How do you Identify Wolves in Sheep's Clothing?

[AlexDTX]

Not sparing the flock wolves come in fiercly to harm with ill-intentions. Christ says to expect and deflect because many sheep are among the wolves just as tares are among the wheat.

True, but I think that when Jesus said I send you as lambs among wolves, I don't think he meant in the congregation. I think he meant in the world. I once read that Satanists pretend to be Christians so they can wreck havoc in congregations. That does not mean in the obvious way but by craftiness and sneakiness.

 

[AlexDTX]

Wolves attack/injure/kill/scatter/harm the sheep ...

When they are blatantly wolves, not when they are pretending to be sheep. Also, what you say is true but is evident only after the fact. By the time attacks, injuries, killing and scattering have occurred, it is too late. Damage is done. We are to recognize them before they do harm.

 

[AlexDTX]

I would add not only do wolves scatter the sheep, but they devour them. To me, the most obvious wolves are those who fatten themselves in some way by feeding upon the flock. Before anyone jumps to one conclusion or another, I've seen this done both from those who who lead, and from those who follow. It can be done in a number of ways.

I can't judge anyone's heart. But I can see destructive practices sometimes that scatter, devour, make poor materially or spiritually. We must be on guard against such as that.

Good point, Anastasia. Wolves can be leaders and followers. Seeing destructive practices can be hard, too. Erosion is destructive, but it is done very slowly over a long period of time.

 

[AlexDTX]

Wolves are influenced by Satan, who is the thief who comes to steal kill and destroy (John 10:10) our faith in God

All people that are unregenerate are influenced by Satan since their sinful nature is his nature first. Why would anyone pretend to be a Christian in the first place? What about the the men of 2 Timothy 3:6 that seek silly women to seduce? Why seek Christian women? There are plenty of pagan women who have no objection to fornication. You are right in that these people are satanically inspired. I wonder if they even realize it. They may be unaware of what really drives them.

 

[AlexDTX]

Well He didn't come to bring peace, but the sword, is what He said.
And He will definitely destroy when He returns.
My point is not stating Jesus Christ was a wolf in that respect,
my point is that somebody causing division within a group of people who consider themselves Christians is not necessarily a wolf.
But then again, i think they often are wolves...
I think there are better indicators, like what they teach (or fail to teach) and if they're arrogant or not, and enriching themselves or not, etcetera.
They are false sheppards i.m.o., who in stead of care and herd the flock, mislead them into wrong directions.
But maybe my definition is not accurate.

I agree with much of what you say. Doctrine matters, for sure, but what doctrine? Eschatological? I don't think that matters. Paul speaks of sound doctrine, but what is that? Personally, I think sound doctrine increases faith in Christ and increases the sense of the life of Christ in a believer.

Your other comments of behavior and actions I think are excellent observations.

 

[AlexDTX]

So look at their beliefs, if their beliefs do not match the word of God then you know no matter how good they may look on the outside that they are an evil tree who ought to get cut down and cast into the fire.

I am convinced that our actions are certainly rooted in our beliefs, but when you say "if their beliefs do not match the word of God" I often wonder if that is subject to interpretation. One group believes one way, such as Calvinism, but another group believes in Arminism . Neither example means they are wolves in sheep's clothing, although, frankly, I think both beliefs have wolves that embrace them.

 

[AlexDTX]

If you find bad wolf preaching something contradictory to the word of truth then you can cath him and reveal him .

As I said, I think doctrine is a limited criteria and subject to a group's personal preference. If one group believes that the gifts of the Spirit ended after the canon of the New Testament, whereas another believes the gifts continue today, which doctrine is held by the wolves? Neither.

As others have said, intentions, seem to be salient consideration, but intentions are only understood in hindsight by the actions.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

True, but I think that when Jesus said I send you as lambs among wolves, I don't think he meant in the congregation. I think he meant in the world. I once read that Satanists pretend to be Christians so they can wreck havoc in congregations. That does not mean in the obvious way but by craftiness and sneakiness.

I don't know .. I think Ezekiel 34 says differently.

 

[A_Thinker]

When they are blatantly wolves, not when they are pretending to be sheep. Also, what you say is true but is evident only after the fact. By the time attacks, injuries, killing and scattering have occurred, it is too late. Damage is done. We are to recognize them before they do harm.

Jesus said ... "You shall know them by their fruits ... "

The biggest issue is that Christians will tend to stick with "wolf" leaders, even after this evidence appears.

That's why so many Christians followed Jim Jones down to Guyana ... and to their ultimate deaths.

Scripture is clear about what to do when you discover you are following a wolf ...

"From such turn away ... "

But we often have a hard time doing this ...

 

[AlexDTX]

I don't know .. I think Ezekiel 34 says differently.

Yes, the shepherds in Ezekiel 34 are sheering the sheep. That happens today, too.

 

[AlexDTX]

Jesus said ... "You shall know them by their fruits ... "

The biggest issue is that Christians will tend to stick with "wolf" leaders, even after this evidence appears.

That's why so many Christians followed Jim Jones down to Guyana ... and to their ultimate deaths.

Scripture is clear about what to do when you discover you are following a wolf ...

"From such turn away ... "

But we often have a hard time doing this ...

Yes, you are thinking. I think the story in Samuel may partly explain this. During the era of the Judges, Yahweh was their king and he gave them the freedom of self government. They had the Mosaic law, and they knew it. But as is the way of sinful man, they would periodically stray which removed the hedge of protection they had bringing outsiders against them. Then God would raise up a judge to deliver them and restore faith in God. These judges were not a continuous line. There were many years when no judge existed, but the people did what was right. Self government means personal responsibility and they, apparently, wanted to buck that responsibility. So they cried out for a human king to be like the other nations. In doing so, they rejected the king they already had: God.

I think this is why so many want a pastor and leadership. They want to pass on their own responsibility to another person. Then when the leadership is good, they believe it was because of their supporting the leader. But when it is bad they can blame the leader.

As for the Jim Jones tragedy. I think they had followed for so long, they could not admit they were wrong in following him. In a similar way, people who deny Christ all their lives are the hardest to win to Christ because the longer they denied him the more wrong they have to admit they were. No one wants to think their entire lives have been completely wrong, so they hunker down in resistance to the truth.

 

[MonstersvsMartyrs]

So, what kind of fruit will that be? What is bad fruit?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control." Galatians 5:22-23

The Vulgate lists 12 fruits: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-Control, Chastity.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh art obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Romans 28-32
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which art not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things art worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

2 Timothy 3:1-5
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

And how is love demonstrated? There are many who say they love others, and could even act like they do.

1 John 3
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Romans 13:10
Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

1 Corinthians 13
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.

1 John 3
No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

7Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

 

[MonstersvsMartyrs]

Galatians 1
6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

2 Corinthians 11
13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

 

[AlexDTX]

"But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control." Galatians 5:22-23

The Vulgate lists 12 fruits: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-Control, Chastity.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh art obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Romans 28-32
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which art not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things art worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

2 Timothy 3:1-5
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.


1 John 3
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Romans 13:10
Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

1 Corinthians 13
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.

1 John 3
No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

7Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

Excellent answer. Behavior of the wolves is how we recognize them. Also, like counterfeit money, the best way to spot counterfeits is to be so familiar with genuine that discrepancies are easy to spot.

I would add one more means of recognizing wolves, spiritual discernment. 1 John's description of the work of the Holy Spirit is in the context of recognizing anti-christs and false prophets.

1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
1Jn 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.​

"And ye know all things" is not a statement of omniscience on our part, but that we know who the antichrists are by the Holy Spirit. Further down John writes:

1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.​

"and ye need not that any man teach you" does not mean we do not need teachers, but is the same context of discerning who are the liars and the antichrist through the Holy Spirit.

 

[Halbhh]

Jesus warned us to watch out for wolves in sheep's clothing. Clearly this means identifying people who claim to be Christians but inwardly are ravening wolves. So are there any New Testament examples of people who were exposed as wolves in sheep's clothing? Some come to my mind, but I don't know if they fit the description.

Paul warns us, too. He says that in the last days perilous times shall come. Do we all agree that we are in the last days? Isn't this important to recognize.

2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.​

They have a form of godliness, but deny the power of God... ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Paul said,

1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
1Ti 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.​

Would you consider them wolves in sheep's clothing or just backsliders?

Paul said that Demas had forsaken him, having loved this present world and departed for Thessalonica (2 Tim. 4:10). Would that be a wolf, or simply a backslider?

What about the people that joined in the agape feasts that Jude refers to?

Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. ....

Jud 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. ....

Jud 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. ...

Jud 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Jud 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.​

Those are harsh words regarding people who are calling themselves Christians to be in their fellowship.

This is spiritual discernment and I believe every serious follower of Christ should have it. So help me understand what clues will demonstrate a wolf in sheep's clothing. Your feed back is greatly appreciated.

Of course, the answer would be the one Christ gave, as we get from reading fully in that chapter where it appears, Matthew ch 7. I'm glad you asked.

 

[AlexDTX]

Of course, the answer would be the one Christ gave, as we get from reading fully in that chapter where it appears, Matthew ch 7. I'm glad you asked.

Thank you for the response, and you are welcome.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Thankfully the Lord Jesus is standing in the breach that the wolves are trying to make in the walls of Christianity and against those "taking prey, by shedding blood and destroying souls in order to wrest unjust gain." Prayers for all those who are affected to be restored by the effectiveness of Jesus' healing.

 

[Halbhh]

Jesus warned us to watch out for wolves in sheep's clothing. Clearly this means identifying people who claim to be Christians but inwardly are ravening wolves. So are there any New Testament examples of people who were exposed as wolves in sheep's clothing? Some come to my mind, but I don't know if they fit the description.

Paul warns us, too. He says that in the last days perilous times shall come. Do we all agree that we are in the last days? Isn't this important to recognize.

2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.​

They have a form of godliness, but deny the power of God... ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Paul said,

1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
1Ti 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.​

Would you consider them wolves in sheep's clothing or just backsliders?

Paul said that Demas had forsaken him, having loved this present world and departed for Thessalonica (2 Tim. 4:10). Would that be a wolf, or simply a backslider?

What about the people that joined in the agape feasts that Jude refers to?

Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. ....

Jud 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. ....

Jud 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. ...

Jud 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Jud 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.​

Those are harsh words regarding people who are calling themselves Christians to be in their fellowship.

This is spiritual discernment and I believe every serious follower of Christ should have it. So help me understand what clues will demonstrate a wolf in sheep's clothing. Your feed back is greatly appreciated.

Best is His own wording, which is also the most complete and general --

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

It can help for those that don't know yet to read His rule about what is the good --

12 "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

 

[MonstersvsMartyrs]

2 John 1:6-9
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as thou have heard from the beginning, so that thou should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that thou may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. whomsoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

 

[Ken Rank]

Well He didn't come to bring peace, but the sword, is what He said.
And He will definitely destroy when He returns.
My point is not stating Jesus Christ was a wolf in that respect,
my point is that somebody causing division within a group of people who consider themselves Christians is not necessarily a wolf.
But then again, i think they often are wolves...
I think there are better indicators, like what they teach (or fail to teach) and if they're arrogant or not, and enriching themselves or not, etcetera.
They are false sheppards i.m.o., who in stead of care and herd the flock, mislead them into wrong directions.
But maybe my definition is not accurate.

Yes, he brought a sword but that is metaphoric (he really didn't bring a "sword") so there is beyond a literal meaning for that. My take is this.... God extended a hand of mercy to us when we didn't deserve it... we probably should be that way with others. In addition, Yeshua said, "blessed are the peacemakers," which means when you couple "love your neighbor" and "love you enemy" and "go to a brother who has wronged you" (and make peace) with "blessed are the peacemakers," then there might be a time to divide or bring a sword... but it seems the weight is on trying to bring peace to the body and those around us, not division. God actually "hates" when brothers cause division among brothers (see Prov. 6:16-19). A wolf doesn't bring peace.... he preys off the sheep and then attacks them. Often through manipulation... the result being we end up against each other but the catalyst of the fight was what the wolf encouraged us to do.