SHEEP OR WOLVES IN DISGUISE?

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Matthew 7:15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

A ravenous wolf clothed in sheep’s clothing will easily pass the external identification check. But beyond that, they will fail every test that looks beyond the exterior.

In terms of nomenclature, both wolves and sheep have a bit in common down to class: both are mammals. That is where their similarities end and their divergence emerge.

Thus, the things that bring excitement to wolves, mean nothing to sheep.
the meals that wolves prefer, go no where near the palate of sheep
the language that wolves speak, differ from that of sheep,

Therefore, Jesus presents the gold standard for discerning ‘by their fruits  you shall know them (vs 16)’. The key then is to know what fruits to look out for and with this, Saint Paul gives us a helping hand “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

That beloved, is our yardstick and our checklist. Where we cannot discern these fruits, we ought to begin to ask ‘are these ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing?

#sly