Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
What does Matthew 7:15 mean?
Nothing so much prevents men from entering the strait gate, and becoming true followers of Christ, as the carnal, soothing, flattering doctrines of those who oppose the truth.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Matthew 7:15-16 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. False prophets - The word prophet originally means one who foretells future events. As prophets, however, were commonly regarded as public instructors on the subject of religion, the word came to denote all who were religious teachers. See the notes at Romans 12:6 . In this sense it is probably used here. A false prophet is a teacher of incorrect doctrine, or one falsely and unjustly laying claims to divine inspiration. It probably had reference to the false teachers then among the Jews. Who come in sheep's clothing - The sheep is an emblem of innocence, sincerity, and harmlessness.
Key words
- Beware
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Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
- false
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Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
- prophets
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Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Context in Matthew 7
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Matthew 7 belongs to the early movement of the book, especially the section often described as birth and preparation. Matthew presents Jesus as Davidic Messiah, new Moses, teacher of the kingdom, suffering Son of Man, and risen Lord who commissions the nations. Read this chapter with the wider themes of fulfillment, kingdom of heaven, and discipleship in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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Passages on the nature of truth, honesty, deception, the word of God as truth, and Jesus' claim to be the truth.