As Part of the series called:
Things That Make You Go Hmmm?

Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Let’s first begin our examination of context in terms of questions and answers. The root of any question is always the same, why…? As with all questions there is the short answer to why and then there is the longer answer. Those who know me well, realize that when it comes to the Bible, I am a details person. This makes it very hard for me to write these articles without getting too lengthy. A short answer never satisfies my curiosity. Short answers are like answering a kid’s question with “Because, I said so”. Because I said so, never satisfies children and it certainly shouldn’t satisfy a Christian.

We like to quote what Paul told the Thessalonians “prove all things and hold fast to that which is good”. In other words, Paul was telling them don’t take his word for what he was saying about the Gospel, but rather prove it for themselves via scripture study. Context is the key to proving and understanding anything, especially the Bible. Jesus said: we should “know the truth and the truth shall make us free”. The only way we can know the truth is by asking questions and confirming that the answer is correct! Most books in the Bible have some kind of warning about false prophets and the four Gospel’s give explicit accounts of Jesus' warnings regarding false prophets. It is easy for a false prophet to pull the wool over the sheep's eyes, because frankly sheep are stupid and must be trained by a good shepherd.

John 10:1-6
1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

There are many false prophets trying to deceive us sheep, some of them are so good that they can almost deceive the elect. I liken them to an impressionist whose voice sounds almost exactly like the person they are trying to imitate. We Christians should know enough about the Good Shepherd’s voice that we can run immediately when we hear the voice of a fake.