The Test of Timeਨਮੂਨਾ

Day 2) Beware Of False Prophets

Three Signs Of A Trustworthy Teacher

1) Authenticity

“‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.’” (Matthew 7:15 ESV)

Jesus, the ultimate trustworthy Teacher, closes one of His most famous sermons with a warning about false prophets who would come. The term “false prophets” in the original Greek (pseudoprophētēs) literally refers to those who “utter falsehoods under the name of divine prophecies.” These are people who present themselves as Christians spreading a Christian message, but whose words contradict God’s Word. No matter how cool or compelling someone looks or sounds, the way to discern whether someone is worth listening to is by studying the content of what they say and measuring it against what the Bible says.

2) Fruitfulness

“You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.” (Matthew 7:16-18 ESV)

A teacher’s authenticity can be confirmed by examining the fruit of their labor. The ultimate test is whether the people they teach are growing closer to Jesus and demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit in their lives. This “fruit” is described in Paul’s letter to the Galatians:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

If both the teacher and their followers are living lives marked by this fruit, it is a strong sign that they are genuine and worthy of being listened to.

3) Longevity

“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:19-20 ESV)

This is not to say we should never listen to new teachers, but longevity is often a sign of a trustworthy one. If someone’s life or ministry is built on a dishonest foundation, it likely will not last when difficult times come. However, when a life or ministry is built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, it is far more likely to endure.

Big Idea: A trustworthy teacher is marked by authenticity, fruitfulness, and longevity—all rooted in alignment with God’s Word. When we learn to recognize these qualities, we can confidently follow leaders who point us closer to Jesus and avoid those who will lead us astray.

Let’s Think About This:

Question 1) What are some practical ways we can discern whether a teacher’s message aligns with God’s Word?

Question 2) How does examining the “fruit” of someone’s life and ministry help reveal their true character and motives?

Question 3) Why is longevity such an important indicator of trustworthiness, and how can we apply that principle when choosing who to learn from?