SEV Biblia, Chapter 7:15
¶ Tambin guardaos de los falsos profetas, que vienen a vosotros con vestidos de ovejas, mas de dentro son lobos robadores.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:15
Verse 15. Beware of false prophets] By false prophets we are to understand teachers of erroneous doctrines, who come professing a commission from God, but whose aim is not to bring the heavenly treasure to the people, but rather to rob them of their earthly good. Teachers who preach for hire, having no motive to enter into the ministry but to get a living, as it is ominously called by some, however they may bear the garb and appearance of the innocent useful sheep, the true pastors commissioned by the Lord Jesus, or to whatever name, class or party they may belong, are, in the sight of the heart-searching God, no other than ravenous wolves, whose design is to feed themselves with the fat, and clothe themselves with the fleece, and thus ruin, instead of save, the flock.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. Beware of false prophets , etc.] Or false teachers; for not such who pretended to foretell things to come, but such who set up themselves to be teachers of others, are here meant; (see 2 Peter 2:1). It may be queried, whether our Lord has not respect to the Scribes and Pharisees, who sat in Mosess chair, and taught, for doctrines, the commandments of men? and of whose doctrines he elsewhere bids men beware: for whatever plausible pretences for holiness and righteousness might appear in them, they were repugnant to the word of God, and destructive to the souls of men; such as their doctrines of free will, justification by the works of the law, the traditions of the elders, etc. since it follows, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves ; for these loved to go in long clothing, ( Mark 12:38) tyljb , in a garment which reached to the feet, and was made of the wool of sheep. The Babylonish garment Achan saw and stole, Rab says f479 , was atlymd aljxya , a garment called melotes: which is the very Greek word the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews uses for sheep skins, persecuted saints wandered about in, ( Hebrews 11:37) and the gloss upon the place, in the Talmud referred to, says, that this was yqn rmx l tylj , a talith, or garment of pure wool; and Jarchi says, that it was the way of deceivers, and profane men, to cover themselves, tyljb , with their talith, or long garment, as if they were righteous men, that persons might receive their lies.
All which agrees very well with the Pharisees, who would have been thought to have been holy and righteous, humble, modest, and self-denying men; when they were inwardly full of hypocrisy and iniquity, of rapine, oppression, and covetousness; and, under a pretence of religion, devoured widows houses. Though, it seems, by what follows, that Christ has respect, at least also, to such, who bore his name, and came in his name, though not sent by him, and called him Lord, and prophesied, and cast out devils, and did many wonderful works in his name; who, that they might get the good will and affections of the people, clothed themselves, not in garments made of sheeps wool, but in the very skins of sheep, with the wool on them, in imitation of the true prophets, and good men of old; pretending great humility, and self-denial, and so wore a rough garment to deceive, ( Zechariah 13:4) when they were inwardly greedy dogs, grievous wolves, of insatiable covetousness; and, when opportunity offered, spared not the flock to satisfy their rapacious and devouring appetites. The Jews speak of a wolfish humility; like that of the wolf in the fable, which put on a sheep skin. There are some men, (says one of their writers,) who appear to be humble, and fear God in a deceitful and hypocritical way, but inwardly lay wait: this humility our wise men call tybaz hwn[ , wolfish humility.
Such is this our Lord inveighs against, and bids his followers beware of.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-20 - Nothing so much prevents men from entering the strait gate, an becoming true followers of Christ, as the carnal, soothing, flatterin doctrines of those who oppose the truth. They may be known by the drif and effects of their doctrines. Some part of their temper and conduc is contrary to the mind of Christ. Those opinions come not from God that lead to sin.
Greek Textus Receptus
προσεχετε 4337 5720 V-PAM-2P δε 1161 CONJ απο 575 PREP των 3588 T-GPM ψευδοπροφητων 5578 N-GPM οιτινες 3748 R-NPM ερχονται 2064 5736 V-PNI-3P προς 4314 PREP υμας 5209 P-2AP εν 1722 PREP ενδυμασιν 1742 N-DPN προβατων 4263 N-GPN εσωθεν 2081 ADV δε 1161 CONJ εισιν 1526 5748 V-PXI-3P λυκοι 3074 N-NPM αρπαγες 727 A-NPM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
7:15 {False prophets} (twn yeudoprofetwn). There were false prophets in the time of the Old Testament prophets. Jesus will predict "false Messiahs and false prophets" (#Mt 24:24) who will lead many astray. They came in due time posing as angels of light like Satan, Judaizers (#2Co 11:13ff.) and Gnostics (#1Jo 4:1; 1Ti 4:1). Already false prophets were on hand when Jesus spoke on this occasion (cf. #Ac 13:6; 2Pe 2:1). In outward appearance they look like sheep in the sheep's clothing which they wear, but within they are "ravening wolves" (lukoi harpages), greedy for power, gain, self. It is a tragedy that such men and women reappear through the ages and always find victims. Wolves are more dangerous than dogs and hogs.
