Beware of false prophets
Published Jun 22, 2022 12:03 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
Many prophets in the Old Testament served as court prophets in the palaces or sanctuaries of the kings. Some, like Nathan and Gad, proved to be true to their calling, telling King David the oracles they received from God, whether pleasing or unpleasant to the king. Hananiah, on the other hand, is presented as the most prominent among the “false prophets,” not because he was some kind of a charlatan or an immoral individual; in fact, he had “good news” to tell the king of Judah that God would make the Jews return from their Babylonian exile very soon. But the word of the Lord delivered to Jeremiah was one of judgment. Jeremiah told Hananiah, “Listen to this, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, and you have led this people to rely on deception” (Jer 28:15). He then prophesied that Hananiah would die that year which proved to be true.
A true prophet is one who delivers the Word of the Lord, be it a word that consoles, gives hope, or a word that warns and condemns. Jesus warns against false prophets who tailor their message to please the powerful ones for selfish interests. Jesus is a prophet of integrity, which even his detractors have to admit: “Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is correct, and you show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth” (Lk 20:21).
GOSPEL • Matthew 7:15-20
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 thorn bushes, 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.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
Many prophets in the Old Testament served as court prophets in the palaces or sanctuaries of the kings. Some, like Nathan and Gad, proved to be true to their calling, telling King David the oracles they received from God, whether pleasing or unpleasant to the king. Hananiah, on the other hand, is presented as the most prominent among the “false prophets,” not because he was some kind of a charlatan or an immoral individual; in fact, he had “good news” to tell the king of Judah that God would make the Jews return from their Babylonian exile very soon. But the word of the Lord delivered to Jeremiah was one of judgment. Jeremiah told Hananiah, “Listen to this, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, and you have led this people to rely on deception” (Jer 28:15). He then prophesied that Hananiah would die that year which proved to be true.
A true prophet is one who delivers the Word of the Lord, be it a word that consoles, gives hope, or a word that warns and condemns. Jesus warns against false prophets who tailor their message to please the powerful ones for selfish interests. Jesus is a prophet of integrity, which even his detractors have to admit: “Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is correct, and you show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth” (Lk 20:21).
GOSPEL • Matthew 7:15-20
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 thorn bushes, 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.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.