Mat 7:15 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Matt 7:15-20: 7:15-20 False prophets speak what people want to hear rather than calling people to live according to God’s will. Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and 18:21-22 set standards for evaluating a prophet’s truthfulness: His words must conform to God’s word, and his predictions must come true. Jesus unpacks the first requirement: A prophet’s actions must match his words in order to be believable; accordingly, a true prophet’s actions will also match God’s word. Just as the fruit indicates the nature of a tree , so one’s life indicates either a regenerate or unregenerate heart. False prophets are expected at the end of the age (see Matt 24:11 , 24 ; Acts 20:28-35 ; Rev 13:11-18 ; 16:13 ; 19:20 ; 20:10 ). In order not to be deceived, Christians must be discerning (see 1 Cor 12:10 ; 14:29 ; 1 Thes 5:21 ; 1 Jn 4:1-3 ; Rev 2:20 ).

a7:15-20►

bDeuteronomy 13:1-5►

c18:21-22►

dMatt 24:11►

e24►

fActs 20:28-35►

gRev 13:11-18►

h16:13►

i19:20►

j20:10►

k1 Cor 12:10►

l14:29►

m1 Thes 5:21►

n1 Jn 4:1-3►

oRev 2:20►

‏ Matthew 7:15

Summary for Matt 7:15-20: 7:15-20 ^a False prophets speak what people want to hear rather than calling people to live according to God’s will. Deuteronomy 13:1-5 ^b and 18:21-22 ^c set standards for evaluating a prophet’s truthfulness: His words must conform to God’s word, and his predictions must come true. Jesus unpacks the first requirement: A prophet’s actions must match his words in order to be believable; accordingly, a true prophet’s actions will also match God’s word. Just as the fruit indicates the nature of a tree, so one’s life indicates either a regenerate or unregenerate heart. False prophets are expected at the end of the age (see Matt 24:11 ^d, 24 ^e; Acts 20:28-35 ^f; Rev 13:11-18 ^g; 16:13 ^h; 19:20 ⁱ; 20:10 ^j). In order not to be deceived, Christians must be discerning (see 1 Cor 12:10 ^k; 14:29 ^l; 1 Thes 5:21 ^m; 1 Jn 4:1-3 ⁿ; Rev 2:20 ^o).