Immediately after telling His disciples to enter through the narrow gate, Jesus gives them another warning: “Beware of false prophets.” False prophets do not always appear dangerous. Jesus says that they come in sheep’s clothing. They may look spiritual. They may speak about God, quote Scripture, use Christian language, and appear to be trustworthy leaders. Yet Jesus warns that inwardly they may be ravenous wolves. How, then, can we distinguish what is true from what is false? Jesus gives us a clear principle: “You will know them by their fruits.” Look Beyond Appearance Jesus uses a simple picture from nature. We do not gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles. A healthy tree produces good fruit, while a corrupt tree produces bad fruit. Eventually, the fruit reveals the nature of the tree. This means that spiritual discernment requires us to look beyond words, appearances, titles, and reputation. We must look at the fruit. What does a person’s teaching prod...