What other scriptures warn against false prophets and their deceptive messages? Jeremiah 6:14—Setting the Scene “They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.” False prophets soothe, conceal, and mislead. Scripture repeatedly exposes and condemns their counterfeit assurances. Old Testament Echoes • Deuteronomy 13:1-3 — “If a prophet or dreamer of dreams…says, ‘Let us follow other gods’…you must not listen.” • Deuteronomy 18:20-22 — A prophet whose word fails to come true “has spoken presumptuously.” • Isaiah 30:10 — People demand, “Give us no more visions of what is right…tell us pleasant things.” • Ezekiel 13:10 — “Because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace…” • Jeremiah 14:14 — “The prophets are prophesying lies in My name.” • Jeremiah 23:16-17 — They fill listeners “with false hopes.” • Micah 3:5 — Prophets “lead My people astray” while promising peace for a bribe. • Zephaniah 3:4 — “Her prophets are reckless, faithless men.” • Zechariah 10:2 — “Diviners see visions that lie; they comfort in vain.” Jesus’ Direct Warnings • Matthew 7:15 — “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing…” • Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 23-25 — Many will claim, “‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” • Mark 13:22 — “False christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs…to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” Early-Church Alerts • Acts 20:29-30 — Savage wolves “will not spare the flock…speaking perverse things.” • 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 — “Such men are false apostles…even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” • Galatians 1:6-9 — Anyone preaching “a gospel contrary” is accursed. Pastoral Epistles • 1 Timothy 4:1-2 — “Some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits.” • 2 Timothy 4:3-4 — People will gather teachers “to suit their own desires.” • Titus 1:10-11 — “Many rebellious people…deceiving minds” must be silenced. General Epistles • 2 Peter 2:1-3 — “False teachers…will secretly introduce destructive heresies.” • 1 John 4:1 — “Test the spirits…because many false prophets have gone out.” • Jude 3-4 — Certain men “crept in unnoticed…who pervert the grace of our God.” Revelation’s Final Word • Revelation 2:20 — Jezebel “misleads My servants.” • Revelation 13:13-14 — The earth-beast performs signs “to deceive those who dwell on the earth.” • Revelation 19:20 — The beast and false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire. Key Takeaways to Guard Our Hearts • Test every message by God’s written Word. • Look for fruit that matches biblical truth, not flashy claims. • Refuse “peace” that ignores sin and judgment. • Stay anchored to the gospel once for all delivered to the saints. |
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