Scripture

Matthew 7:15–20 (NASB95)

15 Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?

17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.

1 Peter 5:8 (NASB95)

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Cowboy Wisdom

Any horse trader worth his salt can make a sorry horse look like a champion for about twenty minutes. Grease him down till he shines, work the rough edges off just before the buyer shows, keep him moving so nobody sees him favor that back leg. In the sale ring he stands pretty and steps clean, and a green buyer signs the check. Then you get him home, the shine wears off, and by the second week he’s crib-biting, bucking, and dead lame on that leg he was hiding. The slick presentation never made him a good horse. It just delayed the day you found out he wasn’t one.

That’s why Jesus warns us the way He does: “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” A wolf doesn’t come slinking up looking like a wolf — he comes dressed like one of the flock, sounding safe, quoting just enough Scripture to pass. Paul warned the same thing plainly: “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” The dangerous ones always look good in the ring. If frauds showed up ugly, nobody’d ever get taken.

So how do you tell? Jesus gives us the test, and it’s a rancher’s test: “You will know them by their fruits… every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.” You don’t judge a tree by how it looks in bloom — you judge it by what you can put in the basket come harvest. You don’t judge a horse by his shine — you judge him by how he works over a hard season. Same with any teaching or teacher: give it time and look at the fruit. Does it grow humility or pride? Does it drive people to grace or load them down with rules? Does it point folks to Christ or to the teacher? “You will know them by their fruits.”

And don’t get careless about it, because there’s a real predator on the range. Peter says, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” A lion doesn’t charge the herd out in the open where everybody can see him — he cuts out the careless one that wandered off alone. Staying sober and alert, close to the herd and close to the Book, is how you keep from being the one he picks off. Don’t buy the horse on the shine. Wait for the fruit.

Questions For Reflection

• Jesus says to judge by fruit, not by appearance. Is there a teaching or a teacher you’ve accepted mostly because of how impressive or likable they seemed, rather than the fruit over time?
• Good fruit points people to Christ and to grace; bad fruit breeds pride or piles on rules. When you look at what you’re being fed spiritually, what kind of fruit is it actually growing in you?
• Peter says the lion picks off the one who’s wandered off alone. Are you staying close to the herd — a church family, honest friends — or have you drifted somewhere you’re easier prey?
• What is one practical way you can “be on the alert” this week without becoming suspicious or cynical of everyone around you?

Prayer Focus

Father, thank You for warning me plainly that the dangerous ones come dressed to look safe. Give me a discerning spirit — not a bitter or suspicious one — so I can tell good fruit from bad and not get taken in by a slick presentation. Keep me sober and alert, close to Your people and close to Your Word, so the enemy finds no careless, wandering soul to pick off. Grow good fruit in my own life, that I’d never be the fraud I’m praying to spot. In Jesus’ name, Amen.