Does the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing Know He’s the Wolf?

Jesus gave a serious warning:

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” — Matthew 7:15 KJV

We often read that verse and immediately start looking around.

Who is the wolf?

Is it that pastor? That person online? That person who hurt me? That person whose theology I disagree with?

But I want to ask a much more uncomfortable question:

Does the wolf in sheep’s clothing know he’s the wolf?

And maybe an even harder question:

What if it’s me?

Good Intentions Don’t Always Produce Good Fruit

Some of the greatest damage can be done by people who genuinely believe they are helping.

We can believe we are protecting someone when we are actually controlling them.

We can believe we are exposing something when we are actually gossiping.

We can believe we are standing for truth when pride has entered our heart.

We can believe we are discerning when we are actually accusing.

We can even believe we are protecting the church while becoming part of what is dividing it.

That’s what makes deception so dangerous.

The deceived person usually doesn’t know they are deceived.

Proverbs gives us this warning:

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” — Proverbs 14:12 KJV

Notice that Scripture doesn't say the way looked evil.

It seemed right.

That should humble every one of us.

Jesus Said to Look at the Fruit

When Jesus warned about wolves, He gave us an important principle:

“Ye shall know them by their fruits.” — Matthew 7:16 KJV

Fruit tells us something that intentions cannot.

I might have good intentions, but what am I actually producing?

That's a question worth sitting with.

Do I leave reconciliation behind me, or division?

Do my conversations bring healing, or do people walk away more offended?

Do I encourage people to talk to one another, or do I encourage them to talk about one another?

When there is conflict, do I seek restoration—or recruit people to my side?

Do my words point people toward Jesus, or toward my opinion of somebody else?

None of us will get this perfectly right. We will make mistakes. We will misunderstand people. We will sometimes say the wrong thing.

But there should be something in us willing to examine the fruit.

Because if everywhere I go there is division, broken relationships, accusations, gossip, and conflict, eventually I need to stop asking what is wrong with everyone else and have enough humility to ask:

“Lord, is there something in me that I’m not seeing?”

Discernment Must Include Ourselves

It is easy to ask God for discernment about everybody else.

“God, show me who I can trust.”

“God, expose their intentions.”

“God, show me what's really going on.”

But how often do we pray:

“God, expose my intentions.”

“Show me where I am wrong.”

“Show me where offense has influenced my thinking.”

“Show me if I have partnered with bitterness, pride, jealousy, fear, or accusation without realizing it.”

That is why David's prayer is so powerful:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” — Psalm 139:23–24 KJV

David wasn't asking God to search everybody around him.

He was asking God to search him.

What If I’m the One Who’s Wrong?

Those may be some of the hardest words for us to say.

What if I’m wrong?

What if I misunderstood?

What if what I called discernment was actually offense?

What if what I called correction became condemnation?

What if what I called protecting people was actually keeping reconciliation from happening?

What if I have unknowingly partnered with something that isn't from God?

That doesn't mean truth doesn't matter.

It doesn't mean we ignore sin.

It doesn't mean Christians should never confront something that is wrong.

It means that before I examine everyone else's heart, I need to be willing to let God examine mine.

And when He shows me something, I need to be willing to repent instead of defend myself.

Lord, Search Me First

Maybe today our prayer shouldn't begin with:

“God, show me the wolves.”

Maybe it should begin with:

“God, make sure I’m not becoming one.”

Search me.

Search my motives.

Search my conversations.

Search the things I say when the person isn't in the room.

Search the reasons behind my correction.

Search my relationships.

Search my fruit.

And if there is pride in me, expose it.

If there is bitterness, remove it.

If there is offense, heal it.

If I have caused division, give me the humility to seek reconciliation.

If I have called accusation discernment, correct me.

And if I have unknowingly partnered with something that isn't Your will, don't let me become so committed to being right that I refuse to repent.

Jesus said we would know them by their fruit.

So before we use that Scripture to examine everybody else, maybe we should have the courage to examine our own.

Lord, before I point the finger outward, search me inward.

And whatever You find that doesn't look like You—help me surrender it.

Pastor Scott