Note 54 at Mt. 7:15: Here are five ways to recognize false prophets. (1) Their prophecies don't come to pass (Dt. 18:22); (2) by their fruit (Mt. 7:16-20; 12:33-37; Lk. 6:43- 45); (3) they fail to act in agreement with what they profess (Mt. 7:21-27; Jas. 2:17,20,26); (4) by their doctrine (Mt. 16:12; Gal. 1:8-9; 1 Tim. 1:8-9; 4:1-6; 1 Jn. 4:1-3; 2 Jn. 7-11); (5) their motivation is covetousness (1 Tim. 6:10; 2 Pet. 2:1-3,15). A false prophet may not exhibit all five of these characteristics and not everyone who exhibits one or two of these characteristics is a false prophet. However, these traits are associated with the false prophets that were identified in the Bible and should be questioned.