Jesus explains to us in the Gospel of Saint Matthew how to recognize false prophets, they are the masters of deception, they are wolves in sheep's clothing, and their objective is the teaching of error (heresy), the danger of deception is that it is a a form of oppression: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruits you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.", Matthew 7:15-20
Jesus compares men to trees because living beings, like spiritual gifts, are progressive. Good and truth bear fruits of life, on the other hand deception and lies bear fruits of death and destruction; the fruits of the spirit and the works of the flesh are the ultimate goals of human life according to the bible:
"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law"; Galatians 5:19-23.
Teaching is like leaven, Jesus explains to us that is why we must choose well between good and bad teachers (false prophets), we learn by imitation: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.", Matthew 16:5
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