Beware Of False Prophets

Beware of false prophets. Our Lord warns us of that as plainly and as directly as possible in this Gospel passage. This is a warning that applies to our times just as much as it did to those hearing these words from Jesus for the first time. In the age of podcasting and social media, there are numerous people out there purporting to have all the answers. Some of them are even claiming to be prophets. How are we to make sense of it all? In today’s Gospel, Jesus provides us with the answer to that question.

Beware Of False Prophets

Gospel - Matthew 7:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but underneath are ravenous wolves.

By their fruits you will know them.

Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Just so, every good tree bears good fruit,

and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,

nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.

Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down

and thrown into the fire.

So by their fruits you will know them.”

Scriptural Analysis

Before this passage, Jesus had just told his audience that the gate through which to enter eternal life is narrow, and the path that leads to it is hard, whereas the path that leads to destruction is wide, and many will follow that path. This is the ultimate peril that Christians must avoid. To do that, they must avoid deception.

To that end, it is essential to be aware of false prophets. In all the externals, these people appear to be Christian, which allows them to enter into the pasture and blend in with the Lord’s flock. However, their appearance is deceiving, and they are, in fact, wolves that try to devour the flock. They claim to speak for God, but their teachings conflict with the Gospel. This does not mean that there are no real profits, but Jesus is clearly warning us to be aware of false prophets.

Of course, the question that naturally arises is, how do we recognize false prophets? This is the million-dollar question. The answer that Jesus gives is to evaluate the fruits of their lives. If the actions of one claiming to be a prophet produce good fruit, like grapes and figs, then they are good and trustworthy, like a good tree. If, however, they produce thistles or rotten fruit, then you know that they are a false prophet.

Another question arises at this point: What is good fruit? Although Jesus does not explicitly detail that here, we can gain clues from other passages in Matthew’s Gospel. Good fruit produces repentance, and good thoughts come forth from the heart. Keeping in mind that this section is nearing the end of the Sermon on the Mount, we also have all that Jesus has presented previously as a way to judge the fruits of someone’s prophecy.

Daily Application

The risk of being taken in by a false prophet is real and will always be with us. In our fallen state, humans have unanswered questions. We also have a curiosity as to what the future holds. Those who claim to be able to answer those questions, calm our hearts, or let us know what tomorrow will hold, are attractive.

Our Lord knows that we can easily fall prey to those claiming to be prophets. That is why in the previous chapter he told us, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.” (Matthew 6:34) Our focus is to be on our Lord, in the here and now. If we do this, then our fascination with the future is lessened, and thus the attractiveness of those who claim to hold the keys to the future is diminished. This will enable us to hear those claiming to be prophets more clearly and judge the fruits of their teachings. When we are constantly looking for the keys to the future, it becomes easy for us to get caught up in their teachings; to find ourselves swept away by the emotion or promise that they hold. However, when we are content with the day, content to be in the here and now where Jesus has us, then we can more easily discern the fruits of those claiming to be prophetic.

Having said all of this, there is one aspect of the future that we do need to be concerned with: the state of our soul. We genuinely do not know the hour in which our Lord will choose to call us home. Therefore, we must always have our souls prepared. We must get to confession and repent of our sins.

Next, with regards to those claiming to hold a prophetic word, might I suggest two ways in which we can discern the value of their teachings? First, we must never forget the teachings of the great St. Vincent of Lérins who provided us with a simple yet powerful too through which to examine someone’s teachings, “Care must especially be had that that be held which was believed everywhere (ubique), always (semper), and by all (ab omnibus).” In other words, if what someone is teaching can be shown to be believed by everyone, everywhere, and always, then the teaching is in accord with the faith and worth paying attention to. If, however, it does not fit this rule, then I suggest setting it aside.

Second, does what they are teaching bring you closer to Jesus or move you away from God? If your heart is troubled, anxious, or you find yourself worrying, then you know it is not of God. God brings peace and quiets the heart. An authentic prophetic voice draws us to repent and draws us back to him. Saint Augustine famously said, "Our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee." Listen to your heart as it knows if you are being drawn towards God or away from God.

Finally, one of the easiest ways to avoid false prophets is to realize that we have already been provided with everything we need to achieve holiness. At the end of the day, it is the normal means of sanctification that matter—going to Mass and receiving the Eucharist, attending confession regularly, and striving to maintain an active prayer life. These are the things that we need to focus on. These are the things that will draw us closer to our Lord and provide for our sanctification. It is in these ordinary means of sanctification and the ordinary tasks of our lives where we will find the answers that false prophets claim to have.