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“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matt 7:15-16 NIV84) [see these verses in their context below]
Deception and manipulation
How can a person keep from being deceived? People who fall for scams, Ponzi schemes, and pyramid sales programs are drawn in by their own greed or laziness or both.
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 but how are they 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.
One of these false prophets established a communal church ministry in a neighboring town near the church ministry where I 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.”
The man and his family abandoned the communal settlement and moved out of the area when 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 are too often 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 (Matt 10:16). Trust is often too easily given but when broken, it is not easily restored.
Insights to consider
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 midst of paradise. Consider the serpent and his ways as a prototype for false prophets.
Balaam is one of the more notable false prophets in the Old Testament. But he had his limitations and was confronted with his corrupt nature and ways by a talking donkey (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 (Matt 24:4-5, 24).
But, again, how and why are people deceived so easily? What is it that draws them in to believe these deceivers?
When just a bit of truth is mixed in with a lie by people who 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.” (Gen 3:5 GW)
Adam and Eve were already like God because they were created in His image (Gen 1:26-27). Were their eyes opened to know good and evil? Yes, but at a great cost! Not just for them but for all humanity.
We could call these false prophets—prophets for profit or profitable prophets. But it isn’t all about money, although it is too 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 great 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 who are 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 may be able to recognize them. I see at least five ways Jesus uncovers 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 (Ezek 34:1-10; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Jude 4-16).
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 it should be obvious (Matt 16:24-26).
I’ve encountered various false prophets and teachers and corrupt leaders over the years. Each time it seemed obvious in an objective sense but I realized how and why they were able to 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.
Just as the life of a tree or vine is inside the trunk or stalk, 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. Whatever 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.
Jesus extends His warning further when He declares that every tree not bearing good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire. In other words, judgment will come with 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….” Watch out! This requires discernment on our part.
Much more could be said about all of this but our main concern needs to be what our responsibility is.
Are we following and trusting in Jesus? Or are putting our trust in ourselves or someone who appears or claims to be like Jesus?
We need discernment!
Reflection—
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 example. We need to check our motives and consider the fruit of our lives.
Prayer Focus—
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.
Devo Scripture Text
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.“
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
(Matthew 7:13-29 NIV84)
