Jesus speaks numerous times about false teachers and prophets within the Bible, and we would be wise to heed His warnings.
False teachers and false prophets abound in the present world, and they were also extremely common during the days Jesus walked this earth. While many people think false teachers and false prophets are harmless, they pose many problems and concerns for the world. For believers, it can lead us astray from Christ and not follow the path He has placed in front of us. For unbelievers, it can prevent them from ever coming to know the Lord.
This is why we need to be aware of false teachers and false prophets. In order not to fall into their trap, we need to heed Jesus' warnings in the Scripture. As we look over these warnings from Jesus, think about how they impact your own present life and what you can do to prevent yourself from being ensnared by false teachers. By consulting multiple passages in the Old Testament Gospels, you can see what the Lord says about false teachers and false prophets. This will help you to take your stand against the false teachings that are so prevalent at this point in history.
1. They Are Wolves in Sheep's Clothing
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (Matthew 7:15).
The Lord tells us in this passage that false prophets come to us in sheep's clothing. They are dressed like innocent sheep on the outside, but they are actually ferocious wolves on the inside. This means that these people are kind and nice on the outside; however, on the inside, they have ulterior motives, and they will rip you to shreds. Jesus tells us this about false prophets to warn us because if we follow down their road, there will only be severe repercussions.
Rather than following along with wolves in sheep's clothing, choose to follow Jesus. He is the Truth, and He will set us free. The lies of false teachers and false prophets will lead us astray from the Lord. In complete honesty, this is their goal. False teachers and false prophets want to lead us away from Jesus. Therefore, don't allow them to complete their task or lead you away from Jesus.
2. By Their Fruit You Will Recognize Them
"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them (Matthew 7:16-20).
Piggybacking on Jesus' discourse in Matthew 7, this passage talks about how we can recognize someone by their fruit. False teachers and false prophets will only bear bad fruit. If a person is a true and genuine teacher of the Bible or a real prophet, they will produce good fruit. However, if they are a false teacher or false prophet, they will only produce bad fruit, such as evil deeds, wicked behavior, and incorrect prophecy.
Therefore, make it a practice to look at the lives of the teachers and prophets in your life. Are they truly following along with Jesus, or are they following after the road of sin and evil? By their fruit you will be able to discern if they are true followers of the Lord or not. If they only bear bad fruit, you will know that they are a false teacher or a false prophet.
3. They Will Perform Many Wonderful Signs to Deceive the World
"At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time" (Matthew 25:24-25).
The Lord also tells us that false teachers and false prophets, and even false messiahs, will appear and perform fabricated miracles and wonders. All of this is to deceive the world. This deception will be so great that even the elect will be fooled. This is why the Lord wants you to be watchful of false teachers and false prophets in your own life, because they can be very cunning. Be careful of who you follow and listen to within the realm of theology.
4. They Are to Be Put to Death
"But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death. You may say to yourselves, 'How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?' If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed" (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).
While it might sound severe in the modern day, during the days of the Old Testament, false prophets were to be put to death for their lies and deception. This is because the Lord has no tolerance for those who claim falsehood in His Name. If a prophecy doesn't come true, the person was not a prophet and they were to be put to death. While false teachers and false prophets won't be put to death in the modern day, they should still be penalized for their behavior and not allowed to teach the Bible anymore.
5. Don't Listen to False Prophets
"This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord" (Jeremiah 23:16).
Jesus also tells us that we don't need to listen to false teachers or false prophets. He doesn't want you to listen to these deceivers because they only tell lies. They are not building you up, but rather, filling your mind with falsehoods. Choose not to follow along with the crowd and reject any false teachers or false prophets in your life. Follow the truth of Jesus instead and allow Him to fill your heart with His truth, kindness, hope, and love.
In the end, the best defense against false teachers and prophets is a strong foundation in God’s Word. By studying Scripture, remaining in prayer, and leaning on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can discern truth from deception. Jesus warned us not to be surprised by false voices, but to cling to Him, the Good Shepherd, who never misleads His flock. When we stay rooted in Christ, we will not be shaken by false teachings but will stand firm in the truth that sets us free.
