Verse 7: 15-20 : False Prophets

Verse 7: 15-20 : “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them” 

False Prophets: 

Prophets were the messengers of God ( Hosea 12:10, Hebrews 1:1). They were servants of God ( Jeremiah 35;15) and watchman for the house of Israel ( Ezekiel 3:17). They were inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:6-21) and spoke in the name of our Lord (Ezra 3:11; James 5:10). They scolded the evil men and turned them to repentance, too (2 Kings 17:13; Jeremiah 25: 4, 5). They were also sent to prophesize for Jesus Christ. But the false prophets: 
1. Mixed sacred teachings with fake ones.
2. Those who preach Holy teachings without pious living. 

Regarding such people Apostles say:
a. Do not receive them in your home (2 John 10)
b. Keep away from them (Romans 16:17,18)
c. They (such heretics) are accursed, even if they are from heaven. (Gal 1:6, 8)
d. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
e. And eschew such these men (2 Timothy 3:4-5) 

The false prophets have been compared to wolfs (Jeremiah 6:14, 8:11; Ezekiel 22:27; Acts 20:29; Matthew 10:16; John 10:12) 

[Also read: Mat. 7-15; Lamentations 4:13; Jeremiah 5:31, 6:13; Lam 2:14; Ezek 22:26-28; Jeremiah 27:9-10; 23:9-36; Jeremiah: 28:8-9; 2Corinthians 11:16-21, 2: 14, 3:1; 2Timothy 3:1-9; Matthew 7:16-20; Galatians 5:22-23; [Fruit of the Spirit]; 2Peter 3:15-16; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; John 4:1-3; Jude 1:4; 1 John 4:1]

People who are in “sheep’s clothing”

The shepherds used the dress made of sheep’s skin and fur. Our Lord taught us not to do anything in false faith (hypocrites). At the same time, He showed that there are such false faith teachers. Our Lord knew about the false teachers who would come in the future. That is why He warned about them. He reminds us that they are not from Gentiles, but from the Christians itself (i.e. from the sheep). The evil that is projected, in the form of righteousness, is difficult to be aware of and hence difficult to find a remedy. A teacher is faithful, but sinner is listed as materialistic. It is a bad listing but not like ‘ferocious wolves’. Apostles Paul also talks about such people (Acts 20:29). 

John Crisostam says, “It is hard to distinguish such people by their fruits. They will also pray and fast. All this are good if done with good intention and bad if done with bad intention. That is the character of a wolf in sheep’s cloths”.

How do we distinguish a tree?

“By their fruits you will know them” . Apostle Paul speaks about the sinful nature and fruits of Spirit (Gala 5:19-22). “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”. The fruits of man are his faith and his acts. If it is true, then he is sheep but if he makes noise against truth and God, then he is a wolf. 

What happens to you, if you do not produce good fruits?

Both our Lord and apostle John also warns of it. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Mat. 7-19-20). This is the end for false teachers and people who lived in sin. 

Gregory says: “Staying with Christ after one’s death is how blessed; the pain in Hell is intolerable. But falling from that consecrated nobility and becoming abhorrence for the Christ is intolerable than ten thousand Hells”.

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