Friday, November 21, 2025
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15 KJV).
Observe the following: “The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe cleverly convinced the trees that his wooden handle made him one of them.” While written about duplicitous politicians, it is also practical instruction for religious leaders and about religious leaders.
How frightening it is that voters are frequently unable to express specific, reasonable justification for their choice of candidates. Other than silence, the only “defenses” offered are along the lines of, “He or she promised the public this free service or those free goods. I saw internet videos of this person or that person acting like everyone else. This man or woman is a great speaker.” You can pose the same question to religious people… except apply it to their pastors and teachers. What you will hear is, “This person is funny. He or she is kind. That person has a large following. Here is why I sit under his or her teaching.” Very rarely is the criterion, “He or she teaches sound Bible doctrine, and I learn such valuable information there.”
The phrase “wolf in sheep’s clothing” is indeed derived from the English Bible—specifically today’s Scripture. Jesus’ audience was of an agrarian or agriculture-based lifestyle. The Jewish people were well acquainted with raising sheep, and how shepherds were to be constantly vigilant of wolves (the sheep’s natural predator). What made such wolves exceptionally dangerous was when they were no longer perceived to be a threat. Nevertheless, they were “ravening” (related to “ravaging”), voracious, hungry, or greedy; thus, they would go to great lengths, they would stop at nothing, to fill their bellies!
Sheep naturally follow each other and stay in a group because they feel they have “safety in numbers.” Among humans, this is known as “herd mentality,” people blindly conforming to a principle simply due to the fact many others have adopted it. However, such sheep (both animals and people) are in grave danger if the “sheep” they are following turns out to be a “wolf in sheep’s clothing!” The prey realizes, when it is usually too late, that his neighbor was really the enemy in disguise….
333 Words of Grace 