"By their fruits ye shall know them..."

The Saviour, in the sermon on the mount, warned the people that there would be many people who will claim to be prophets of God, but in fact are really false prophets:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves...
-Matthew 7:15

... Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
- Matthew 7:22 - 23

However, the Saviour never said in his sermon that EVERY man who claims to be a prophet is a false prophet. He has given us a very important hint to help us be able to identify whether a man who claims to be a prophet really is of God or not:

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
- Matthew 7:16 - 20

We can recognize whether a person claiming to be a prophet is a true prophet of God by their "fruits" e.g. their actions, their behaviour towards their fellow men, and whether their teachings are in accordance with the Saviour's teachings.

Further discussion on this topic will be given in a later post....