Lesson 22 – True and False Prophets

Matthew 7:15-17

“Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  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. 

Matthew 7:18-20A 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. 

In the verses from 7:15-17, Jesus warns his followers to be cautious of false prophets who may deceive them with their outward appearance and smooth words. He compares these false prophets to wolves disguised as sheep, indicating that their true intentions and nature are hidden.

To discern whether someone is a false prophet, Jesus advises looking at their fruit. Just as people do not gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles, good trees produce good fruit while bad trees produce bad fruit. In the same way, the character and actions of individuals can reveal the authenticity of their message and their alignment with God's truth.

Jesus teaches that genuine prophets, guided by the Holy Spirit, will bear good fruit in their lives. Their teachings and actions will align with God's Word and bring forth positive results such as love, righteousness, and spiritual growth. False prophets, on the other hand, will bear bad fruit, demonstrating a lack of integrity, distorted teachings, and negative outcomes.

These verses emphasize the importance of discernment and testing the teachings and actions of those who claim to speak for God. By evaluating their fruit, the visible evidence of their character and message, believers can identify whether they are following true or false prophets. Jesus encourages his followers to be vigilant, relying on the discernment given by the Holy Spirit, to protect themselves from deception and to remain rooted in truth.

In the verses 7:18-20, Jesus continues his analogy of trees and fruit to illustrate the principle of discerning true prophets from false prophets. He affirms that a good tree, representing a person with a genuine and righteous character, will produce good fruit, while a bad tree, representing a person with a corrupt and unrighteous character, will produce bad fruit.

Jesus emphasizes the inherent nature of a tree and its connection to the fruit it bears. Just as it is impossible for a good tree to produce bad fruit or for a bad tree to produce good fruit, the character and motives of a person determine the quality of their actions and teachings.

Jesus goes on to state that every tree that fails to bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. This signifies the judgment and consequences that await those who are false prophets and lead others astray. Their lack of genuine faith and righteousness will ultimately result in their destruction.

By highlighting the importance of fruit as a means of recognition, Jesus encourages his followers to evaluate the teachings, actions, and character of individuals claiming to be prophets or spiritual guides. True prophets, guided by the Holy Spirit, will consistently produce good fruit, demonstrating love, righteousness, and obedience to God's Word. Conversely, false prophets will reveal their true nature through the production of bad fruit, which includes deception, false teachings, and harmful influence.

These verses emphasize the significance of discernment and the importance of evaluating the genuine nature of individuals based on the fruit they bear. It encourages believers to seek truth and righteousness, relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in order to recognize and avoid being led astray by false prophets.