Breakdown of Matthew 7:15-20

"“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit,…" — Jesus isn't just warning about people who teach wrong things; he's highlighting those who claim to speak for God but are inwardly driven by greed and a desire to devour, not feed, the flock. Their…

Matthew 7:15-20 Meaning Explained

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Matthew 7:15-20

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus isn't just warning about people who teach wrong things; he's highlighting those who claim to speak for God but are inwardly driven by greed and a desire to devour, not feed, the flock. Their outward appearance of gentleness and innocence is a deliberate disguise for their destructive intentions.

What Matthew 7:15-20 means

Jesus is concluding his sermon on the mount, moving from the broad principles of kingdom living to a stark warning about those who would deceive people. Immediately following his description of the narrow gate and difficult path to life, he cautions his listeners against false spiritual leaders who appear harmless but are inwardly destructive. He stresses that these deceptive teachers, unlike true prophets, will be revealed by their harmful actions and ungodly outcomes.

The Deceptive Appearance of False Prophets

Why would a dangerous wolf disguise itself as a harmless sheep? Jesus' warning isn't just about bad teaching, but about the dangerous way it's delivered.

Jesus paints a stark picture of deception here. False prophets aren't obviously evil; they look like us, like they belong to the flock.

A Calculated Disguise

They come 'in sheep's clothing.' This means they adopt the outward appearance of innocence, gentleness, and sincerity – the very qualities of true disciples. Think of it like someone wearing a uniform they didn't earn, or speaking with a tone of piety they don't possess. The goal? To get close to the flock.

The Hidden Danger

But beneath this innocent exterior, they are 'ravenous wolves.' This imagery is intense: wolves are predators, driven by hunger and a desire to destroy. They aren't interested in nurturing the sheep; they want to tear them apart and feed themselves. This deception is purposeful, aiming to exploit and harm those who let their guard down.

Knowing Them by Their 'Fruits'

If false prophets look so convincing, how can we possibly tell them apart from the real deal? Jesus gives us a clear, practical test.

Jesus doesn't leave us guessing. While their outward appearance can be misleading, the true nature of any spiritual leader is revealed over time through their 'fruits' – the results and impact of their teaching and life.

The Source of Their Teaching

Are their teachings leading people closer to God, fostering genuine love, humility, and obedience to Christ? Or are they leading people astray, encouraging sin, division, or self-interest? The context of Matthew 7 makes it clear: 'Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?' (Matthew 7:16). You can't get good fruit from a bad source.

The Impact on Lives

True spiritual leadership bears the fruit of spiritual transformation: lives changed for the better, people growing in faith, hope, and love. Conversely, false teaching often leads to spiritual harm, confusion, or a focus on worldly gain rather than godly character. It’s about the long-term, observable impact on individuals and the community.

Understand the original words

Original language

false prophetsψευδοπροφητῶν

pseudoprophētōn · Greek Noun

Individuals who claim to speak for God but promote doctrines or behaviors contrary to His revealed truth. They are inherently deceptive and lead others away from salvation.

ravenous wolvesλύκοι ἅρπαγες

lykoi harpages · Greek Noun phrase

A predatory animal often used as a metaphor for individuals or forces that violently attack, exploit, or consume the vulnerable flock of God for their own gain.

recognizeἐπιγινώσκω

epiginōskō · Greek Verb

To identify, distinguish, or perceive the nature of something or someone. In this context, it refers to the spiritual discernment required to identify true believers from false prophets.

fruitsκαρπός

karpos · Greek Noun

Historical context

Written: Likely between 60-70 AD.
Author: Matthew the Apostle, traditionally understood as one of Jesus' twelve disciples.
Location: Written from Galilee, likely to a Jewish Christian audience in the region.
Genre: Gospel narrative with a strong emphasis on Jesus' teachings, featuring direct discourse and parables.

Historical background

Jesus' warning echoes a long prophetic tradition in Israel that fiercely criticized religious leaders who, despite outward piety, inwardly harbored greed and led people astray. This teaching isn't new but a consistent call to discern truth from deception.

c. 760-740 BC
Amos Denounces Social Injustice
The prophet Amos, active during a period of prosperity but also growing inequality, condemned the corrupt religious and political leaders who oppressed the poor and exploited them for personal gain. He warned that their outward show of piety masked inner greed and injustice.
c. 740-700 BC
Micah Condemns False Prophets
Micah prophesied during a time of political instability and warned against prophets who offered comforting lies for personal profit, rather than speaking God's truth. He contrasted them with true prophets who were empowered by God's Spirit.
c. 620-580 BC
Jeremiah Warns Against Deceptive Leaders
In the tumultuous years leading up to the Babylonian exile, Jeremiah repeatedly denounced the false prophets in Jerusalem who assured the people of peace and security, contrary to God's judgment. These prophets often sought personal gain and misled the populace.
c. 597-586 BC
First and Second Deportations to Babylon

Key themes

01Deceptive appearances
02Hidden spiritual danger
03False religious teachers
04Discernment by spiritual fruit

Cross-references

Ezekiel 13:3

This passage directly speaks of prophets who 'follow their own spirit, and that which they have seen,' likening them to wolves who prophesy lies and lead God's people astray, mirroring the deceptive nature of the false prophets Jesus warns about.

Jeremiah 23:1

Here, God declares judgment against shepherds who destroy and scatter His flock, highlighting the destructive impact of false leaders who claim to speak for God but bring ruin instead of care.

Acts 20:29

Paul warns the Ephesian elders that 'savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock,' emphasizing that this threat of destructive false teachers is not a one-time issue but an ongoing danger within the church.

2 Peter 2:1

This passage describes false teachers who 'will secretly bring in destructive heresies,' reinforcing the idea that these individuals often present themselves subtly and deceptively, hiding their destructive intentions beneath a veneer of legitimacy.

1 John 4:1

John urges believers to 'test the spirits to see whether they are from God,' providing a crucial principle for discerning truth from falsehood and warning that 'many false prophets have gone out into the world,' which directly supports Jesus' warning in Matthew 7.

Scholarly commentary

Matthew 7:15: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

Matthew 7:15-16 . Beware of false prophets — Who in their preaching describe a broad way to heaven: it is their prophesying, their teaching the broad way, rather than walking in it themselves, that is here chiefly spoken of. All those are false prophets who teach any other way than that which our Lord hath here marked out. Who come to you in sheep’s clothing — With a form of g…
benson

Matthew 7:15: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

Beware of false prophets - By false prophets we are to understand teachers of erroneous doctrines, who come professing a commission from God, but whose aim is not to bring the heavenly treasure to the people, but rather to rob them of their earthly good. Teachers who preach for hire, having no motive to enter into the ministry but to get a living, as it is ominously called by…
clarke

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What Matthew 7:15-20 means

Original language

false prophetsψευδοπροφητῶν

pseudoprophētōn · Greek Noun

Individuals who claim to speak for God but promote doctrines or behaviors contrary to His revealed truth. They are inherently deceptive and lead others away from salvation.

ravenous wolvesλύκοι ἅρπαγες

lykoi harpages · Greek Noun phrase

A predatory animal often used as a metaphor for individuals or forces that violently attack, exploit, or consume the vulnerable flock of God for their own gain.

recognizeἐπιγινώσκω

epiginōskō · Greek Verb

To identify, distinguish, or perceive the nature of something or someone. In this context, it refers to the spiritual discernment required to identify true believers from false prophets.

fruitsκαρπός

karpos · Greek Noun

Historical context

Written: Likely between 60-70 AD.
Author: Matthew the Apostle, traditionally understood as one of Jesus' twelve disciples.
Location: Written from Galilee, likely to a Jewish Christian audience in the region.
Genre: Gospel narrative with a strong emphasis on Jesus' teachings, featuring direct discourse and parables.

Historical background

c. 760-740 BC

Amos Denounces Social Injustice

The prophet Amos, active during a period of prosperity but also growing inequality, condemned the corrupt religious and political leaders who oppressed the poor and exploited them for personal gain. He warned that their outward show of piety masked inner greed and injustice.

c. 740-700 BC

Micah Condemns False Prophets

Micah prophesied during a time of political instability and warned against prophets who offered comforting lies for personal profit, rather than speaking God's truth. He contrasted them with true prophets who were empowered by God's Spirit.

c. 620-580 BC

Jeremiah Warns Against Deceptive Leaders

In the tumultuous years leading up to the Babylonian exile, Jeremiah repeatedly denounced the false prophets in Jerusalem who assured the people of peace and security, contrary to God's judgment. These prophets often sought personal gain and misled the populace.

c. 597-586 BC

First and Second Deportations to Babylon