What other scriptures warn against following false prophets like in Jeremiah 23:13? Jeremiah’s Wake-Up Call Jeremiah 23:13: “Among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray.” Old Testament Echoes: The Pattern Established Early • Deuteronomy 13:1–3: “If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you … you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer.” • Deuteronomy 18:20–22: “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name that I have not commanded him to speak … that prophet shall die.” • Isaiah 8:20: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there is no light in them.” • Isaiah 9:15–16: “The prophet who teaches lies is the tail. Those who guide this people mislead them.” • Jeremiah 14:14: “The prophets are prophesying lies in My name; I did not send them.” • Ezekiel 13:3: “Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit yet have seen nothing!” • Micah 3:5: “This is what the LORD says concerning the prophets who lead My people astray.” • Zechariah 13:2–3: “I will also remove the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land.” New Testament Echoes: The Warning Continues • Matthew 7:15: “Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” • Matthew 24:11: “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.” • Acts 20:29–30: “Savage wolves will come in among you … even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth.” • 2 Corinthians 11:13–14: “Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.” • Galatians 1:8: “Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!” • 2 Peter 2:1–3: “There will be false teachers among you … many will follow their depravity.” • 1 John 4:1: “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” • Jude 4: “Certain men have crept in among you unnoticed … ungodly ones who turn the grace of our God into sensuality.” • Revelation 19:20: “The beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf.” Shared Threads Running Through Scripture • False prophets speak from their own imagination or demonic deception, not from the Lord. • Their message contradicts God’s revealed Word and encourages disobedience. • They often appear convincing—clothed in religious language, signs, or promises of peace. • God consistently judges them and warns His people to separate from their influence. Staying Anchored Today • Hold every teaching up to the full counsel of Scripture. • Look for the fruit: godliness, humility, and fidelity to Christ mark true servants. • Remember that error often mingles truth with subtle lies; clarity comes through knowing the Word well. • Stand firm; Scripture’s warnings are timeless safeguards for the church and for individual believers. |
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