Connect Ezekiel 13:11 with Jesus' teachings on false prophets in Matthew 7:15. Setting the Scene “tell those who plaster it with whitewash that it will fall. Torrential rain will come, hailstones will fall, and a stormy wind will break it down.” — Ezekiel 13:11 “Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” — Matthew 7:15 Why These Two Verses Belong Together • Both call out the same danger: counterfeit messengers who disguise instability as security. • Ezekiel pictures a wall slathered with “whitewash” — pretty on the surface, crumbly underneath. • Jesus pictures “sheep’s clothing” — soft wool on the outside, tearing jaws within. • The heart issue is identical: deception that collapses when reality hits. False Prophets in Ezekiel’s Day • Audience: Exiles longing for good news (Ezekiel 13:1–10). • Message of the pretenders: “Peace,” though judgment was near (Jeremiah 6:14). • Method: cosmetic religion—paint over cracks rather than rebuild the wall. • Outcome: divine storm strips off the veneer; the wall, the lies, and the liars fall together (Ezekiel 13:13–15). False Prophets in Jesus’ Day • Setting: Sermon on the Mount, closing warnings (Matthew 7:13–27). • Disguise: sheep’s clothing—language of gentleness, orthodoxy, and community. • Reality: wolves—self-serving, destructive, ultimately murderous (John 10:12). • Test: inspect the fruit, not the fleece (Matthew 7:16–20). Shared Marks of Counterfeit Messengers 1. Surface appeal ‑ Whitewash = outward shine; Sheep’s wool = comforting feel. 2. Substance lacking ‑ Cracked wall; Predatory heart. 3. Short-term popularity ‑ People prefer smooth words (2 Timothy 4:3). 4. Sudden exposure ‑ Storm tears down the wall; Judgment reveals the wolf (Matthew 25:41). Divine Storm vs. Devouring Wolf: One Judgment • Ezekiel’s storm and Jesus’ “every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down” (Matthew 7:19) both picture decisive, inescapable judgment. • God defends His flock and His truth; the lying structures collapse, the hidden predators are unmasked (2 Peter 2:1–3). Practical Discernment Today • Check foundations, not finishes: Is the teaching anchored in the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), or just whitewash verses? • Look for sacrificial fruit: Do leaders display Christ-like humility, or are they sheep-costumed wolves accumulating personal gain (1 Peter 5:2–3)? • Test spirits (1 John 4:1) by Scripture’s plumb line (Isaiah 8:20); truth endures storm and scrutiny. Living as Truth-Anchored Believers • Build on the Rock—Jesus’ words obeyed (Matthew 7:24–25). • Stay alert for every shade of whitewash (Colossians 2:8). • Guard the flock with loving courage (Acts 20:28–31). • Rejoice that the Good Shepherd shields His own and that His truth outlasts every storm (Psalm 119:160; John 10:27–29). |
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