Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So by their fruits you will know them.
In this portion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns His disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves” (Mt 7:15). The language is striking and intentional. False prophets are not merely mistaken teachers; they are dangerous, deceitful, and spiritually destructive. Outwardly, they may appear gentle, trustworthy, and truthful, but their message distorts the truth and leads others astray. They often sound convincing and speak with spiritual authority, but their danger lies precisely in how plausible they appear.
Jesus’ teaching echoes Old Testament warnings about those who claim to speak in God’s name but instead speak from their own imaginations or for personal gain (cf. Jer 23:16–17; Ezek 13:1–10). These false prophets often tell the people what they want to hear—peace without repentance, comfort without conversion. They exploit the widespread Old Testament belief that material wealth was a sure sign of God’s favor. This mindset laid fertile ground for modern distortions like the Prosperity Gospel, which misrepresents blessing as entitlement and reduces faith to a formula for personal success. St. Paul later describes a similar danger in the Church: “For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires... will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth” (2 Tim 4:3–4). Jesus calls His followers not to what is popular, but to what is true.
Jesus gives His disciples a clear standard: “By their fruits you will know them” (v. 20). Sound doctrine and holy living go hand in hand. Right belief—what the Church calls orthodoxy—guides how we live, just as holy living confirms that our faith is genuine. But how can we know if something is sound doctrine? It is sound when it aligns with the teachings of Scripture, preserved and authentically interpreted by the Church across the centuries (cf. 2 Tim 1:13–14; Tit 1:9). It does not change with the culture or contradict the Gospel message of repentance, grace, and obedience to God.
A prophet’s message—biblically understood as anyone who claims to speak on behalf of God—must bear the fruit of faith, charity, and obedience to the will of God. As in nature, a diseased tree cannot produce good fruit. In spiritual terms, holy living is not merely about being nice or doing good deeds. It is a life marked by humility, purity of heart, integrity, and self-giving love—virtues that arise when one lives by the Spirit and not by the desires of the flesh (cf. Gal 5:22–25). A distorted image of God will eventually lead to distorted behavior. The Church Fathers often taught that right belief (orthodoxy) leads to right living (orthopraxy), and vice versa.
In light of this, we must be vigilant not only in what we believe but in whom we trust to teach and guide us. The NABRE footnotes point out that false prophets may be judged not only by the content of their message but by the moral and spiritual fruits their lives and teachings produce. The early Church insisted on apostolic teaching and visible communion with the Church as safeguards against such deception (cf. Acts 20:29–30; 1 Jn 4:1–6).
Jesus’ warning is not aimed only at formal religious leaders, but at anyone who distorts God’s truth for the sake of power, popularity, or approval (The Paulist Biblical Commentary). His words call for ongoing discernment and fidelity to the Gospel, especially in a world where emotional or cultural messages often masquerade as divine truth (The Navarre Bible: Matthew).
False prophets can still gather immense followings today—not because their message is true, but because it fits the desires, beliefs, and assumptions people already hold. Many want a God who demands nothing, affirms everything, and conforms to their lifestyle. But Jesus calls us to the narrow road (cf. Mt 7:13–14)—a way of humility, truth, and repentance that leads to eternal life. In the end, we will know who speaks for God not by their words alone, but by their fruits.
Lord Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Grant me the wisdom to recognize what is true and the courage to follow it, even when it is difficult. Help me to discern Your voice amid the noise of false promises and easy answers. Keep me rooted in Your Word, faithful to the teachings of Your Church, and steadfast on the narrow path that leads to eternal life. May my life bear fruit that gives You glory. Amen!
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Sources and References:
• The Holy Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition (2011).
• Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§84–87, 2032–2033.
• A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture, ed. Bernard Orchard et al. (1953).
• The Navarre Bible: Matthew, Faculty of the University of Navarre (2008).
• The Paulist Biblical Commentary, ed. José Enrique Aguilar Chiu et al. (2018).
• St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book III.
• St. Paul, Second Letter to Timothy, 2 Tim 1:13–14; 2 Tim 4:3–4.
• Letter to Titus, Tit 1:9.
• Prophet Jeremiah, Jer 23:16–17.
• Prophet Ezekiel, Ezek 13:1–10.
• Acts of the Apostles, Acts 20:29–30.
• First Letter of John, 1 Jn 4:1–6.
• Letter to the Galatians, Gal 5:22–25.
• Gospel of Matthew, Mt 7:13–20.
• Gospel of Luke, Lk 9:23–25.
• The Didache, 1st-century Christian catechesis.
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