How does Ezekiel 13:7 connect with Jesus' warnings about false prophets? The Prophetic Problem in Ezekiel 13:7 “Have you not seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘This is the LORD’s oracle,’ even though I had not spoken?” (Ezekiel 13:7) • The LORD confronts men who claim a direct word from Him, yet He “had not spoken.” • Their message is called “false” and “lying,” stressing total absence of divine origin. • The people’s safety is at stake: these fabrications lull Judah into complacency while judgment nears (cf. Ezekiel 13:10). Jesus Echoes the Alarm “Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15) • Just as in Ezekiel’s day, Jesus warns that impostors will rise inside the covenant community (“sheep’s clothing”). • He repeats the warning in end-times discourse: “Many false prophets will arise and mislead many” (Matthew 24:11; cf. 24:24). • The danger is spiritual deception, not merely mistaken information; souls are imperiled (Matthew 7:21-23). Shared Traits of False Prophets Both Ezekiel 13:7 and Jesus’ words highlight common indicators: 1. Pretended divine authority — “Thus says the LORD” (Ezekiel) vs. “Lord, Lord” (Matthew 7:22). 2. Attractive exterior — whitewashed walls (Ezekiel 13:10-12) vs. sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). 3. Self-serving motives — prophets “follow their own spirit” (Ezekiel 13:3) vs. “ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). 4. Destructive results — collapsing walls (Ezekiel 13:14) vs. bad fruit and fire (Matthew 7:19). How to Discern the Genuine Scripture supplies consistent tests: • Alignment with revealed truth (Deuteronomy 13:1-5; Isaiah 8:20). • Factual accuracy and fulfilled prediction (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). • Moral fruit that mirrors God’s character (Matthew 7:16-18; Galatians 5:22-23). • Confession of Christ’s true identity and work (1 John 4:1-3). Continuity of God’s Warning through Scripture • Old Covenant era: Ezekiel, Jeremiah 23:16-32, Micah 3:5-7. • Gospels: Jesus in Matthew 7, 24; Mark 13:22; Luke 6:26. • Church age: Acts 20:29-30; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Jude 3-4. One unbroken line of caution runs from Ezekiel to Jesus to the apostles, highlighting God’s unwavering concern for doctrinal purity and the safety of His people. Why This Matters Today • Modern voices still claim divine sanction without biblical grounding. • Ezekiel 13:7 and Jesus’ teaching form a dual witness: test every message, cling to Scripture, and refuse anything that departs from the plain, literal Word of God. Standing on that foundation keeps believers anchored until the true Shepherd returns (John 10:4-5). |
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