Matthew 7:15

The Sermon On The Mount: Recognizing False Prophets

¹⁴ How narrow is the gate and how constricted is the road that leads to life, and there aren't many people who find it!" ¹⁵ "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are savage wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruit. Grapes aren't gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles, are they?

Beware of False Prophets

False Prophets

Outward Appearance

Take Heed

1 John 4:1

Dear friends, stop believing every spirit. Instead, test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one enslaves you through philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to the Messiah,

Deuteronomy 13:1-3

"A prophet or a diviner of dreams may arise among you, give you an omen or a miracle

Matthew 24:11

Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people,

2 Peter 2:1-3

Now there were false prophets among the people, just as there also will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Luke 6:26

"How terrible it will be for you when everyone says nice things about you, because that's the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets!"

Revelation 19:20

The beast was captured, along with the false prophet who had performed signs on its behalf. By these signs the false prophet had deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped its image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

Isaiah 9:15-16

the elder and the dignitary is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.

Jeremiah 14:14-16

Then the LORD told me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I didn't send them, I didn't command them, and I didn't speak to them. They're proclaiming to you false visions, worthless predictions, and the delusions of their own minds.

Jeremiah 23:13-16

"Among the prophets of Samaria I saw a disgusting thing, for they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.

Jeremiah 28:15-17

The prophet Jeremiah told the prophet Hananiah, "Listen, Hananiah! The LORD didn't send you, and you are causing these people to trust in a lie.

Jeremiah 29:21

This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says about Kolaiah's son Ahab and Maaseiah's son Zedekiah, who are prophesying lies to you in my name, "I'm about to give them into the domination of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will kill them before your eyes.

Jeremiah 29:32

therefore, this is what the LORD says: "I'm about to judge Shemaiah from Nehelam along with his descendants. He won't have anyone related to him living among these people. Nor will he see the good that I'll do for my people," declares the LORD, "because he advocated rebellion against the LORD."'"

Ezekiel 13:16

The prophets of Israel prophesied about Jerusalem and saw visions of peace concerning her, yet there's no peace,'" declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 13:22

"""Because you've dismayed the heart of the righteous whom I never intended to dismay with lies, and because you've encouraged the wicked so that he wouldn't abandon his evil behavior and by doing so live,

Ezekiel 22:25

There's a conspiracy of prophets within her, and like a roaring lion tearing its prey, they've devoured people, and confiscated treasures, and taken precious things. They've added to the population of widows within her.

Ezekiel 22:27

""I'm constantly being profaned among them. Her princes within her are like wolves tearing their prey apart. They shed blood, destroying souls, and make unjust gain.

Micah 3:5-7

"This is what the LORD says about the prophets who are causing my people to go astray, who are calling out "Peace' when they're being fed, but who declare war against those who won't feed them:

Micah 3:11

Her leaders judge for the money, her priests teach only when they're paid, and her prophets prophesy for cash. Even so, don't they all rely on the LORD as they ask, "The LORD is among us, is he not? Nothing bad can possibly happen to us!'

Zephaniah 3:3-4

Its national officials are roaring lions; its judges are like wolves of the night that don't leave the bones for the morning.

Zechariah 13:4

Furthermore, it will come about at that time that every prophet will become ashamed of his vision as he prophesies. They will wear no rough garments intended to deceive others."

Matthew 10:17

Watch out for people who will hand you over to the local councils and whip you in their synagogues.

Matthew 16:6

Jesus told them, "Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"

Matthew 16:11

How can you fail to understand that I wasn't talking to you about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"

Matthew 24:4-5

Jesus answered them, "See to it that no one deceives you,

Matthew 24:24-25

because false messiahs and false prophets will appear and display great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Mark 12:38-40

As he taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes! They like to walk around in long robes, to be greeted in the marketplaces,

Mark 13:22-23

because false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens to deceive, if possible, the elect.

Luke 12:15

Then he told them, "Be careful to guard yourselves against every kind of greed, because a person's life doesn't consist of the amount of possessions he has."

John 10:12

The hired worker, who isn't the shepherd and doesn't own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, deserts the sheep, and runs away. So the wolf snatches them and scatters them,

Acts 13:40

So be careful that what the prophets said doesn't happen to you:

Acts 20:29-31

I know that when I'm gone, savage wolves will come among you and not spare the flock.

Romans 16:17-18

Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and sinful enticements that oppose the teaching you have learned. Stay away from them,

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

Such people are false apostles, dishonest workers who are masquerading as apostles of the Messiah.

Galatians 2:4

However, false brothers were secretly brought in. They slipped in to spy on the freedom we have in the Messiah Jesus so that they might enslave us.

Ephesians 4:14

Then we will no longer be little children, tossed like waves and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, or by clever strategies that would lead us astray.

Ephesians 5:6

Do not let anyone deceive you with meaningless words, for it is because of these things that God becomes angry with those who disobey.

Philippians 3:2

Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the mutilators!

1 Timothy 4:1-3

Now the Spirit says clearly that in the last times some people will abandon the faith by following deceitful spirits, the teachings of demons,

2 Timothy 3:5-9

They will hold to an outward form of godliness but deny its power. Stay away from such people.

2 Timothy 3:13

But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse as they deceive others and are themselves deceived.

2 Timothy 4:3

For the time will come when people will not tolerate healthy doctrine, but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their people's own desires.

2 Peter 2:18-19

By talking high-sounding nonsense and using sinful cravings of the flesh, they entice people who have just escaped from those who live in error.

2 Peter 3:17

And so, dear friends, since you already know these things, continuously be on your guard not to be carried away by the deception of lawless people. Otherwise, you may fall from your secure position.

Jude 1:4

For some people have slipped in among you unnoticed. They were written about long ago as being deserving of this condemnation because they are ungodly. They turn the grace of our God into uncontrollable lust and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus the Messiah.

Revelation 13:11-17

I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it talked like a dragon.

Revelation 16:13

Then I saw three disgusting spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

Revelation 17:6

I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. I was very surprised when I saw her.

Isaiah 56:10-11

His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge. They are all dumb dogs they cannot bark. They keep on dreaming and lying around, and they're lovers of sleep!

Acts 13:6

They went through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish occult practitioner and false prophet named Bar-jesus.