What a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing Actually Means

I don’t see using a metaphor or simile differently than the context intended as a bad thing.

Far from it.

Jesus wasn’t referring to people you dislike or those with different beliefs when He warned about wolves in sheep’s clothing.

He meant false prophets, and those who don’t follow the commandments but have an air of religiosity about them without living it out with the correct heart.

A notable example is making a prophecy, but the prophecy doesn’t come to pass. That’s called a false prophet. If even one prediction does not come about as they stated, they are to be disregarded with a dire consequence of death to the false prophet.

Deuteronomy 18:22 “When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.”

It doesn’t matter if they’re performing miracles, healing the sick, and supernatural things are happening on their behalf.

The greatest test of this concept will be during the Great Tribulation, when the Antichrist and False Prophet rule over the Middle East (and perhaps the rest of the world) and they force the world to submit to their authority on penalty of death.

They will have incredible, miraculous powers, and Revelation seems to show the Antichrist will rise from the dead after a deadly wound, making the globe marvel at his resurrection.

There will be two prophets of God on Earth also performing miracles on God’s behalf, except they will plague the world.

The temptation to say the Antichrist is the right guy to follow will be great.

I don’t think we’re anywhere near this time at the time I write this, and I expect I’ll grow old and die before the Great Tribulation is on the horizon, but it’s good to know the challenges the End Times church will face when those days arrive.

However, if the prediction comes true and the false prophet tempts us to worship a different god or a changed Yahweh who doesn’t follow His own commandments, wouldn’t that still be deceptive?

It’s a slippery slope and we must be extra careful and on guard.

A few famous false prophets come to mind when I think about this concept.

If a pastor says something you don’t agree with, that doesn’t make them a wolf.

If someone is doing something you don’t like, even though the Bible permits it, that doesn’t make them a wolf. It means you should test your theology to the text of Scripture.

A wolf is a fierce creature that will kill and devour a man without a second thought.

A false prophet will not spare the flock and lead them to the path of destruction.

Jesus applied this understanding to even religious people who aren’t following His Father’s commandments.

Someone who rejects the Torah as God’s moral standard, and teaches others to do so.

If someone is ignorant, then God has mercy, and will deal with them in that context.

But if someone knows exactly what they are doing, then they are liable for judgment.

We must be sincere in our dealings with others and not bear bad fruit.

Our character is revealed through our fruits. Good tree? Good fruit.

Bad tree? Bad fruit.

A wolf in sheep’s clothing does not mean thinking someone is the same person they were fifteen years ago, and not understanding the transformative work of the Father.

If someone made mistakes years ago, but Yahweh has cleaned up their act, then we can’t say they’re a wolf.

If someone is currently in sin, then perhaps they need correction, so that they might live a good life once more.

A wolf knows what they’re doing and will harm anyone and everyone to achieve their purposes. A narcissistic person fits this bill, not a mistaken individual who might not understand the Father’s ways.

We have to keep the context of the Bible at the forefront of our minds, and not throw terms around willy-nilly.

I might not agree with a pastor, or even an entire religion, but unless they’re worshiping a false god or teaching against God’s commands, they’re not wolves.

But the point of this post is to say, be a sheep, be a lion, but you can’t accidentally be a wolf.