Biblical Topics A to Z
False Prophets
What Jesus and the apostles said about false prophets, the tests Scripture provides, and how to apply those tests today.
At a Glance
Jesus and the apostles gave concrete tests for recognizing false prophets, centered on their fruit, their doctrine about Christ, and their conformity to Scripture.
Overview
Jesus warns plainly about false prophets in Matthew 7:15-20, giving 'fruits' as the test of genuine versus false teaching, and this is reinforced by 1 John 4:1-3's christological test and Deuteronomy 18:22's test of a prophecy's fulfillment, giving believers concrete, checkable standards rather than mere suspicion or blind trust.
Learning Objectives
- •Explain what Jesus means by 'ye shall know them by their fruits' in Matthew 7:15-20.
- •Describe the christological test 1 John 4:1-3 gives for testing spirits and teachers.
- •Identify what Deuteronomy 18:20-22 establishes as the test for a true versus false prophecy under the old covenant.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 7:15
Read It in Context
This study quotes Matthew 7:15, but no verse stands alone. Open a Bible and read the whole surrounding chapter to see the full argument the passage sits within, then look up the other references cited throughout this study — Matthew 7:15-16 and beyond — in their own context. Scripture is the final authority here, not this summary.
Historical & Literary Context
Matthew 7:15-20 sits at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, warning that false prophets can appear outwardly indistinguishable from true ones, 'sheep's clothing,' requiring a different standard of evaluation than appearance or claimed authority. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 gave Israel a concrete test under the old covenant: whether a prophet's word came true, while 1 John 4:1-3 responds to false teachers denying Christ's full humanity, giving the church a christological standard for testing teaching.
Known by Their Fruits
Matthew 7:16-20 repeats the phrase 'ye shall know them by their fruits' twice, comparing false prophets to thorn bushes that cannot produce good fruit, meaning genuine discernment requires patiently observing the outcomes and character a teacher produces over time.
A Christological Test
1 John 4:2-3 gives the church a concrete test centered on Christ himself: whether a teacher confesses 'that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh,' anchoring discernment about false teaching in fidelity to the person of Christ, not vague spiritual impressions.
The Old Covenant Test of Fulfillment
Deuteronomy 18:22 establishes that if 'the thing follow not, nor come to pass,' the prophet has spoken presumptuously, giving Israel an objective, verifiable test rather than requiring them to rely on the prophet's confidence alone.
Christ-Centered Focus
Every biblical test for false prophets ultimately returns to fidelity to Christ and his gospel, whether tested by fruit, by confession of his person, or by consistency with the whole of Scripture that testifies of him.
Practical Application
This week, when evaluating any teaching or teacher, apply Matthew 7:16-20's patient test of fruit over time and 1 John 4:2-3's test of a right confession of Christ, rather than judging by charisma or confidence alone.
Prayer
Father, give me discernment to recognize false teaching by its fruit and by its faithfulness to who Christ truly is. Keep me from naive trust and from unwarranted suspicion, and root me firmly in Your word. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture Memory
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits."
Matthew 7:15-16
Reflection Questions
- 1How does Jesus's image of 'sheep's clothing' in Matthew 7:15 warn against judging teachers by appearance alone?
- 2What does it mean to test teaching by 'fruits' (Matthew 7:16-20) over time rather than by an immediate impression?
- 3How does 1 John 4:2-3's test, confessing Christ come in the flesh, function as a concrete standard for discernment?
- 4Is there a teaching or teacher you need to evaluate more carefully using these biblical tests?