Picture description: Wolf
Picture copyright: V.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)
This expression has become a popular saying for any hidden danger under the disguise of friendship.
In his famous sermon on Mount Beatitudes, Jesus cautioned the crowds to beware of false prophets. A true prophet is one who preaches truth according to the Bible and is faithful to Jesus’ teachings. A false prophet may come under the guise of a godly man whose sayings may sway from Christian doctrine.
Some Christians thought that Jesus borrowed this expression from one of Aesop’s fables (620-560 BC), where a wolf wore a sheep’s fleece in hopes of making for food easier. In the end, it was killed by the shepherd who mistook it for hunting a sheep.
The president of this company is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
A lot of phrases, such as "two-edged sword" and " an eye for an eye", are taken from the English Bible. Learning the stories behind these idioms is fun, and can help boost your vocabulary. Click here to find out now!