The Open Door
Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Matthew 7:15
Everyone knows that false prophets come in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Cult watch pages abound with calling this or that minister a false prophet, and often simply serve to spark fear in everything of God. Many of these are either completely cessationist (believing that all the miraculous power of God has ceased), or at least non-Spirit-filled. They all generally deny basic doctrines such as speaking in other tongues (Acts 2:4) for the church today, and should generally be ignored (2 Timothy 3:5). They do not enter the Kingdom themselves, and shut the door in the faces of those who are trying (Matthew 23:13).
What is the mark of a false prophet? They present themselves as something they are not. Moreover, Jesus called them ravenous. Not every reference to “wolves” in the Bible is an evil reference. When Jacob blessed his sons, he called his son Benjamin a ravenous wolf as well (see Genesis 49:27 and surrounding chapter).
Jesus also cautioned about the yeast of the Pharisees, which in Luke 12:1 He identified as hypocrisy.
