Matthew 7:15 (WEB)
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
Catechism · 1
“Jesus reproaches the scribes and Pharisees on this account: he likens them to wolves in sheep's clothing.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 7:15.
Fathers and councils · 37
Augustine of Hippo
“Not this saith He: but when he had said, “Many will come to you in sheep’s clothing, but within are ravening wolves;” He went on to say, not, By your lies, but, “By their fruits ye shall know them.”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 15, 16
Read the whole comment“Now the wolf is the devil, he lieth in wait to deceive, and they that follow him; for it is said that “they are clothed indeed with the skins of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 15.
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Catena Aurea on John
- Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
“(Matt. 7:15)” — the author cites it
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“Many wolves are going about in sheeps’ clothing, their clothing being that of sheep, not so their claws and teeth: but clad in their soft skin, and deceiving the innocent by their appearance, they shed upon them from their fangs the destructive poison of ungodliness.” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 15. The same text is applied to Heretics by Ignatius, Philadelph. ii. and by Irenæus, L. I. c. i. § 2.
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Eusebius of Caesarea
“…and they forbade him to talk, remembering the distinction drawn by the Lord and his warning to guard watchfully against the coming of false prophets.” — editor's note: Cf. Matt. vii. 15.
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Justin Martyr
“For he said, ‘Many shall come in My name, clothed outwardly in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.’ ” And, ‘There shall be schisms and heresies.’” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 15.
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Athanasius of Alexandria
“On this account, the wolf puts on the skin of the sheep, sepulchres deceive by their whitened exteriors.” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 15; xxiii. 27.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
“…outwardly to fawn on any one, they inwardly hate him; of such He spoke above; “They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” [Matt 7:15] For prevention whereof we ought to consider that we are sent as sheep among wolves, whose innocence we ought to preserve, not having the tooth of…” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
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…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
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…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
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…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
What is written below that “the Law and the Prophets were until John,” [Matt 11:13] is said, because there should be no prophecy concerning Christ after He was come. Prophets indeed there have been and are, but not…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Yet He may seem here to have aimed under the title of “false prophets,” not so much at the heretic, as at those who, while their life is corrupt, yet wear an outward face of virtuousness; whence it is said, “By their…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Wherefore it is justly asked, what fruits then He would have us look to? For many esteem among fruits some things which pertain to the sheep’s clothing, and in this manner are deceived concerning wolves. For they…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The fruits of a man are the confession of his faith and the works of his life; for he who utter according to God the words of humility and a true confession, is the sheep; but he who against the truth howls forth…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
What is here spoken of false prophets we may apply to all whose dress and speech promise one thing, and their actions exhibit another. But it is specially to be understood of heretics, who by observing temperance,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
But from their actions we may conjecture whether this their outward appearance is put on for display. For when by any temptations those things are withdrawn or denied them which they had either attained or sought to…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
Also the hypocrite is restrained by peaceful times of Holy Church, and therefore appears clothed with godliness; but let any trial of faith ensue, straight the wolf ravenous at heart strips himself of his sheep’s…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
And the hypocrite is easily discerned; for the way they are commanded to walk is a hard way, and the hypocrite is loth to toil. And that you may not say that you are unable to find out them that are such, He again…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The grape had in it a mystery of Christ. As the bunch sustains many grapes held together by the woody stem, so likewise Christ holds many believers joined to Him by the wood of the Cross. The fig again is the Church…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
In this place we must guard against the error of such [margin note: Manichees] as imagine that the two trees refer to two different natures; the one of God, the other not. But we affirm that they derive no…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
These men of whom we have spoken are offended with these two natures, not considering them according to their true usefulness; whereas it is not by our advantage or disadvantage, but in itself considered, that nature…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
But that none should say, An evil tree brings forth indeed evil fruit, but it brings forth also good, and so it becomes hard to discern, as it has a two-fold produce; on this account He adds, “A good tree cannot…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
From this speech the Manichees suppose that neither can a soul that is evil be possibly changed for better, nor one that is good into worse. As though it had been, A good tree cannot become bad, nor a bad tree become…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
And man is denominated a good tree, or a bad, after his will, as it is good or bad. His fruit is his works, which can neither be good when the will is evil, nor evil when it is good.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
But as it is manifest that all evil works proceed from an evil will, as its fruits from an evil tree; so of this evil will itself whence will you say that it has sprung, except that the evil will of an angel sprung…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
We would ask those heretics who affirm that there are two natures directly opposed to each other, if they admit that a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, how it was possible for Moses, a good tree, to sin as he…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
He had not enjoined them to punish the false prophets, and therefore shews them the terrors of that punishment that is of God, saying, “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down, and cast into…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
From the foregoing similitude He draws the conclusion to what He had said before, as being now manifest, saying, “Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
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Basil the Great
“Men like this are ravening wolves covered with sheep’s clothing, as the Lord calls them.” — editor's note: cf. Matt. vii. 15.
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John Chrysostom
““Beware of false prophets, for they will come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 15. [“For they will come” is substituted by Chrysostom for “which come,” but without any mss. authority known to us.—R.]
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Jerome
“No; it is because they know that the name virgin brings glory with it, that they go about as wolves in sheep’s clothing.” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 15.
Read the whole comment“You were only a wolf in sheep’s clothing; and having played the adulterer once towards the wife of a man, you desired now to play the adulterer to the spouse of Christ.” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 15.
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Leo the Great
“There are some “in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves:” whom we know by their fruit.” — editor's note: S. Matt. vii. 15.
Read the whole comment“For they “come,” as the Saviour foretold, “in sheeps’ clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves;” because they could not deceive the true and simple sheep, unless they covered their bestial rage with the name of Christ.” — editor's note: S. Matt. vii. 15.
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Ambrose of Milan
“We then were wild beasts, and therefore the Lord said: “Beware of false prophets, which come in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. vii. 15.
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Tertullian
“The Lord teaches us that many “ravening wolves shall come in sheep’s clothing.”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 15.
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Cross-references · 27
Cited together in Gregory the Great on Matthew 10:16–18 (Catena Aurea) and 1 other place.
Cited together in Gregory the Great on Matthew 10:16–18 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Gregory the Great on Matthew 10:16–18 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Catechism §2285 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Church History V.16.
Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 35.
Cited together in Catechism §2285.
Cited together in Catechism §2285.
Cited together in Catechism §2285.
Cited together in Catechism §2285.
Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 35 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 16.
Cited together in The Prescription Against Heretics Chapter 3.
Cited together in The Prescription Against Heretics Chapter 3.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 16.
Cited together in Letters Letter 22.
Cited together in Letters Letter 22.
Cited together in Letters Letter 22.
Cited together in Hexaemeron Homily 7.
Cited together in Hexaemeron Homily 7.
Cited together in Hexaemeron Homily 7.
Cited together in Hexaemeron Homily 7.
Cited together in Hexaemeron Homily 7.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 16.
Cited together in Letters Letter 22.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 16.
Cited together in Hexaemeron Homily 7.