False Prophets – Ravenous Swindlers
I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. – Acts 20:29
Matthew 7:15-20
15 Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by how they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.
19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.
20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit so that you can identify people by their actions.
Camouflage in the Natural and Spiritual Realms
In the natural world, creatures use camouflage to conceal their location, identity, and movements. This survival tactic is not limited to animals; soldiers and hunters also use camouflage to blend into their surroundings and stay unseen. Likewise, false prophets employ a spiritual form of camouflage, presenting themselves as righteous and trustworthy while hiding their true nature. On the outside, they seem good, but inside, their hearts are corrupt and self-serving.
False prophets are often compared to wolves in sheep’s clothing, a metaphor that vividly illustrates their deceptive nature. A shepherd, tending his flock on a hillside, traditionally wore a sheepskin garment with the fleece turned inward. However, wearing a shepherd’s attire does not make one a shepherd. In the same way, false prophets may adopt the outward appearance of a prophet, but their lives and actions reveal their true character.
In biblical times, prophets were distinguished by their unique appearance. For example, they wore a hairy mantle (1 Kings 19:13, 19; 2 Kings 1:8). As Barclay explains, the sheepskin mantle became a symbol of prophets, much like how the philosophers’ robe represented Greek philosophers. However, some people wore the prophet’s cloak without truly deserving it.
Zechariah foresaw a time when such deception would be exposed. He writes in Zechariah 13:4: “On that day, people will be ashamed to claim the prophetic gift. No one will pretend to be a prophet by wearing a prophet’s clothes.”
The Role of True Prophets and the Rise of False Ones
Since the time of Moses, God has sent prophets as His messengers to deliver His words to the people. A true prophet delivered messages directly from God, often starting with the phrase, “Thus says the Lord.” However, the authority and respect given to prophets created a temptation for some to falsely claim divine inspiration. As Leon Morris notes: “False prophets were people who claimed falsely to speak in the name of God.”
Throughout Israel’s history, false prophets were a persistent problem. Figures like Balaam, a prophet for hire (Numbers 22-24), and others such as Ahab, Zedekiah, and Shemaiah (Jeremiah 29:21, 31) exemplify the deceit and self-interest that characterized these individuals.
False prophets often told the people what they wanted to hear, offering messages of comfort and hope even when judgment was imminent. Why? Sad to say, but it didn’t matter whether or not the messages of the false prophets were genuine or a word from the Father. All that mattered was that it made the people feel good.
Jeremiah lamented this tragic reality, Jeremiah 5:31: “The prophets give false prophecies, and the priests rule with an iron hand. Worse yet, my people like it that way!” Their words were not from God but were crafted to please the people, often at the expense of truth.
Jeremiah warned in Jeremiah 23:16: “Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you, filling you with futile hopes. They are making up everything they say. They do not speak for the LORD!”
In Jeremiah 14:14, Jeremiah adds, “These prophets are telling lies in my name. I neither sent them nor told them to speak. I did not give them any messages. They prophesy of visions and revelations they have never seen or heard. They speak foolishness made up in their own lying hearts.”
Has there been any significant change in the 21st century? Not really, except that the situation seems to be deteriorating, going from bad to worse as the Lord Jesus Christ predicted.
REFLECT & PRAY
How tragic Isaiah writes, Isaiah 30:10 “[The people] tell the seers, ‘Stop seeing visions!’ They tell the prophets, ‘Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us pleasant things. Tell us lies.’”
Father, what a bleak and pathetic situation we face. Throughout the ages, Your people have turned their backs on the messages of Your servants, the prophets. They prefer lies and comforting words that make them feel good rather than confronting the truth. Deep down, am I any different? Father, save me from myself.
INSIGHT
The Persistence of Deception in the Modern Age
The problem of false prophets is not confined to the past. Jesus Himself warned in Matthew 24:24 that in the last days, they would arise: “For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.”
In the 21st century, the situation has only worsened. False teachers and prophets continue to exploit people’s desires for comfort, success, and affirmation, often putting personal gain above truth.
Recognizing False Prophets: The Test of Fruit
How can believers identify false prophets? Jesus provides the answer: by examining their fruit. While their words may sound convincing, their actions and lives reveal their true nature.
The words of false religious teachers and prophets may not easily give them away except to the most discerning. What does? The fruit of their lives. The fruit of a person is shown in how they live and behave. Sometimes, the disguise and camouflage are so perfect that a person’s real character stays hidden. But eventually, it comes to light. Actually, their fruit is rotten.
The Greek word harpax, translated as “ravenous” or “vicious,” describes their “destructive greed and self-interest.” Harpax is often translated as robber or swindler. It refers to someone who is rapacious, excessively greedy, grasping, or destructive. The English word harpoon comes from harpax.
As Barclay explains: “The basic fault of false prophets is self-interest. True shepherds care for the flock more than they care for their own lives; wolves care for nothing but to satisfy their own gluttony and greed.”
False prophets often exhibit three key characteristics:
- The desire for personal gain: They focus on wealth and material success more than helping others.
- The desire for Prestige: They seek recognition and power, using their position to elevate themselves rather than honor God.
- Commitment to Self-Promotion: They promote their own ideas instead of faithfully teaching the Word of God.
In 1 John 2:16, John warns against these worldly desires: “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but are from this world.”
The True Prophet: A Servant of God
In contrast to false prophets, true prophets are humble servants of God who faithfully deliver His message. John Brown, an 18th-century minister in Scotland, exemplified this humility. He was known to pause during his sermons, as if listening for God’s voice. Barclay describes the true prophet’s role: “True prophets listen to God before they speak. They never forget that they are nothing more than voices to speak for God and channels through which God’s grace can come to men and women.”
The great privilege of a true prophet is the opportunity to open others’ minds to the truth of the Word of God.
The Narrow Path and the Danger of Wolves
Walking the narrow path of faith is challenging, and few manage to find it. Along this path, dangers do not always present themselves as roaring lions. Sometimes, they come disguised as fellow travelers or guides, only to reveal themselves as wolves seeking to devour.
Children of the King must remain vigilant and discerning regarding the words and actions of those who claim to speak for God. By staying rooted in Scripture and relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the children of the King can navigate this narrow path and avoid the traps set by false prophets.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 