What characteristics identify false prophets according to Ezekiel 13:1? The Setting of Ezekiel 13 Ezekiel receives a direct word from God, commissioning him to confront men who claim the prophetic mantle but are, in fact, deceivers. Key Text (Ezekiel 13:1-2) “The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own hearts: Hear the word of the LORD!’” Core Characteristics of False Prophets in Ezekiel 13 • Speak from their own hearts, not from God (v. 2) • Follow their own spirit and “have seen nothing” (v. 3) • Offer “false visions and lying divinations” (v. 6) • Invoke the phrase “Thus declares the LORD” even though He has not sent them (v. 6) • Expect their predictions to come true on the strength of their own words (v. 6) • Fail to “stand in the gap” or provide real spiritual protection for the people (v. 5) • Deceive with the promise of peace when judgment is near (vv. 10, 16) • Build flimsy spiritual structures—“a wall plastered with whitewash” (v. 10) • Lead God’s people astray, leaving them “like jackals among ruins” (v. 4) • Will ultimately face God’s hand against them; their names are blotted “out of the assembly of My people” (v. 9) Echoes in the Rest of Scripture • Deuteronomy 18:20-22—A prophet whose word fails is not from God. • Jeremiah 23:16—False prophets fill listeners with vain hopes. • Matthew 7:15-20—“You will know them by their fruits.” • 2 Peter 2:1—False teachers secretly introduce destructive heresies. Living Application True prophecy springs from God’s mouth, aligns with His written Word, bears good fruit, and stands the test of time. Anything less—no matter how persuasive—must be rejected just as Ezekiel was commanded to reject the false voices of his day. |
    |