Am I a False Prophet?

Ever wonder what a false prophet looks like?

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” - Matthew 7:15 (NIV)

Reflection

Most of us probably picture someone standing on a stage, speaking with confidence, leading thousands of people in the wrong direction. Maybe they’re charismatic. Maybe they know Scripture inside and out. Maybe they seem to have all the answers.

Then Jesus says they come dressed as sheep. That stopped me.

Whenever I read Matthew’s Gospel, I picture him carefully recording the words of Jesus as they were spoken. Whether that image is accurate or not doesn’t really matter. It helps me slow down and pay attention. This verse has always done exactly that.

Now let me be clear. I am no expert in any of this. I’m just another traveler whose road has crossed yours for a little while. I’m simply sharing where my own reading and reflecting has taken me.

So what is a false prophet?

At its simplest, I think it’s someone who claims to speak for God but leads people away from His truth while convincing them they’re leading them toward it. Since Jesus is the one speaking here, I assume He’s talking about those who claim to speak for God while quietly pointing people somewhere else.

As I thought about that, my mind wandered through all the usual possibilities. Pastors. Priests. Television preachers. Authors. Bible teachers. People with degrees. People with large followings. Some of them may be wonderful servants of God. Some may not. Honestly, I don’t know.

Then another thought hit me. What about the guy in the mirror?

Do I understand God’s Word well enough to speak confidently about it? When someone asks me a question, am I giving them God’s truth, or am I giving them Brian’s understanding of God’s truth? There is a difference, and I never want to forget that.

One thing I do understand is the wolf part.

It seems possible for someone to begin with a sincere desire to serve God and, over time, slowly drift toward serving themselves instead. Recognition feels good. Bigger audiences feel good. Success feels good. Before long the ministry can become about the ministry instead of the Master.

I’ve watched faith become something that sometimes feels packaged and marketed. There always seems to be another product, another donation request, another promise attached to giving. Maybe those people are doing exactly what God has called them to do. That isn’t for me to judge. But I’ll admit it makes me uncomfortable, and whenever I feel that way, I remind myself to bring that concern before God instead of assuming I’m right.

The more I thought about Jesus’ warning, the more I realized it isn’t just about watching out for other people. It’s about watching my own heart.

It’s easy to spot what we think is wrong with someone else’s teaching. It’s much harder to notice the little ways we justify our own behavior. We give ourselves hall passes for pride, selfishness, impatience, and anger. We slowly reshape God’s truth until it becomes something that’s more comfortable for us to live with. That may be just as dangerous.

Spend a few minutes on YouTube and you’ll find no shortage of people declaring that someone else is a false prophet. Many sound convincing. Some may even be right. But even there we have to be careful.

Who gave any of us the authority to make ourselves the final judge of another person’s heart? Listen. Learn. Compare what you hear with Scripture. Pray about it. Ask God for wisdom. Don’t simply accept someone’s conclusion because they speak with confidence.

The same advice applies to me.

If I write something that helps you, wonderful. If something I write causes you to open your Bible and spend more time with God, then I couldn’t ask for anything better. But don’t follow me. Don’t follow the latest teacher. Don’t follow the loudest voice in the room.

Follow Jesus.

Ultimately, none of us gets the final word about another person’s relationship with God.

People often ask whether someone is going to Heaven. My answer is always the same. That’s for God to decide.

Jesus also said the road is narrow. That’s exactly why I keep coming back to His words instead of relying too heavily on anyone else’s confidence, including my own. Read His Word. Pray. Stay close to the Father. He knows the path far better than any of us.

Follow Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your Word and for showing us the way through Your Son. Help us speak Your truth with humility, always remembering that our understanding is never complete without You. Give us wisdom to recognize teaching that leads us away from You, and the honesty to examine our own hearts just as carefully. Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and our feet on the narrow path You have prepared for us. May our lives point others to You and never to ourselves. I pray this in the name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord. Amen.