Matthew 7:16-20. Synopsis: Jesus has warned us to beware of false prophets and goes on to remind us that we can know them by their fruits. His sermon on the mount has provided an understanding of good fruit: true righteousness. Other passages help us understand bad fruit and amplify our our knowledge of good fruit.

1. Recognizing a
False Prophet
Choosing the Path of True Righteousness
Matthew 7:16-20

2. Jeremiah
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts …
serve the king of Babylon seventy years
Jeremiah 25:11
c. 605 BC

3. HananiahJeremiah
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts …
serve the king of Babylon seventy years
Jeremiah 25:11
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts … within
two years I will bring back … all the
exiles from Judah who went to Babylon
Jeremiah 28:3-4
c. 605 BC c. 597 BC

4. HananiahJeremiah
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts …
serve the king of Babylon seventy years
Jeremiah 25:11
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts … within
two years I will bring back … all the
exiles from Judah who went to Babylon
Jeremiah 28:3-4
c. 605 BC c. 597 BC

5. HananiahJeremiah
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts …
serve the king of Babylon seventy years
Jeremiah 25:11
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts … within
two years I will bring back … all the
exiles from Judah who went to Babylon
Jeremiah 28:3-4
c. 605 BC c. 597 BC

6. HananiahJeremiah
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts …
serve the king of Babylon seventy years
Jeremiah 25:11
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts … within
two years I will bring back … all the
exiles from Judah who went to Babylon
Jeremiah 28:3-4
c. 605 BC c. 597 BC
Who should I believe?

7. HananiahJeremiah
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts …
serve the king of Babylon seventy years
Jeremiah 25:11
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts … within
two years I will bring back … all the
exiles from Judah who went to Babylon
Jeremiah 28:3-4
c. 605 BC c. 597 BC
Who should I believe?
God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33

8. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many

9. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Prophet
— inspired by God
— foretelling future
— exhorting & reproving
False Prophet
— NOT inspired by God

10. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many

11. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
You will recognize
them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:16, 20

12. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Healthy
Good
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
You will recognize
them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:16

13. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
You will recognize
them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:16

14. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
You will recognize
them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:16

15. HananiahJeremiah
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts …
serve the king of Babylon seventy years
Jeremiah 25:11
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts … within
two years I will bring back … all the
exiles from Judah who went to Babylon
Jeremiah 28:3-4
c. 605 BC c. 597 BC
Who should I believe?

16. HananiahJeremiah
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts …
serve the king of Babylon seventy years
Jeremiah 25:11
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts … within
two years I will bring back … all the
exiles from Judah who went to Babylon
Jeremiah 28:3-4
c. 605 BC c. 597 BC
Who should I believe?
If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and
the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’
which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that
prophet or that dreamer of dreams.
Deuteronomy 13:1-3

17. HananiahJeremiah
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts …
serve the king of Babylon seventy years
Jeremiah 25:11
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts … within
two years I will bring back … all the
exiles from Judah who went to Babylon
Jeremiah 28:3-4
c. 605 BC c. 597 BC
Who should I believe?
If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and
the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’
which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of
that prophet or that dreamer of dreams.
Deuteronomy 13:1-3

18. HananiahJeremiah
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts …
serve the king of Babylon seventy years
Jeremiah 25:11
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts … within
two years I will bring back … all the
exiles from Judah who went to Babylon
Jeremiah 28:3-4
c. 605 BC c. 597 BC
Who should I believe?
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.
Deuteronomy 18:22

19. HananiahJeremiah
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts …
serve the king of Babylon seventy years
Jeremiah 25:11
Thus says Jehovah of Hosts … within
two years I will bring back … all the
exiles from Judah who went to Babylon
Jeremiah 28:3-4
c. 605 BC c. 597 BC
Who should I believe?
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.
Deuteronomy 18:22

20. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Good Fruits

21. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Good Fruits
True righteousness

22. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Good Fruits
True righteousness
Poor in spirit
Mourn
Meek
Hunger & thirst for righteousness
Merciful
Pure in heart
Peacemakers
Rejoice when persecuted

23. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Good Fruits
True righteousness
Righteousness from the heart

24. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Good Fruits
True righteousness
Practice righteousness

25. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Good Fruits
True righteousness
Bad Fruits

26. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Good Fruits
True righteousness
Bad Fruits
certain people have crept in unnoticed … who
pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and
deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:4

27. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Good Fruits
True righteousness
Bad Fruits
false prophets also arose among the people …
denying the Master … and many will follow
their sensuality … and in their greed they will
exploit you with false words.
2 Peter 2:1-3

28. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Good Fruits
True righteousness
Deny Master
Bad Fruits

29. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Good Fruits
True righteousness
Deny Master
Bad Fruits
Sensuality

30. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Good Fruits
True righteousness
Deny Master
Bad Fruits
Sensuality
Greed

31. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Good Fruits
True righteousness
Deny Master
Bad Fruits
Sensuality
Greed
Authority of Jesus

32. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Good Fruits
True righteousness
Deny Master
Bad Fruits
Sensuality
Greed
Authority of Jesus
Spiritually minded

33. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
Good Fruits
True righteousness
Deny Master
Bad Fruits
Sensuality
Greed
Authority of Jesus
Spiritually minded
Serve

34. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many

35. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
— Philosophy
— Human Tradition
— Elemental Spirits of the WorldColossians2:8

36. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
— Philosophy
— Human Tradition
— Elemental Spirits of the WorldColossians2:8
John 15:1-10

37. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
— Philosophy
— Human Tradition
— Elemental Spirits of the WorldColossians2:8
John 15:1-10
— Abide in Me

38. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
— Philosophy
— Human Tradition
— Elemental Spirits of the WorldColossians2:8
John 15:1-10
— Abide in Me
— My words abide in you

39. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many
— Philosophy
— Human Tradition
— Elemental Spirits of the WorldColossians2:8
John 15:1-10
— Abide in Me
— My words abide in you
— Abide in My love

40. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Diseased
Healthy
Good
Bad
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many

41. Destruction
Choosing the Path of
True Righteousness
Matthew 7:13-27
LIFE
Kingdom
of Heaven
Healthy
Good
False
Prophets
Narrow
Few
Wide
Easy
Life
Destruction
Hard
Many

42. We implore you on
behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:20

43. Photo Credits:
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Figs: https://pixabay.com/en/fig-ficus-carica-fruit-fresh-1356770/
Thorns: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-and-white-thornbush-thorns-263764/

44. Righteousness in the Kingdom of Heaven
#27
Recognizing a False Prophet
Matthew 7:15-20
Compiled and Presented by:
Dave Stewart
2018 April 22
www.1corinthians1614.com
Synopsis: Jesus has warned us to beware of false prophets and goes on to remind us that we can know
them by their fruits. His sermon on the mount has provided an understanding of good fruit: true
righteousness. Other passages help us understand bad fruit and amplify our our knowledge of good fruit.
“Let all that you do be done with love.”
"Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway
Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”