Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: Discerning True Teachers

John the Baptist had challenged his hearers, notably the Jerusalem religious leaders, asking, “Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon? Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives” (Matthew 3:7-8). Jesus echoed and expanded that imagery. We still discern a fruit tree’s health not by its appearance but by the fruit it bears. What matters spiritually is not how pious we look, but whether our lives reflect the principles of God’s kingdom.

• These verses, expanding on Matthew 7:6, apply when we hear another story about a religious leader whose integrity falls short, whether sexually, financially or in some other way. Jesus’ principle helps locate leaders to trust, too. What kind of “fruit”—character qualities, consistent patterns of behavior—do you find most valuable and nourishing in a spiritual leader or teacher? What red flags warn you that someone’s fruit is bad?
• It may seem like a fairy tale image: a wolf dressing like a sheep? Scholar William Barclay said Jesus drew on an Old Testament image: “[A shepherd’s] garment was a sheepskin, worn with the skin outside and the fleece inside…. sometimes that garb was worn by those who had no right to wear it. Zechariah in his picture of the great days to come says, ‘He will not put on a hairy mantle in order to deceive’ (Zechariah 13:4).” * How can you assess if a would-be “shepherd” aligns with Jesus? Do they display humility or arrogance? Do they serve or seek power?