Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

The words of Matthew 7:15-20 has been weighing on my mind a lot. Truly because I wish I had known them in an earlier time of my life.

They read: 5 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

So what does this verse mean? Notice that the author (Matthew) states that we are to “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” This means that even today there are false prophets that come into our lives, they look like us, probably even act like us, but one thing they don’t have is Jesus. Remember that Jesus is known to us as the “Good Shepherd” so in that He is a shepherd, we must be his flock. In other words this verse is telling us “Watch out, fore among the sheep is one is only a made up sheep.” Another analogy is “Little Red Riding Hood’s Grandmother.” The wolf wanted something to eat, so he dressed up like grandma so that Little Red wouldn’t know who he was and he could eat her.

This happens today...we walk around, we speak the Truth, then ONE comes among us, and declares many things in the name of the Lord, but truly what this “one” is saying is only what we want to hear. They come to share, yet only feed us the same fodder that we have been chewing for years.

Verses 16-20 go on to state that “by their fruits we will know them.” This is very true. Does a grapevine yield peaches? Or a Peach tree, apples? No. If I plant a vineyard, then I expect to find grapes on the vines when they mature. If I plant a peach tree, I would expect peaches. So it is with God’s people. These verses mean that we must test every doctrine against scripture to see if it lines up with what it [Scripture] says. The good news is that if it doesn’t then we can stop listening as Christians and try to help the misguided ones. However, if we can’t help them in light of Scripture, then we must “shake the dust from our feet” and move on.

In my life, I have seen “wolves in sheep’s clothing” come before me. In time, their true colors shine forth, but often times it’s after I have become involved with the person and I don’t know what to say or do. The hurt is great when we realize that those we “love” are really not who they claim to be. Surely, though just as God can bring them into our lives, which I think He does to help strengthen us, He can heal our pains and sorrows.

As you go through this week, look into your life, where have you see “Wolves in sheep’s clothing”? Have you let go? Or are you still hanging on to some memory? Are you ready to let go?

Personally I fall into the “Still hanging on to a memory”, yet I am ready to let go also. So I share my prayer with you all tonight.

Father, I come before You unworthy to ask for your help; but Lord, I know that You love me and that You are willing to take away all the hurts in my life. So humbly I ask that You will release Your Holy Spirit into my life, that You will allow it to fill my life, and take away the hurt, anger and pain of realizing I believed a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Help me as I turn those thoughts and habits into abilities to use for Your kingdom. In the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.