Schweizer supports the notion that the idea of false prophets is closely attached to eschatology, and that this passage refers to events expected to occur in the end times, not to any current rivals. Paul have read this verse as an attack on Pauline Christianity. Scholars who see a rivalry between the Jewish Christianity of Mathew and the wider gospel of St. While in later years Christian groups such as the Gnostics would become prominent rivals to mainstream Christianity, Gnosticism was not yet a major concern at the time this Gospel was written. This also could rule out other Jewish sects active in this period such as the Essenes and Zealots.
However, Matthew 7:22 seems to make clear that the false prophets are Christian, rather than Jewish. The Pharisees are the primary opponent of the righteous through the Gospel of Matthew, and this could be another attack on them. France notes that the wording refers to the prophets coming to you implies that these prophets are from outside the community of disciples. There are several false prophets mentioned in the literature of the period such as Simon Magus and Bar Kokhba, but the text has no hint that it referring to one of these in particular. Davies and Allison note several groups that scholars have proposed. At the time the gospel was written the Christian communities had several opponents, who may be being targeted by the author of Matthew in this verse. It is an open question who, if anyone, this verse is directed against.
Schweizer feels this metaphor may be linked to the traditional description of the prophets being clad in skins. Wolves were regarded as greedy and malevolent predators who were a threat to the innocent, and such wolf metaphors are also found in several other parts of the Bible. A 19th century illustration of the mediaeval fable attributed to Aesopįalse prophets are frequently referred to in the New Testament, sheep were an important part of life in the Galilee of Jesus' era, and the metaphor of the pious as a flock of sheep is a common one in both the Old and New Testaments.
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