Wolves in Sheep’s
Clothing
Lesson 23 “Apostasy”
Matthew 7:15, 16
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s
clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Ye shall know
them by their fruits.
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What is more dangerous, a sheep
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or a wolf?
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Or, maybe, a wolf in sheep’s clothing?
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What are some characteristics of wolves?
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Ravenous--really hungry!
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They howl to assemble the pack, to pass an
alarm, to locate each other, and to
communicate across great distances.
They are predators and hunt by wearing
their prey down in short chases.
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Sheep, on the other hand, do not hunt.
They graze.
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They have excellent skills, however.
They have good hearing and are sensitive to
noise.
They have excellent peripheral vision (their
pupils are horizontal slits) and can see behind
themselves without turning their heads, but
they have poor depth perception, and shadows
and dips in the ground may cause them to balk.
When disturbed, they prefer to move uphill
where it is more well-lit than the shadowy dips.
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They have an excellent sense of smell.
Sheep have a herd mentality which
means they prefer to be in a flock
rather than to be solitary.
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Sheep, however, have little ability to
defend themselves and are easy prey.
Their primary defense is to flee from
danger.
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Jesus said false prophets are like
ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Why do you think he made this
comparison?
False prophets aren’t going to eat you,
are they?
But they want something from you.
What is it?
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Remember, sheep are not loners. They
like to flock together, and they like to
follow a leader.
A false prophet it looking for a
following, and sheep are the perfect
followers!
That is why a shepherd is so
important.
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If the Sheep know their leader and
know that he or she will take them to
green pastures and good water, they
will follow the shepherd. Sheep are not
driven, or herded, but are led.
If the shepherd regularly feeds them,
all he has to do is carry a bucket of
feed, and they will follow him.
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Jesus, however, wants us to be intelligent
sheep!
We are not to agree with everything we hear
about spiritual matters. We are to think first
and compare it with Scripture!
That is why he next said we will know the
false prophets by their fruits. We are to be
discerning and not follow anyone or anything
without first testing the person or the
doctrine.
Can you think of some examples of false
teachings?
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Can you think of some examples of false
teachings?
1. Sunday sacredness
2. Trinitarian doctrine
3. Immortal soul
4. Purgatory
5. Confession to a priest
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Through the two great errors, the
immortality of the soul and Sunday
sacredness, Satan will bring the
people under his deceptions. (The
Great Controversy, p. 588)
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The Scriptures are our only safeguard.
None but those who have fortified the
mind with the truths of the Bible will
stand through the last great conflict.
(The Great Controversy, p. 593)
The truth and the glory of God are
inseparable; it is impossible for us, with
the Bible within our reach, to honor
God by erroneous opinions. (Ibid., p. 597)
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Our Great
safeguard!
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Credits:
Slide 3: Kevin Law
Slide 5: Robert Dewar
Slide 7: Pierre Tourigny
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