearing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. In other words, judgment will come at an eternal cost. Jesus underscores our responsibility to discern false prophets by repeating the admonition he gave before—“Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”
When we are taken in by abusive, false, and manipulative leaders, it’s easy to point the finger at them, blame them, and claim ourselves to be victims. But Jesus lays the responsibility at our feet—“Beware … you will recognize them by their fruits.”
Jesus warns us to be on guard! This requires discernment on our part.
Are you following and trusting in Jesus? Or are you putting your trust in yourself, or in someone who appears to be, or claims to be, like Jesus?
We all need spiritual discernment!
Reflections for Prayer
Jesus warns us to watch out for false prophets, and it’s our responsibility to do so. We need to examine the fruit—the life example—of those who lead. And if we are leaders, we need to examine our own hearts and life examples. We need to check our motives and consider the fruit of our lives.
Have you been deceived by a false prophet or teacher? Have you suffered from abusive and manipulative leadership? Then ask the Lord to give you discernment and wisdom. Also, ask the Lord to free you from bitterness and cynicism, so you may trust in Him above all else with childlike faith.
Footnotes–
Here’s a post related to the Jesus People Movement and what seemed to be lost over the years following it—
Kimball, T. (2020, July 9). The missing part —. Word-Strong With Trip Kimball. https://tripkimball.com/thinking-out-loud/the-missing-part-4jdly
There were too many manipulative, even cultlike figures who developed ministries centered on themselves rather than the Lord. This is a post drawn from the book of Ruth and a chapter in a previous book (Stories of Redemption)—
Kimball, T. (2020a, May 27). The Problem With Trying to Help God Is We Get in the Way. Medium. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from https://medium.com/publishous/the-problem-with-trying-to-help-god-is-we-get-in-the-way-9e0bacf43438
This is an excerpt from a recently published book called The Heart and Soul of God’s Kingdom. Look for it on Amazon with my other books— Trip Kimball on Amazon
And you can also see some of my writing over on Substack too! Just click this link– Trip Kimball on Substack
