[8] For this is what Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Isra’el, says: ‘Don’t let your prophets who are living among you and your diviners deceive you, and don’t pay attention to the dreams you urge them to dream. [9] For they are prophesying falsely in my name; I have not sent them,’ says Adonai. Jeremiah 29:8-9
On multiple occasions, Jeremiah made a point to call out and warn against the false prophets that were leading his people in the wrong direction. Promising peace when Adonai was bringing anything but shalom to Jerusalem. In this letter, he warns for the people to not let the false prophets in exile deceive them because they were not sent by Adonai.
Beguile or deceive in Hebrew is the word nasha (naw-shaw). נשא Nasha finds its roots in the garden of Eden when the serpent tricked Eve into eating the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adonai, God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me, so I ate.” Genesis 3:13 Deception was the first tool the enemy used in his toolbox and with that one strike, he was able to bring about the fall of mankind. Since then, he has planted seeds of deception throughout the ages. Paul even wrote the church in Corinth speaking to them of the very heart of deception from the garden, and issued a warning to them, just as Jeremiah did to the Children of Israel while they were in Babylon. And I fear that somehow your minds may be seduced away from simple and pure devotion to the Messiah, just as Havah (Eve) was deceived by the serpent and his craftiness. 2 Corinthians 11:3
With the seeds of deception sown, false prophets grew among the true prophets of Adonai like weeds. After their deliverance from Egypt, Adonai gave Moses the Torah and found within its laws are words concerning false prophets.
[1(12:32)] Everything I am commanding you, you are to take care to do. Do not add to it or subtract from it. [2(1)] If a prophet or someone who gets messages while dreaming arises among you and he gives you a sign or wonder, [3(2)] and the sign or wonder comes about as he predicted when he said, ‘Let’s follow other gods, which you have not known; and let us serve them,’ [4(3)] you are not to listen to what that prophet or dreamer says. For Adonai your God is testing you, in order to find out whether you really do love Adonai your God with all your heart and being. [5(4)] You are to follow Adonai your God, fear him, obey his mitzvot, listen to what he says, serve him and cling to him; [6(5)] and that prophet or dreamer is to be put to death; because he urged rebellion against Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from a life of slavery; in order to seduce you away from the path Adonai your God ordered you to follow. This is how you are to rid your community of this wickedness. Deuteronomy 13:1(12:32)-6(5)
[20] But if a prophet presumptuously speaks a word in my name which I didn’t order him to say, or if he speaks in the name of other gods, then that prophet must die. [21] You may be wondering, ‘How are we to know if a word has not been spoken by Adonai?’ [22] When a prophet speaks in the name of Adonai, and the prediction does not come true – that is, the word is not fulfilled – then Adonai did not speak that word. The prophet who said it spoke presumptuously; you have nothing to fear from him. Deuteronomy 18:20-22
False prophets were considered wicked according to the Word of Adonai and engaging in false prophecy carried a death penalty. Adonai, who is righteous would not tolerate the unrighteous leading his people into apostasy. As their history would progress, false prophets would arise time and time again. Elijah challenged the false prophets of Ba’al on Mount Carmel, and at the end of that showdown, he killed every single one of them that was there. Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel would speak of false prophets using the word “whitewash” which in the Hebrew is siyd (seed). Its other definition is “lime” as tombs in Israel were whitewashed with lime. This was done so that people would recognize the tombs and not go near them due to the purity laws.
[11] Anyone who touches a corpse, no matter whose dead body it is, will be unclean for seven days. [12] He must purify himself with [these ashes] on the third and seventh days; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself the third and seventh days, he will not be clean. [13] Anyone who touches a corpse, no matter whose dead body it is and does not purify himself has defiled the tabernacle of Adonai. That person will be cut off from Isra’el, because the water for purification was not sprinkled on him. He will be unclean; his uncleanness is still on him. Numbers 19:11-13
Her prophets have “plastered” for them with whitewash, seeing false visions and giving lies for them, saying, “Thus says Adonai Elohim,” when Adonai has not spoken. Ezekiel 22:28
The visions your prophets saw for you were futile, just a whitewash. They did not expose your guilt, so as to reverse your fortunes – no, the visions they saw for you were alluring, but futile. Lamentations 2:14
Yeshua would speak of whitewash in His cry against the scribes and Pharisees, and it no doubt increased their own thoughts of blasphemy towards Him, and their belief that He Himself was a false prophet. [27] Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P’rushim! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look fine on the outside but inside are full of dead people’s bones and all kids of rottenness. [28] Likewise, you appear to people from the outside to be good and honest, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and far from Torah. Matthew 23:27-28
Just as the prophets of the Old Testament stood against the false prophets of their day, Yeshua would also stand and warn not just His first century followers of false prophets, He would warn us as well. As Jeremiah before Him would implore the people to not be deceived, so Yeshua does each of us.
[15] Beware of the false prophets! They come to you wearing sheep’s clothing, but underneath they are hungry wolves! [16] You will recognize them by their fruit. Can people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? [17] Likewise, every healthy tree produces good fruit, but a poor tree produces bad fruit. [18] A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, or a poor tree good fruit. [19] Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire! [20] So you will recognize them by their fruit. [21] Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants. [22] On that Day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! Didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we expel demons in your name? Didn’t we perform many miracles in your name?’ [23] Then I will tell them to their faces, ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:15-23
[4] Yeshua replied: “Watch out! Don’t let anyone fool you! [5] For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. Matthew 24:4-5
[10] At that time many will be trapped into betraying and hating each other, [11] many false prophets will appear and fool many people; [12] and many people’s love will grow cold because of increased distance from Torah. Matthew 24:10-12
[23] At that time, if someone says to you, ‘Look! Here’s the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ don’t believe him. [24] For there will appear false Messiahs and false prophets performing great miracles – amazing things! – so as to fool even the chosen, if possible. [25] There! I have told you in advance! [26] So if people say to you, ‘Listen! He’s out in the desert!’ don’t go; or ‘Look! He’s hidden away in a secret room!’ don’t believe it. [27] For when the Son of Man does come, it will be like lightning that flashes out of the east and fills the sky to the western horizon. Matthew 24:23-27 (Mark 13:21-23)
How many false Messiahs, teachers, and prophets have we seen rise over the last few decades and lead countless people to destruction? How heartbreaking to know so many people were deceived and led astray, just as the serpent deceived Eve and led her into disobedience. We must always be watchful and keeping our eyes upon Yeshua-Jesus, seeking the Kingdom of Adonai and His righteousness, treasuring the word in our hearts so that we do not sin against Him. We must heed the words of Paul and Peter as they too warned about the deception of false prophets and teachers.
[17] I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put snares alongside the teaching in which you have been trained – keep away from them. [18] For men like these are not serving our Lord the Messiah but their own belly; by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the innocent. Romans 16:17-18
[3] For the time is coming when people will not have patience for sound teaching but will cater to their passions and gather around themselves teachers who will say whatever their ears itch to hear. [4] Yes, they will stop listening to the truth, but will turn aside to follow myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4
[1] But among the people there were also false prophets, just as there will be false teachers among you. Under false pretenses they will introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and thus bring on themselves swift destruction. [2] Many will follow their debaucheries; and because of them, the true Way will be maligned. [3] In their greed they will exploit you with fabricated stories. 2 Peter 2:1-3
We are truly living in the last days and can see the signs of it everywhere we look. All one has to do is turn on the TV to see the words of these verses ringing forth. But as loud as the deception of the enemy is, we must proclaim Yeshua, Son of the Living God, Messiah, Savior of the world even louder. We must be the watchmen on the walls sounding the call as Jeremiah did in his letter to the exiles. If these are the days of Elijah, then we must rise and stand against the prophets of Ba’al as he did. If these are the days of Noah, then we must keep building the kingdom, imploring those we know to get in the ark before it’s too late. If these are the days of Ezekiel, then we must prophecy to the dry bones of this nation to rise in Adonai once more. If these are the days of Isaiah, we must boldly declare, “Here I am, send me!” And if these are the days of Yirmeyahu, Jeremiah, we must stand, with that fire shut up in our bones, and speak truth, declare the Word of the Lord, and not be moved no matter what deceptions the enemy tries to entrap our friends and loved ones with. For You, children, are from God and have overcome the false prophets, because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
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