“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. The warning about false prophets follows naturally from the two-ways teaching: the narrow way has those who claim to be guides but are actually leading toward destruction. The sheep's clothing is the external presentation of harmlessness and belonging; the ravenous wolf is the internal reality of predatory self-interest. Ezekiel 34 describes false shepherds who exploit the flock; Acts 20:29–30 warns that after Paul's departure, savage wolves will enter among the Ephesians. The danger is not the obviously predatory leader but the plausible one — the one whose appearance is indistinguishable from genuine sheep.
Church Fathers on Matthew 7:15
The Lord had before commanded His Apostles, that they should not do their alms, prayers, and fastings before men, as the hypocrites; and that they might know that all these things may be done in hypocrisy, He speaks saying, 'Take heed of false prophets.'
When the Lord had said that there were few that find the strait gate and narrow way, that heretics, who often commend themselves because of the smallness of their numbers, might not here intrude themselves, He straightway subjoins, 'Take heed of false prophets.'
Having taught that the gate is strait, because there are many that pervert the way that leads to it, He proceeds, 'Take heed of false prophets.' In the which that they might be the more careful, He reminds them of the things that were done among their fathers, calling them 'false prophets;' for even in that day the like things fell out.