Matthew 7:15

The Sermon On The Mount: Recognizing False Prophets

¹⁴ because narrow is the gate and contracted the road which leads to Life, and few are those who find it. ¹⁵ "Beware of the false teachers--men who come to you in sheep's fleeces, but beneath that disguise they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruits you will easily recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from brambles?

Beware of False Prophets

False Prophets

Outward Appearance

Take Heed

1 John 4:1

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but put the spirits to the test to see whether they are from God; for many false teachers have gone out into the world.

Colossians 2:8

Take care lest there be some one who leads you away as prisoners by means of his philosophy and idle fancies, following human traditions and the world's crude notions instead of following Christ.

Matthew 24:11

Many false prophets will rise up and lead multitudes astray;

2 Peter 2:1-3

But there were also false prophets among the people, as there will be teachers of falsehood among you also, who will cunningly introduce fatal divisions, disowning even the Sovereign Lord who has redeemed them, and bringing on themselves swift destruction.

Luke 6:26

"Alas for you when men shall all have spoken well of you; for that is just the way their forefathers behaved to the false Prophets!

Revelation 19:20

who had done the miracles in his presence with which he had led astray those who had received the mark of the Wild Beast, and those who worshipped his statue. Both of them were thrown alive into the Lake of fire that was all ablaze with sulphur.

Matthew 10:17

But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to appear before Sanhedrins, and will flog you in their synagogues;

Matthew 16:6

and when Jesus said to them, "See to it: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees,"

Matthew 16:11

How is it you do not understand that it was not about bread that I spoke to you? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

Matthew 24:4-5

"Take care that no one misleads you," answered Jesus;

Matthew 24:24-25

For there will rise up false Christs and false prophets, displaying wonderful signs and prodigies, so as to deceive, were it possible, even God's own People.

Mark 12:38-40

Moreover in the course of His teaching He said, "Be on your guard against the Scribes who like to walk about in long robes and to be bowed to in places of public resort,

Mark 13:22-23

For there will rise up false Christs and false prophets, displaying signs and prodigies with a view to lead astray--if indeed that were possible--even God's own People.

Luke 12:15

And to the people He said, "Take care, be on your guard against all covetousness, for no one's life consists in the superabundance of his possessions."

John 10:12

The hired servant--one who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep--no sooner sees the wolf coming than he leaves the sheep and runs away; and the wolf worries and scatters them.

Acts 13:40

Beware, then, lest what is spoken in the Prophets should come true of you:

Acts 20:29-31

I know that, when I am gone, cruel wolves will come among you and will not spare the flock;

Romans 16:17-18

But I beseech you, brethren, to keep a watch on those who are causing the divisions among you, and are leading others into sin, in defiance of the instruction which you have received; and habitually to shun them.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

For men of this stamp are sham apostles, dishonest workmen, assuming the garb of Apostles of Christ.

Galatians 2:4

Yet there was danger of this through the false brethren secretly introduced into the Church, who had stolen in to spy out the freedom which is ours in Christ Jesus, in order to rob us of it.

Ephesians 4:14

So we shall no longer be babes nor shall we resemble mariners tossed on the waves and carried about with every changing wind of doctrine according to men's cleverness and unscrupulous cunning, making use of every shifting device to mislead.

Ephesians 5:6

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is on account of these very sins that God's anger is coming upon the disobedient.

Philippians 3:2

Beware of 'the dogs,' the bad workmen, the self-mutilators.

1 Timothy 4:1-3

Now the Spirit expressly declares that in later times some will fall away from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons;

2 Timothy 3:5-9

and will keep up a make-believe of piety and yet live in defiance of its power. Turn away from people of this sort.

2 Timothy 3:13

But bad men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, misleading and being misled.

2 Timothy 4:3

For a time is coming when they will not tolerate wholesome instruction, but, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will find a multitude of teachers to satisfy their own fancies;

2 Peter 2:18-19

For, while they pour out their frivolous and arrogant talk, they use earthly cravings--every kind of immorality--as a bait to entrap men who are just escaping from the influence of those who live in error.

2 Peter 3:17

You, therefore, dear friends, having been warned beforehand, must continually be on your guard so as not to be led astray by the false teaching of immoral men nor fall from your own stedfastness.

Jude 1:4

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed--men spoken of in ancient writings as pre-destined to this condemnation--ungodly men, who pervert the grace of our God into an excuse for immorality, and disown Jesus Christ, our only Sovereign and Lord.

Revelation 13:11-17

Then I saw another Wild Beast, coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.

Revelation 16:13

Then I saw three foul spirits, resembling frogs, issue from the mouth of the Dragon, from the mouth of the Wild Beast, and from the mouth of the false Prophet.

Revelation 17:6

And I saw the woman drinking herself drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And when I saw her I was filled with utter astonishment.

Acts 13:6

When they had gone through the whole length of the island as far as Paphos, they there met with a Jewish magician and false prophet, Bar-Jesus by name,