“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
— Matthew 7:15 ESV
I was sitting on the porch this morning watching my human drink his coffee and read his Bible, and I noticed he had that serious look on his face. You know the one. The look that usually means I’m about to learn something, and there won’t be a treat involved.
He was reading about false teachers. Now, I know a little something about being fooled. I once chased a squirrel halfway across the yard and up a tree because I was convinced I was about to make history. Turns out he had no intention of coming back down.
My human says people can be fooled just as easily.
There have always been false teachers. Back in biblical times, they were leading people away from the truth, twisting God’s Word, and telling folks what they wanted to hear instead of what they needed to hear.
Not much has changed.
Today, they have television shows, podcasts, social media platforms, microphones, and even political platforms. Some wear religious titles. Others claim to speak for God while using His name to promote their own agendas.
Some tell us what we want to hear. Others mix a little truth with a whole lot of deception. They can sound convincing, look successful, and even quote Scripture. But being popular doesn’t make somebody biblical, and having a microphone doesn’t make somebody a messenger of God.
My human reminded me that Jesus didn’t tell us to believe everybody who claims to speak for Him. He told us to beware.
The Bible gives us a pretty good measuring stick.
Does what they’re teaching line up with God’s Word?
Does it point people toward Jesus or toward themselves?
Does it produce the fruit of the Spirit or feed pride, division, greed, and hatred?
And here’s something worth remembering: We don’t get to pick and choose which parts of God’s truth we want to believe. We don’t get to bend Scripture to fit our politics, personal preferences, or whatever happens to be popular this week.
God’s Word is the standard.
Not the news cycle.
Not a political party.
Not a celebrity preacher.
Not even our own opinions.
There’s a reason the Bereans were commended in Acts 17:11. They examined the Scriptures daily to see if what they were hearing was true.
That’s pretty good advice for a world full of voices competing for our attention.
So, don’t believe everything you hear.
Open your Bible.
Test what you’re being taught.
Stay close to Jesus.
And remember, the loudest voice in the room isn’t necessarily the one telling the truth.
False teachers don’t always look like wolves. Sometimes they look like somebody we’d naturally want to follow. That’s why we need more than good instincts. We need God’s Word.
Jesus is the truth. Don’t trade Him for somebody else’s version of it. Follow the Shepherd, know His voice, and don’t let anybody lead you away from Him.
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
