How does Ezekiel 13:17 connect to Jesus' warnings in Matthew 7:15? Setting the Scene • False prophecy plagued Israel under the Old Covenant and continues to threaten believers under the New. • God’s response remains unchanged: expose deception, uphold His unalterable Word (Deuteronomy 18:20–22; 2 Peter 2:1). Ezekiel 13:17—False Prophets in Israel “Now you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy from their own heart. Prophesy against them.” • Audience: “daughters of your people” – self-appointed prophetesses in Judah’s final days. • Issue: “prophesy from their own heart,” fabricating visions to soothe a rebellious nation (vv. 18–19). • Divine command: Ezekiel must confront them publicly, declaring their words counterfeit, God’s judgment real (vv. 20–23). Matthew 7:15—False Prophets in the Church Age “Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” • Context: Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus outlines Kingdom righteousness. • Description: outwardly harmless (“sheep’s clothing”) yet spiritually predatory (“ravenous wolves”). • Test: later verses stress fruit inspection—doctrine and lifestyle must align with God’s revealed truth (vv. 16–20). Shared Themes and Direct Links • Same divine concern: deceptive voices among God’s people. • Source of error: Ezekiel—“from their own heart”; Jesus—“inwardly…wolves.” Both expose a corrupt inner motive hidden by pious appearance. • Consequence: Ezekiel foresees judgment (v. 23); Jesus promises eventual exposure and destruction (v. 19; cf. Matthew 24:24-25). • Call to action: Ezekiel must “set [his] face against” them; Jesus commands disciples to “beware.” Obedience demands vigilance and confrontation, not passive tolerance. Practical Discernment for Today • Measure every message against the written Word—“Your word is truth” (John 17:17). • Look for consistent godly fruit: humility, holiness, fidelity to Scripture (Galatians 5:22-23). • Remember that numbers, charisma, or emotional appeal never authenticate a prophecy (Jeremiah 23:16; 2 Timothy 4:3-4). • Guard fellowship: sound teaching protects the flock from spiritual exploitation (Acts 20:29-31). Summary and Takeaway Ezekiel 13:17 and Matthew 7:15 sound the same alarm in two different eras: false prophets rise from within, speak out of self-generated imaginations, and camouflage themselves with spiritual garb. God’s unchanging remedy—expose error, cling to His unerring Word, exercise discerning vigilance—remains essential for every believer today. |
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