“Watch out for false prophets.”

That’s how Jesus starts out this week’s passage.

Check it out: Matthew 7:15-17.

Jesus goes on to talk about good fruit versus bad fruit, and how we can know people by their fruit. But this fruit discussion follows immediately after the false prophets statement.

I’ve heard people refer to the fruit in a lot of different circumstances. Most of them fit, sort of. At least they make logical sense. But very rarely do I ever hear this discussion with it referring to false teachers.

I wonder if we take this too far out of context sometimes.

But, now that I’ve noticed this distinction, I bet I don’t misuse Jesus’ idea here any longer.

And I bet I pay closer attention to the fruit I display, too.

What passages of Scripture have you heard taken out of context, however well-intentioned it might have been? Let me know in the comments.