Matthew 7 · Verse 15

Matthew 7:15

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 7:15, King James Version

Matthew 7:15 in other translations

BSBBeware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
WEB“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
ASVBeware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
YLT‘But, take heed of the false prophets, who come unto you in sheep's clothing, and inwardly are ravening wolves.
DARBYBut beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but within are ravening wolves.
BBEBe on the watch for false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside they are cruel wolves.
WebsterBeware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

What does Matthew 7:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. Beware--But beware. of false prophets--that is, of teachers coming as authorized expounders of the mind of God and guides to heaven. (See Ac 20:29, 30; 2Pe 2:1, 2). which come to you in sheep's clothing--with a bland, gentle, plausible exterior; persuading you that the gate is not strait nor the way narrow, and that to teach so is illiberal and bigoted--precisely what the old prophets did (Eze 13:1-10, 22). but inwardly they are ravening wolves--bent on devouring the flock for their own ends (2Co 11:2, 3, 13-15).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. False prophets. The word prophet originally means, one who foretells future events. As prophets, however, were commonly regarded as public instructors on the subject of religion, the word came to denote all who were religious teachers. In this sense it is probably used here. A false prophet is a teacher of incorrect doctrine, or one falsely and unjustly laying claims to Divine inspiration. It probably had reference to the false teachers then among the Jews.

Which come to you in sheeps clothing. The sheep is an emblem of innocence, sincerity, and harmlessness. To come in sheep's clothing, is to assume the appearance of sanctity, and innocence, when the heart is evil.

Ravening wolves, Rapacious; or disposed to plunder. Applied to the false teachers, it means that they assumed the appearance of holiness, in order that they might the more readily get the property of the people. They were full of extortion and excess. See Mt 23:25.

(c) "false prophets" De 13:1-3, Jer 23:13-16, 1Jn 4:1 (d) "ravening wolves" Acts 20:29-31

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 Beware of false prophets - By false prophets we are to understand teachers of erroneous doctrines, who come professing a commission from God, but whose aim is not to bring the heavenly treasure to the people, but rather to rob them of their earthly good. Teachers who preach for hire, having no motive to enter into the ministry but to get a living, as it is ominously called by some, however they may bear the garb and appearance of the innocent useful sheep, the true pastors commissioned by the Lord Jesus, or to whatever name, class or party they may belong, are, in the sight of the heart-searching God, no other than ravenous wolves, whose design is to feed themselves with the fat, and clothe themselves with the fleece, and thus ruin, instead of save, the flock.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 7:15-20
Nothing so much prevents men from entering the strait gate, and becoming true followers of Christ, as the carnal, soothing, flattering doctrines of those who oppose the truth. They may be known by the drift and effects of their doctrines. Some part of their temper and conduct is contrary to the mind of Christ. Those opinions come not from God that lead to sin.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 7:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΠροσέχετεProsechetedo bewareG4337
ἀπὸapoofG575
τῶνtōntheG3588
ψευδοπροφητῶνpseudoprophētōnfalse prophetsG5578
οἵτινεςoitineswhoG3748
ἔρχονταιerchontaicomeG2064
πρὸςprostoG4314
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
ἐνeninG1722
ἐνδύμασινendumasinclothingG1742
προβάτων,probatōnof sheep,G4263
ἔσωθενesōtheninwardlyG2081
δέdehoweverG1161
εἰσινeisinthey areG1510
λύκοιlukoiwolvesG3074
ἅρπαγες.harpagesravenous.G727

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 7:15

  • 1 John 4:1

    Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

  • Matthew 24:11

    And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

  • 2 Peter 2:1-3

    But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

  • Acts 20:29-31

    For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

  • Mark 13:22-23

    For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

  • Deuteronomy 13:1-3

    If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

  • Colossians 2:8

    Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

    For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

  • Jude 1:4

    For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Revelation 19:20

    And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

  • Micah 3:11

    The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.

  • Micah 3:5-7

    Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Beware.
10:17; 16:6,11; Mr 12:38; Lu 12:15; Ac 13:40; Php 3:2; Col 2:8
2Pe 3:17
false.
24:4,5,11,24,25; De 13:1-3; Isa 9:15,16; Jer 14:14-16; 23:13-16
Jer 28:15-17; 29:21,32; Eze 13:16,22; Mic 3:5-7,11; Mr 13:22,23
2Pe 2:1-3; 1Jo 4:1; Re 19:20
which.
Zec 13:4; Mr 12:38-40; Ro 16:17,18; 2Co 11:13-15; Ga 2:4; Eph 4:14
Eph 5:6; Col 2:8; 1Ti 4:1-3; 2Ti 3:5-9,13; 4:3; 2Pe 2:1-3,18,19
Jude 1:4; Re 13:11-17
are.
Isa 56:10,11; Eze 22:25; Mic 3:5; Zep 3:3,4; Ac 20:29-31; Re 17:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 7:14

    Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

  • Matthew 7:15

    Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

  • Matthew 7:16

    Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Read all of Matthew 7

Matthew 7:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y guardaos de los falsos profetas, que vienen á vosotros con vestidos de ovejas, mas de dentro son lobos rapaces.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or soyez en garde contre les faux prophètes qui viennent à vous en habits de brebis, mais qui au-dedans sont des loups ravisseurs.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Hütet euch aber vor den falschen Propheten, die in Schafskleidern zu euch kommen, inwendig aber sind sie reißende Wölfe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Attendite a falsis prophetis, qui veniunt ad vos in vestimentis ovium, intrinsecus autem sunt lupi rapaces: