Beware of false prophets

Gospel Reflection

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but underneath are ravenous wolves.

By their fruits you will know them.

Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Just so, every good tree bears good fruit,

and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,

nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.

Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down

and thrown into the fire.

So by their fruits you will know them.”

Matthew 7:15-20

"Beware of false prophets."

That’s the warning Jesus gives in today’s Gospel. Strong words, right? False prophets—wolves in sheep’s clothing. People who appear to speak in God’s name but whose actions tell a different story.

Back then, as Jesus was gaining more followers, many were quoting Him or pointing to Him, even if they weren’t truly following Him. Some probably believed what they were doing was right. They might have seen Jesus as a great teacher or moral guide, but they weren’t living the deeper truth of His message. And sometimes, without even realizing it, they caused harm. That kind of scandal—when someone speaks of Christ but doesn’t reflect Him—is dangerous. And painful.

But I don’t want to just point the finger outward today. I want to let this Gospel question me.

• Am I bearing good fruit in my life?
• Are my words and actions drawing people closer to Christ, or pushing them away from Him?
• Am I encouraging faith—or causing doubt and division, even without meaning to?

That’s the hard part. Not all false prophets are loud or public. Sometimes it’s our own hearts that get out of sync with the Gospel. Sometimes we say the right things, but deep down we’re more rooted in pride, self-interest, or fear than in love.

Jesus tells us you can tell the tree by its fruit. Grapes don’t grow from thornbushes. If my life is full of anger, gossip, division—then I need to stop and ask what’s really going on at the root. And if I’m honest, I can admit there are days when the fruit isn’t great. That’s when I need grace the most.

But this isn’t just a warning—it’s an invitation. Jesus is showing us what a faithful life looks like. One that quietly bears fruit: peace, patience, kindness, humility. A life that reflects the love it’s rooted in.

So today, I’m asking the Lord to help me grow into that kind of life. To prune away what doesn’t belong. To help me speak less about faith, and live it more.

Because in the end, that’s how people will know we belong to Him—by the fruit our lives bear.

Lord, help me not to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Help me be a true disciple—rooted in You, and bearing good fruit. Amen.

Photo by Den Cops on Unsplash