Read Ezekiel 13
False Prophets Condemned
13 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: ‘Hear the word of the Lord! 3 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins.5 You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord. 6 Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words. 7 Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken?
8 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord. 9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lyingdivinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.
10 “‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash,11 therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. 12 When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?”
13 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury. 14 I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When itfalls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord. 15 So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, 16 those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.”’
17 “Now, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them 18 and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own? 19 You have profaned me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live.
20 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds. 21 I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 22 Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives, 23 therefore you will no longer see false visionsor practice divination. I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
Go Deeper
In this passage, we see the condemnation of false prophets. These people were not accidentally giving incorrect information. They were purposefully deceiving by specifically claiming in verse 7 that “The Lord declares,” when the Lord had not spoken to them. The Bible tells us in James 3:1 that teachers will be “judged more strictly” due to their position of power and increased ability to impact many people. However, it is our responsibility to guard against these false teachings, and there are different ways we can accomplish this.
First, we need to be in the Bible! Proverbs 4:13 says “Hold onto instruction, do not let it go.” We can find recurring themes in the Bible of ideas and correct practices. The Bible will not contradict itself in most of these areas because it is coming from the same source, God. When we are constantly exposed to Truth by reading scripture, we can more easily identify false truths coming from other sources.
We need to always be skeptical of something that sounds easy! In verse 5 and 10, the false prophets are found encouraging the people to avoid working to repair the flimsy wall and lying about the time being peaceful. It’s true that God wants us to find peace in His promises, but this was not the sentiment being encouraged here. They were being encouraged with a peace of deception of no impending battles. It is much easier to be at peace and relaxing instead of stressed and working. In John 16:33, Jesus encourages His followers that “…In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” As followers of Christ, we are told to expect to face many trials and tests of endurance. Teachings that tell us the opposite or seem easy should be taken carefully!
We should surround ourselves with fellow believers that are dedicated to reading scripture and walking with God. Proverbs 27:17 tells us that one person can sharpen another, and Proverbs 11:14 tells us that “victory is won through many advisors.” By surrounding ourselves with steadfast believers and not fools, we can safeguard ourselves from false teachings. God can use them to speak Truth from the Bible into our lives.
Lastly, with all of these safeguards, don’t let the false prophets and lies harden your heart against true prophets and God’s word! Sometimes healthy skepticism can bridge into unhealthy skepticism and prevent us from enjoying the real Truth and the promise, joy and freedom it contains!
Questions
- How have you put the above practices into place?
- How can you make time to surround yourself with believers and be a support for others?
- Are there parts of your life where you have let skepticism limit your ability to encounter God in different ways? Discuss this with your Life Group!
Keep Digging
Check out this article from GotQuestions.org on how to spot false teachers and false prophets!
4 thoughts on “Ezekiel 13”
As believers, we have built in accountability through scripture, the Holy Spirit, and other Christ followers as we navigate life. These provisions are precious and providentially provided by a loving God who desires for us to thrive. I’m deeply grateful for HC and the biblical models followed that keep us grounded in our faith and gospel driven. The mission statement of HC states, “We exist to help everyone follow Jesus, by engaging the lost, equipping the saints, and empowering members for service.” Part of equipping comes as we delve into God’s word everyday and engage with the truth of scripture that exposes the lies around us. 2 Corinthians 10:5 instructs believers this way:
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
God is so good, oh so good!!! He is loving, patient, kind, gentle, tender hearted, but He has limits. He warns us about His limitations and the end results of those. 2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. In Acts 20: 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. By our fruit we are known. Col 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
God thank You for wisdom to know when I am being hoodwinked or whitewashed. God thank You for my fruit being evident in my crazy tree. I am grateful, thankful and blessed beyond measure. I love every breath You have and are giving me. Help my breaths be a glory to You. I desire my walk minutely to be effervescent Your essence. Help me to be focused in on You and in oneness with You in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Matthew 7:15
From the Go Deeper section: “The Bible will not contradict itself in most of these areas because it is coming from the same source, God.”
Can someone help me understand the phrase “in most of these areas”? Is this saying there are places where the Bible does contradict itself?