Wolves in sheep's clothing
According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, the following is the meaning of the above term.
“A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing is an idiom of Biblical origin. It is used of those playing a role contrary to their real character, with whom contact is dangerous. As a fable it has been falsely credited to Aesop and the theme is now numbered 451 in the Perry Index. The confusion has arisen from the similarity of the theme with fables of Aesop concerning wolves that are mistakenly trusted by shepherds; the moral drawn from these is that one's basic nature eventually betrays itself.
The phrase originates in a sermon by Jesus recorded in the Christian New Testament: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves (Gospel of Matthew 7:15, King James Version). The sermon then suggests that their true nature will be revealed by their actions (by their fruits shall ye know them, verse 16). In the centuries following, the phrase was used many times in the Latin writings of the Church Fathers and later on in European vernacular literature. A Latin proverb also emerged, Pelle sub agnina latitat mens saepe lupina (Under a sheep’s skin often hides a wolfish mind). Although the story of a wolf disguised as a sheep has been counted as one of Aesop's Fables in modern times, there is no record of a fable with this precise theme before the Middle Ages, although there are earlier fables of Aesop in Greek sources to which the Gospel parable might allude.”
The Lord Jesus Christ warned His followers, "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matt. 7:15). The warning was important because Jesus later said to them: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves" (Matt. 10:16).
The apostle Paul, with a deeply troubled spirit and in tears, penned a similar warning: "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock" (Acts 20:29). Throughout church history these warnings concerning professing Christians who deceive even the elect have seldom been taken seriously. How can the church be so easily deceived? According to Webster’s Dictionary "deceive" means "to lead astray or to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid." Could it be the church has not only lost its ability to discern truth from error but also to discern wolves from sheep?
Let us now deal with the applicability of the above Scriptures to the present day Christianity.
In his sermon, Jesus while talking about false prophets referred to those false religious leaders who prophesied in the names of their gods. Jesus never referred to the New Testament preachers who prophesy in Jesus’ Name or who preach the gospel. According to Jesus Christ, these false prophets can be exposed by their fruits.
Secondly, Paul admonished the church of Ephesus through a word of prophecy about some men who would arise from among them – speaking perverse things and making disciples after them.
After my departure - His presence had been the means of guarding the church, and preserving it from these dangers. Now that the founder and guide of the church was to be removed, they would be exposed to dissensions and dangers.
Grievous wolves - Heavy βαρεῖς bareis, strong, mighty, dangerous wolves - so strong that the feeble flock would not be able to resist them. The term "wolves" is used to denote "the enemies of the flock - false, and hypocritical, and dangerous teachers." Paul referred particularly to the Jews, who might be expected to distract and divide them.
Not sparing the flock - Seeking to destroy the church. The Jews would regard it with special hostility, and would seek to destroy it in every way. Probably they would approach them with great professed friendship for them, and expressing a desire only to defend the laws of Moses.
Can we apply the word of prophecy spoken by Paul about a particular group of people who distracted the early disciples from their faith in Jesus Christ, to the New Testament ministers of this century who lay over emphasis on blessings through faith or blessings through sowing of seeds in their ministries?
Wolves in sheep’s clothing are either false prophets who preach other ways of salvation than the glorious gospel or false teachers among us who do not spare the Lord’s sheep. These false teachers in the Body of Christ with their partial knowledge of the Scriptures attack the Lord’s sheep by their erroneous teaching so as to lead them astray from the Christian faith and making the Lord’s sheep as their own sheep. The victims fall easy prey to their doctrines and go away from the fold of the Shepherd, especially from His Body. Through their art of preaching, they separate their victims from the Body of Christ and make them their own sheep. The false teachers also attack the weak sheep exaggerating their imperfections. They feed on the flesh (imperfections) of saints. The only aim of the false teachers is to destroy the Church, the Body of Christ by falling into the hands of the spirit of the Antichrist. The false teachers are high-minded with pride reigning in their lives and blinded by hatred and unrighteousness. You have to flee from these false teachers who are on the prowl in the Christian Cyber World which is prone to such attacks. The people of God who are not under the authority of the elders in their local churches are susceptible to such attacks in the Christian Cyber World.
- Job Anbalagan