In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has already told us about two gates, two paths, two crowds, and two destinations. These images aren’t just poetic—they are urgent. Jesus is saying that every person must make a choice. To ignore this call is itself a decision. We are always choosing a direction, and Jesus urges us to think carefully about where our path leads. True wisdom, He tells us, involves looking past appearances to the ultimate outcome.
After teaching about the narrow and broad ways, Jesus gives another warning: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes aren’t gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:15–17).
Jesus assumes here that false teachers exist—and He’s right. The Old Testament is filled with warnings about false prophets. Jeremiah, for example, constantly warns about those who speak their own words instead of God’s. The same is true in the New Testament. Nearly every letter addresses some form of false teaching, and books like Galatians, Jude, and 1 John were written specifically to confront dangerous errors.
Jesus says these false prophets look harmless. They seem kind, sincere, and even godly—like sheep. But inside, they are wolves. They use the right words but twist their meanings. They speak of love, light, and peace, but they redefine these terms to fit their own message. Their teachings may sound spiritual, but they quietly lead people away from the truth of Christ.
One example of this is A Course in Miracles, promoted by spiritual teacher Marianne Williamson. It uses Christian language but teaches ideas that oppose biblical truth. This is common among false teachers. They often sound Christian, using words like “God,” “grace,” or “Christ,” but they’ve rewritten the dictionary. We must be discerning. As Jesus says, you will know them by their fruits.