Matthew 7:15

The Sermon On The Mount: Recognizing False Prophets

¹⁴ Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way to life. Only a few put forth the effort. Yes, only a few people enter the narrow gate. ¹⁵ “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruits you will know them. Do men get grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?

Beware of False Prophets

False Prophets

Outward Appearance

Take Heed

1 John 4:1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit. Test the spirits to see whether they are from God. This is because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one enslaves you by means of philosophy and worthless deceit of human wisdom according to tradition of men. It is according to the elementary principles of the world, and not from Christ.

Deuteronomy 13:1-3

If a prophet or an interpreter of dreams appears among you and gives you a sign or a wonder (portent) (omen) (forecast of the future),

Matthew 24:11

Many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

2 Peter 2:1-3

There arose false prophets among the people. There will be false teachers among you! They will privately bring in destructive heresies (contrary doctrines), denying even the Master who bought them. They bring swift destruction on themselves.

Luke 6:26

Woe to you when all men speak well of you! Their fathers did the same to the prophets.

Revelation 19:20

The beast was captured, and with him the false prophet that performed signs before him, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and those who worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.

Isaiah 9:15-16

Elders and dignitaries are the head, and prophets who teach lies are the tail.

Jeremiah 14:14-16

Jehovah then told me: These are the lies that the prophets are telling in my name: They claim that I sent them. They claim that I commanded them. They claim that I spoke to them. They even dreamed up visions to tell you. Their predictions are worthless! They are the products of their own imagination.

Jeremiah 23:13-16

Say this about the prophets of Samaria: 'I saw something disgusting. The prophets of Samaria prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.'

Jeremiah 28:15-17

Then Jeremiah the prophet told the prophet Hananiah: Listen, Hananiah! Jehovah did not send you. You are making these people believe a lie.

Jeremiah 29:21

This is what Jehovah of Hosts, the God of Israel, says about Kolaiah's son Ahab and about Maaseiah's son Zedekiah, who prophesy lies to you in my name: 'I am going to hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will kill them as you watch.

Jeremiah 29:32

Jehovah says: 'I will punish Shemaiah from Nehelam. I will also punish his descendants. No one from his family will be left alive. He will not see the blessings that I am going to send my people,' declares Jehovah, 'because he has encouraged rebellion against Jehovah.''

Ezekiel 13:16

The prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem are gone. Those who said that everything was all right, when it was not all right, are gone, declares the Lord Jehovah.

Ezekiel 13:22

You have discouraged righteous people with your lies, even though I had not brought them any grief. You encouraged wicked people not to turn from their wicked ways to save their lives.

Ezekiel 22:25

There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured lives. They have taken treasure and precious things. They have made many widows in the midst of her.

Ezekiel 22:27

Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain.

Micah 3:5-7

Jehovah spoke concerning the prophets: They make my people stray. They bite with their teeth and cry, Peace, but receive nothing in their mouths. They declare holy war on him.

Micah 3:11

The leaders judge for a bribe, and the priests teach for wages! The prophets predict for money yet they rely on Jehovah when they say: Is not Jehovah in the midst of us? No evil will come upon us.

Zephaniah 3:3-4

Her princes (rulers) within her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing till the morning.

Zechariah 13:4

It will happen! The prophets, each one of them will be ashamed of his vision and his prophesy. They will not wear a hairy mantle to deceive.

Matthew 10:17

Beware of men! They will take you to court! They will have you beaten in their meeting places.

Matthew 16:6

Jesus said: Take care to have nothing to do with the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Matthew 16:11

Why do you not understand I was not talking about bread? Instead, about keeping away from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?

Matthew 24:4-5

Jesus answered: Be careful that no man misleads you.

Matthew 24:24-25

There will be false Christs and false prophets. They will show great signs and wonders so that many will be misled. This includes some of the chosen ones.

Mark 12:38-40

He said: Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and to have greetings in the marketplaces.

Mark 13:22-23

There will arise false Christs and false prophets. They show signs and wonders that will mislead many, even the anointed.

Luke 12:15

Jesus said: Be careful, do not covet, for life does not come from your possessions.

John 10:12

The hired man owns no sheep. He is not the shepherd. He sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep. The wolf snatches them, and scatters them.

Acts 13:40

Beware that what the prophets said does not happen to you.

Acts 20:29-31

I know that after my departing grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Romans 16:17-18

Now I beseech you, brothers, mark those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine you have learned and avoid them.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.

Galatians 2:4

This occurred because of the false brothers brought in secretly. They came to spy out our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus. This was so they might bring us into bondage.

Ephesians 4:14

We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error.

Ephesians 5:6

Let no one deceive you with empty words. It is because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Philippians 3:2

Beware of the dogs (impure men) (false teachers)! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the mutilation of the body.

1 Timothy 4:1-3

The Spirit explicitly says that some will fall away from the faith (truth) in later times. Spirits and doctrines of demons will seduce them,

2 Timothy 3:5-9

having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Stay away from people like this!

2 Timothy 3:13

But evil men and impostors will become worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

2 Timothy 4:3

For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine. Having their ears tickled, they will accumulate teachers who follow after their own lusts.

2 Peter 2:18-19

For, uttering arrogant words of vanity, they entice in the desires (lusts) of the flesh, by sensuality (lasciviousness), those who are just escaping from the ones who live in error.

2 Peter 3:17

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, avoid being carried away with the error of the wicked and falling from your own steadfastness.

Jude 1:4

Certain men crept in unnoticed. They were appointed long ago for this condemnation. These ungodly men turned the grace of our God into loose conduct. They deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Revelation 13:11-17

Then I saw another wild beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb and he spoke like a dragon.

Revelation 16:13

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

Revelation 17:6

I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the holy ones, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her I wondered greatly.

Isaiah 56:10-11

Israel's watchmen are blind. They all lack knowledge they are all mute dogs. They cannot bark. They just lie around and dream, they love to sleep.

Acts 13:6

They traveled the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they found Barjesus. He was a sorcerer, a false prophet and a Jew.