Matthew 7:15 (KJV)

Passage

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Nearby Context

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

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

Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Matthew 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "sheep", "beware", "false", "prophets", "come", "clothing", "inwardly", and "ravening". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "sheep" and "beware", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "Because strait is the gate and narrow..." into verse 16's "Ye shall know them by their fruits...", so "sheep" and "beware" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "sheep" and "beware" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.