Recognizing False Prophets
Matthew 7:15-23
Matt.7.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Προσεχετε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,f
- ψευδοπροφητων: NOUN,gen,pl,masc
- οιτινες: PRON,nom,pl,masc
- ερχονται: VERB,pres,mp,ind,3,pl
- προς: PREP
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- εν: PREP
- ενδυμασι: NOUN,dat,pl,neut
- προβατων: NOUN,gen,pl,neut
- εσωθεν: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- εισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- λυκοι: NOUN,nom,pl,masc
- αρπαγες: NOUN,nom,pl,masc
Parallels
- Acts 20:29-30 (verbal): Paul warns the Ephesian elders that 'savage wolves' will come in among the flock, a direct verbal parallel to Jesus' 'wolves' imagery about false teachers.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (thematic): Paul condemns false apostles who masquerade as servants of righteousness—the theme of deceptive appearance (masquerade) matches 'sheep's clothing' hiding predatory intent.
- Matthew 24:24 (thematic): Jesus elsewhere warns that false christs and false prophets will deceive many with signs and wonders; same concern about misleading, counterfeit religious leaders.
- Luke 10:3 (structural): Jesus sends his followers 'as lambs among wolves,' using the sheep/wolf contrast to portray vulnerability and hostile deception in mission contexts.
- Jeremiah 23:1-2 (allusion): The prophets condemn unfaithful 'shepherds' who scatter the flock—an Old Testament motif of false shepherds that undergirds Jesus' warning about false prophets in sheep's clothing.
Alternative generated candidates
- Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
- Beware of false prophets; they come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Matt.7.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,f
- καρπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,c
- επιγνωσεσθε: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,pl
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- μητι: PART
- συλλεγουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- απο: PREP
- ακανθων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- σταφυλας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- απο: PREP
- τριβολων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- συκα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
Parallels
- Luke 6:43-44 (verbal): Near-verbatim Synoptic parallel: the same proverb about knowing trees/people by their fruit, used in the same teaching context.
- Matt.12:33 (verbal): Close verbal and conceptual parallel within Matthew: the tree-and-fruit saying used to argue that inner nature determines outward results (good tree/fruit, corrupt tree/fruit).
- John 15:1-8 (thematic): Jesus’ extended vine/branch metaphor links true identity and relationship to bearing fruit; fruitfulness serves as evidence of discipleship and union with Christ.
- Galatians 5:22-23 (thematic): Paul uses 'fruit' to denote visible moral outcomes (the fruit of the Spirit) that reveal a person's spiritual character, echoing the evaluative function of 'fruits' in Matthew 7:16.
- Psalm 1:3 (thematic): Old Testament imagery of the righteous as a fruitful tree by water parallels the notion that a person's character is shown in productive, life-giving results.
Alternative generated candidates
- You will know them by their fruits. Do people gather grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
- You will know them by their fruits. Do people gather grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thorns?
Matt.7.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουτως: ADV
- παν: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- δενδρον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- αγαθον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- καρπους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- καλους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- ποιει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- δε: CONJ
- σαπρον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- δενδρον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- καρπους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- πονηρους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- ποιει·: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Luke 6:43 (verbal): Nearly identical wording in Luke's version of the saying (good tree/evil tree producing good/evil fruit); same contrast and teaching context.
- Matthew 12:33 (verbal): Earlier Matthean use of the tree-and-fruit metaphor to show that a person's deeds disclose their character (tree known by its fruit).
- John 15:2-8 (thematic): Different agricultural image (vine and branches) but the same theological point: genuine life in Christ is proved by bearing good fruit; connection between source and fruit.
- James 3:12 (allusion): Uses tree-and-fruit imagery to expose inconsistency (a fig tree cannot bear olives) and to argue that speech reveals inner character, echoing the link between nature of tree and its fruit.
Alternative generated candidates
- So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
- So every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Matt.7.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART,neg
- δυναται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- δενδρον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- αγαθον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- καρπους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- πονηρους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- ποιειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- ουδε: CONJ
- δενδρον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- σαπρον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- καρπους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- καλους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- ποιειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
Parallels
- Matthew 7:17 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the same teaching: repeats the tree/fruit maxim (good tree bears good fruit, bad tree bears bad fruit) as part of the argument 'you will know them by their fruits.'
- Luke 6:43-45 (verbal): Close Lucan parallel of the same saying with very similar vocabulary and structure, stressing that a tree's fruit reveals its nature and that speech/fruit flow from the heart.
- Matthew 12:33 (thematic): Uses the same tree-and-fruit imagery to make a point about moral character and consistency (making the tree good and its fruit good), applied there to Jesus' argument about a good or evil source for words/works.
- John 15:2-6 (thematic): Vine-and-branches metaphor: fruitfulness as the expected outcome of a right relationship with the vine (Christ). The focus on fruit as evidence of vitality and judgment resonates with Matthew's saying.
- Galatians 5:22-23 (thematic): Paul's 'fruit of the Spirit' functions as ethical evidence of a transformed character, paralleling Matthew's idea that true nature is revealed by the fruit one bears.
Alternative generated candidates
- A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
- A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
Matt.7.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- παν: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- δενδρον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- μη: PART
- ποιουν: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,nom,sg,m
- καρπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- καλον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- εκκοπτεται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- πυρ: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- βαλλεται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matt.3.10 (verbal): Nearly identical wording: 'every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire' appears in John the Baptist's warning (same metaphor of imminent judgment).
- Luke.3.9 (verbal): Parallel to Matt.3.10 — John the Baptist's saying in Luke uses the same axe/tree/fire imagery about unfruitful trees being cut down and burned.
- John 15:6 (thematic): Jesus speaks of unfruitful branches being thrown into the fire and burned — same vine/branch imagery of judgment for failure to bear fruit.
- Luke 13:6-9 (thematic): Parable of the barren fig tree: the owner orders it cut down because it bears no fruit (threat of removal/ destruction for unfruitfulness), echoing Matthew's tree/fruit judgment motif.
- 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (allusion): Paul uses fire-judgment imagery to evaluate believers' works; unworthy work is burned up, producing loss — resonates with the motif of fire as the consequence for what fails the test of fruit.
Alternative generated candidates
- Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
- Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matt.7.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αρα: PART
- γε: PART,emph
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,f
- καρπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,c
- επιγνωσεσθε: VERB,fut,mid,ind,2,pl
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Matt.7:16 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the same discourse: the teaching repeats that people (false prophets) are recognized by their fruits (virtue/actions).
- Luke 6:44 (verbal): Lukan parallel of the same saying: uses the identical tree/fruit imagery to teach that people are known by their fruits.
- Matt.12:33 (allusion): Same tree-and-fruit metaphor applied elsewhere in Matthew (and Luke) to argue that inner character determines outward results (good tree→good fruit, bad tree→bad fruit).
- John 15:4-5 (thematic): Different botanical image (vine and branches) but the same theological point: abiding in Christ results in bearing fruit; fruitfulness is the visible evidence of a true relationship/character.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus by their fruits you will know them.
- Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Matt.7.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ου: PART
- πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- λεγων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- μοι·Κυριε: PRON,dat,1,sg
- κυριε: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- εισελευσεται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- βασιλειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,f
- ουρανων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- αλλ᾽ο: CONJ
- ποιων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- θελημα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- ουρανοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Luke 6:46 (verbal): A close Lukan parallel rebuking those who call Jesus 'Lord' yet fail to obey his commands; matches Matthew's contrast between profession and obedience.
- Matt.12:50 (verbal): Uses the same criterion—doing the will of the Father—to define belonging to Jesus' family, reinforcing obedience as the marker of true relationship.
- James 2:14-26 (thematic): Argues that faith without works is dead; thematically echoes Matthew's insistence that mere profession (saying 'Lord, Lord') is insufficient without obedient action.
- Matt.25:31-46 (structural): Judgment scene where entry into the kingdom is determined by concrete acts of mercy and obedience—parallels Matthew 7:21's linkage of kingdom entry to doing God's will.
- Rom.2:13 (verbal): States that 'the doers of the law will be justified,' paralleling Matthew's emphasis that doing (not merely hearing or naming) determines standing before God.
Alternative generated candidates
- Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
- Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Matt.7.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πολλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- ερουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- εν: PREP
- εκεινη: DEM,dat,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ημερα·Κυριε: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- κυριε: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- σω: ADJ,dat,sg,masc
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- επροφητευσαμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- και: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- σω: ADJ,dat,sg,masc
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- δαιμονια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- εξεβαλομεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- και: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- σω: ADJ,dat,sg,masc
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- δυναμεις: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- πολλας: ADJ,acc,pl,f
- εποιησαμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 7:21 (structural): Immediate context and contrast: Jesus warns that saying 'Lord, Lord' and performing deeds does not guarantee entry — sets up the scene for v.22’s example of claimed works.
- Matthew 7:23 (verbal): Direct continuation/response: 'I never knew you' follows v.22, condemning those who claim works in Jesus' name — completes the judgment formula.
- Luke 10:17–20 (verbal): The seventy report that 'even the demons submit to us in your name,' paralleling the claim in Matt 7:22 about casting out demons in Jesus' name (similar language used positively here, contrasted with Jesus' later rejection).
- Luke 13:26–27 (thematic): Scene of people appealing to past association with Jesus ('we ate and drank with you') and being told 'I do not know where you are from' — thematically parallels claims of service/association met by divine disavowal in Matt 7:22–23.
- Acts 19:13–16 (allusion): Account of others invoking Jesus' name to cast out demons (the sons of Sceva) but failing and being overpowered — illustrates problematic/ambiguous uses of Jesus' name in exorcistic practice, echoing Matt 7:22’s concern with works done 'in your name.'
Alternative generated candidates
- Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
- Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name perform many mighty works?'
Matt.7.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- τοτε: ADV
- ομολογησω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- αυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,3
- οτι: CONJ
- Ουδεποτε: ADV
- εγνων: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- υμας·αποχωρειτε: PRON,acc,pl,m+VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- απ᾽εμου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- εργαζομενοι: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ανομιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 7:21-22 (structural): Immediate context: contrasts mere verbal profession and miraculous claims with Jesus' final judgment; verses 21–22 set up the declaration of rejection in 7:23.
- Luke 13:25-27 (verbal): Close verbal parallel — Jesus says he does not know some and orders them to depart (language and judgment motif nearly identical).
- Matthew 25:12 (verbal): In the parable of the ten virgins the bridegroom says, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you,' echoing the same formula of disavowal found in 7:23.
- Matthew 25:41 (thematic): Final judgment scene where the wicked are sent away into punishment ('Depart from me...'); parallels the theme of exclusion from the presence of the Lord.
- Matthew 10:33 (thematic): Promises reciprocal denial—whoever denies Jesus will be denied before the Father; shares the motif of relational disowning as the basis for judgment in 7:23.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
- Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
Beware of false prophets; they come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
You will know them by their fruits. Do people gather grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and perform many mighty works in your name?'
Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'