BEWARE!
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
What a way for Jesus to start a passage. BEWARE! The word “Beware” is always a warning for impending danger. The warning is intended to give an opportunity for you to be able to stop, think, and consider the new found information so that you will change your mind and go back the way you came. The Key Word here is AVOIDANCE! Avoid danger at all costs! That is the smart thing to do.
Every year people die from NOT heeding the warning signs of Danger. A good example of this is what happens during a heavy rain. The warning is: If a road is flooded and you are not sure of how deep it is, Do NOT try to attempt to cross. Every year people disregard that warning. Every year people go where they should not go. And every year needless deaths happen because they do not heed the warning. In 2019, 56 people died in the United States from ignoring the Warnings and they drowned in their car because it was over-come with water.
So what is Jesus warning us about? False Prophets or Teachers. Preceding this verse, Jesus tells us to Enter the Straight Gate! Then informs us of the two ways that leads through life: One leading to Eternal Life, the other leading to our eternal destruction. Immediately after, he warns of the danger of False Teachers.
What we need to Truly understand is that Teachers have a HUGE influence on which path we ultimately choose and travel. Therefore we MUST choose our teachers WISELY!
Why a Warning? Why not an asterisk? Why not a friendly reminder? Because YOUR soul is in Jeopardy! If we follow a False Teacher it will lead us to the path that leads to our destruction. Just look at the allegory that Jesus uses. He says that these false teachers are ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’. Jesus chose his words and examples carefully. Jesus did not describe the false teachers as poodles, or kitties, or bunny rabbits. He was trying to paint a picture in your mind. He didn’t even just say a wolf. He described them as “Ravenous Wolves”. “Ravenous” is defined as: Extremely hungry; voracious; desperate. A wolf in this state will not spare you for any reason. He is designed to kill efficiently, then rip you to pieces for his consumption. False teachings are NOT just alternative theories, or an alternate way of viewing God and his will. They are tools of Satan himself to confuse and lead you down the broad way… AWAY from God!
What’s more? Jesus adds the feature of these ravenous wolves as coming in sheep’s clothing. In this illustration, we are sheep. The false teacher appears harmless! They appear as one of us. They are impersonating someone that wants to help! That is what makes them so dangerous! If we know that we are entering a dangerous situation, we can bring along tools to defend against the danger. If we go into the woods where it is known to contain wolves, we can take a gun, and several people and large dogs to both keep them away and to help take out the wolves if they approach. But the danger of false teachers is disguised as a peaceful, helpful, and/or caring individual, so we will let our guards down; setting up the ideal environment for an ambush.
BEWARE! Do not ignore this warning!
Reflecting the SON,
Dennis Hogan
Questions, comments or further explanation? Contact me at: dennis.hogan@icloud.com
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