“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Much of this is so obvious that it needs little comment. But a few comments are appropriate, because it is quite possible to step beyond what the Lord is saying.
Beware, because there are armies of false prophets in the world.
Most of us understand the meaning of the word “beware” – be aware, be cautious, be careful. The Greek word “beware” literally refers to bringing something close to you. In other words to consider, or to think seriously, about whatever it is.
In Jesus’ use of the word “prophets” we are reminded once again of the broader meaning of that word. Yes, a prophet may be someone who professes to see into the future and to make prognostications on what he says that he sees. Yes, there are, in this sense, both true prophets of God and false prophets. But in this case we are to be thinking about those people who profess to speak on behalf of the Lord. They are not necessarily seers, but preachers. We are being warned here about false religious preachers and teachers – “pseudo-prophets.”
And even though there are false prophets teaching a thousand lies and heresies, remember that the context of Christ’s warning is in regard to salvation. Immediately following His description of the heretics, He returns to the subject of salvation, saying, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Another reason that He is warning saints about the teachers of false salvation is that the potential victims of these ravening wolves are ignorant sheep. The lost man is incapable of seeing the difference between truth and error when it comes to salvation. He wouldn’t know a false prophet from a falsetto without the intervention of the Holy Spirit. It is you and I who need to be warned about false teachers, in order that we might be useful to the Lord when it comes to helping that lost sheep.
Beware of these false prophets, because they are DECEPTIVE and therefore DANGEROUS.
The people to whom the Lord refers, deliberately make themselves to appear as innocuous as possible. They wear sheep’s clothing with the express purpose of looking and smelling like sheep. Paul was dealing with this same subject in II Corinthians 11, where he says, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
I have noticed that the commentaries suggest that the Lord Jesus was thinking specifically of the Pharisees in regard to all this – and I have no argument against that. They were certainly teaching a false salvation, while doing their best to appear like the sheep of God. Some of those commentaries pointed out that the Pharisees were very particular about their dress – long flowing robes with wide colorful hems. Some of them said that they were made of sheep’s wool, and the Lord was specifically pointing them out. I have my doubts about that, but I’m not smart enough to be dogmatic. As I read what they were saying, I thought about John the Baptist – certainly no ravening wolf. He wasn’t dressed in the best of wool; he wore the roughest of clothing, like an Old Testament prophet.
It is at this place where you and I have to be careful not to overstep the Lord’s lesson. Not only is the Saviour’s context salvation by grace through faith, but the deceivers to which the Lord refers are deliberately trying to deceive. Let’s say that a preacher comes along who believes in a post-tribulational rapture. That is, he believes that you and I will have to pass through the seven year tribulation, before we can be translated to Glory. That is not something which I believe; I believe in a pre-tribulational rapture. I believe that before the Lord pours out His full and furious wrath upon this wicked planet, He will call all His living saints to Himself – we have not been appointed to wrath. But here is this man, who thinks that he has scriptures which teach otherwise. This is not the man about whom the Lord is warning us, even though he is a false prophet. Nor is the Lord is warning us about the prophet who preaches from a corrupt version of the Bible. He is not condemning the man who has a different opinion about marriage and divorce than we have. The context of this warning is salvation – he is preaching a false, Satanic salvation from sin.
And beyond that – the Lord points out the method and purpose of this kind of heresy. These people are ravening wolves. “Wolves” are creatures which we basically understand – they are capable, efficient predators. “Ravening” is the Greek word which speaks about “extortion.” In English it refers to “vicious,” “voracious,” “predatory,” “devouring” wolves. If we are going to be consistent with the Lord’s illustration, these false prophets are wilful, purposeful deceivers. They are in the business of deceiving and devouring for the purpose of their own advancement. Wolves don’t kill and devour in order to thin the herd and improve the condition of the cariboo species. They do it for themselves.
As ambassadors of Satan, these false prophets, are blinding mens’ eyes to the glorious gospel of Christ. They may call themselves “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” but they are the “Wicked one’s Wolves.” They may call themselves “Saints of the Latter Days,” but they are “Satan’s Salesmen.” These are the people who try to tell the world that Jesus of Nazareth was not the Son of God. They say that salvation from sin is based upon the good works of the sinner. They say that deliverance from judgment is contingent upon the blessings of the priest, the waters of baptism and the efficacy of church membership.
With some limitations I think that we can properly expand what the Lord is saying beyond salvation. Let’s say that the preacher was secretly lusting after the piano player. Although this illustration isn’t quite to the point in our church, it has happened many, many times. This wolf, married for ten years, wants to trade in his wife for the beautiful church piano player. That woman is also married, but she is unhappy with her husband, and she too is infatuated with the preacher. If that man begins to preach the acceptability of no-fault divorce in order that he can eventually marry the piano player, then he could very well fit into the illustration. He is a ravening wolf, preaching a false doctrine for personal profit. Or here is another man who has some other pet heresy – one which can’t stand up to the declaration of the Authorized Version of the Bible. If that man began to teach that the NIV or some other corrupt version was God’s word, only because he wanted to further his per heresy, then I think that we could call that man a ravening wolf as well.
My point is this – the mere holding or even teaching of a false doctrine, however troublesome, is not necessarily our Saviour’s point in this scripture. This scripture should not be used against the man who has been confused and deceived into some false doctrine. Even some preachers may be sheep devoured by the ravening wolves. I’m not condoning or justifying their heresies, but without the motive of personal gain, they may not be wolves in the sense of the Lord’s illustration.
We are taught here to beware of what criteria you might use to analyze these creatures.
Quickly the Lord switches metaphors – going from wolves to trees. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Returning to the original context – salvation – what is the fruit? Isn’t one of the primary fruits of false salvation false optimism?
A young man is visiting the county fair – vanity fair. In the religious corner of the fair grounds there are two doors into rooms hidden behind canvas. One of those doors is an unappealing, narrow affair. It is covered with blood which is dripping from the lintel and running down the side-posts. The only way to get into the room on the other side is to become besmeared with that blood. The other tent has a wide, friendly, beckoning doorway. The fools crowded around in front can hear the most enticing music and laughter. Siren sounds fill the air. And just at the side of the door is a barker, an huckster, a wolf bidding the fools to file in. The cost to enter that broad inviting door is essentially nothing at all.
The plea which the huckster plies is one of false optimism. “You may enjoy both God’s salvation and your sins.” “Repentance, humility and faith are not necessary aspects of Heaven.” “The Kingdom of God doesn’t really require allegiance to the King of kings.” “There is no dress code in Heaven, no special language spoken here.” “No, there is no necessity for the symbolism of baptism, no need of church membership.” “It isn’t important to grow in your love, knowledge and service of Christ.” “By their fruits ye shall know them.”
These false prophets were not a phenomenon confined to the days of Christ Jesus. Nor are they are something of which only we have to face. They have been around in various wolf-like forms since the very beginning. Take for example the days of Jeremiah. The message of that servant of God was one of “judgment,” “wrath” and “repentance.” But his enemies were preaching “peace,” “prosperity” and “blessing.” These wolves have been reversing the road-signs and the signs over the two doors, confusing travelers for centuries.
Something else of which we must be wary is our analysis of the fruit. For example, it is very easy to look at a piece of fruit and not be able to see its internal rottenness. Just because the wolf is dressed up like a sheep, doesn’t mean that he’s a sheep. Just because he looks like an angel of light, doesn’t mean that he isn’t a minion of Satan. The Pharisees appeared to be highly respectable and even righteous, but appearances are deceiving. Another problem is that often it takes time for fruit to mature enough to show its true character.
That doesn’t mean that there will not be occasions, when Spirit-led disciples will be able to discern the fruit early enough to beware and warn others. I had a friend who died recently, who had been a government produce inspector. It was his job to inspect, grade and perhaps even quarantine or reject local or foreign fruit and vegetables. Over the years he had to learn about all the various qualities of dozens of varieties of produce. He even helped to produce books to assist new inspectors in their jobs. And of course, we have such an handbook in the Word of God. Not absolutely every shade and nuance of error is clearly spelled out, but much of it is. And with the Lord’s grace, any of His disciples can learn to “beware” – to discern between good and evil – between truth and error – between sheep and ravening wolves.
But the fact is – in many cases it may not be until the very end that we will know for sure about every doctrine or every person. For some it will not be until end of that person’s life, when he is chopped down and cast into the fire, that we then realize his true nature. As I suggested this morning, the reference to fire seems to refer to the fires of Hell.
This is obviously a serious matter or the Lord wouldn’t have gone to the trouble to warn us. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” It is our job to expose those who preach a false gospel and false doctrine.