Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves. 16 You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? AMPC
Jesus just finished talking about staying on the narrow path when He said to beware of false prophets who come dressed as sheep, but actually inside they are devouring wolves. Jesus is warning us that not all are who they claim to be and if we are following a false prophet we are likely to be on the wrong path leading to the gate that leads to destruction.
If we know Jesus we will recognize a false prophet. If we know Jesus we will know things we can’t know without Him. He will reveal to us a false prophet and warn us just as He has to those in the text we just read.
Jesus is revealing truth to us that we are only to follow Him and to obey Him. He said another time, many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many in error (Matthew 24:11).
It is a scary thing to not know Jesus and put your trust in a man. Jesus is plainly telling us to believe in Him, follow Him and no other.
Look at these truths Jesus reveals to us further in this chapter.
Matthew 21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]. AMPC
Looks to me like Jesus is talking to the ones who were dressed like sheep, but inside were devouring wolves.
We have to make sure we know Jesus ourselves and that we too don’t become a false prophet, claiming to know something we don’t, following our flesh or another man instead of Jesus! We have to be sure we are NOT, at any cost disregarding His commands and we cant do that if we don’t know Him and allow Him to correct us.