NEVER CALL NAMES
Know Your Scripture

We have been inappropriately trained by people who have not taken the time to study their scripture. There are gentle nuances in the meaning of words, both in Hebrew and Greek, that require a little work to acquire the full understanding. For many years marginally skilled preachers and teachers with limited technologies (if any) have suggested that a “false prophet” was any person who claimed to be prophesying in the name of the Lord, but ultimately was wrong in their proclamation.

James 4:11
Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law.
NKJV

Praise God for the technological tools available to the Berean of today. The final word on this confusion is illustrated here below. Never mind we are commanded not to speak evil of any one for any reason. Never mind Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 13 command us to do EVERYTHING out of love for one another, and never mind that Jesus said the number one (and two) commandments were to love our Father in Heaven and our neighbors as ourselves.

Matt 22:37-40
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
NKJV

It is not possible to LOVE someone while you are publicly demeaning them and calling them names. This means the second you accuse someone of being a false prophet you are already in the wrong. If you are doing it publicly you are doubly in the wrong because even gentle loving correction (admonishment) is to be done in private.

Matt 18:15
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
NKJV

Properly Dividing the Word of God

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 has an apparent contradiction in it. This is because it is not possible to properly translate Hebrew (or Greek) directly into English without losing meaning. What’s worse is there are other factors that can gently shift the intended meaning as well.

Here below you see the Lord giving instruction about prophets. In verse 20 you see the Lord explaining when a prophet “presumes” to speak a word in His name (…) that prophet “shall die”.

Deut 18:20-21
But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’
NKJV

HOWEVER,

Immediately after this you see verse 22 where the Lord uses what appears to be almost the same language but ends the instruction by telling us that we “shall not be afraid of him” (e.g. not hold him accountable).

Deut 18:22
- when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
NKJV

So here we clearly have an “apparent” contradiction in meaning. In both cases it appears the prophet “presumed” or “presumptuously” spoke on behalf of the Lord, BUT in verse 20 the prophet “shall die” and in verse 22 we “shall not be afraid of him”. This does not make sense.

UNLESS

… unless the two words have different meanings.

The MYSTERY SOLVED

Deut 18:20-22

But the prophet who presumes [ST OT2102] to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ —

vs.

22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously [ST OT2087] ; you shall not be afraid of him.

NKJV

Verse 20: This form of “Presume” (zadown) = Put to Death

OT:2102

OT:2102 zuwd (zood); or (by permutation) ziyd (zeed); a primitive root; to see the; figuratively, to be insolent:

KJV – be proud, deal proudly, presume, (come) presumptuously, sod.

in·so·lent

[in-suh-luhnt]

adjective

1. boldly rude or disrespectful; contemptuously impertinent;
insulting: an insolent reply.

CONTEMPT!

VS.

Verse 21: This form of “Presume” (zadown) = Do not be afraid of him

OT:2087

OT:2087 zadown (zaw-done’); from OT:2102; arrogance:

KJV – presumptuously, pride, proud (man).

Summary in Jesus Name

The first type of prophet mentioned in Deut. 18:20 was insolent and contemptuous of the throne of God. In other words he did it on purpose. It was not a mistake. Therefore the Lord gave him the ultimate end.

The second type of prophet mentioned in Deut. 18:22 mistakenly thought he heard the Lord say certain things and did his best to communicate them.

This is a huge difference

Clearly there is never a reason to call a person a false prophet EVER. When Jesus established the “New Covenant” in His blood, the bar was raised and ALL things must be done out of love no matter what. It is our guiding foundational principle for all our behaviors.

And, we all see through the mirror dimly. This includes people with the gift of prophecy and those who dream dreams and receive visions from the Lord.

1 Cor 13:12
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
NKJV

We must humble our hearts and be careful to be loving, longsuffering, and kindly to everyone we meet. We must never ever judge another person. If you are not comfortable listening to them or what they are sharing then just step back quietly and say nothing. Put them on your prayer list.

Col 3:12-13
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
NKJV

And try to learn not to “throw the baby out with the bath water” if you ever wish to hear the Lord speak through His saints.

Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord God does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
NKJV

Make a list of things that person saw in their vision or dream etc. and look for the key events to happen. Cross reference the claims against what other prophets are saying. They should match relatively close. Take notes. Don’t disregard the entire message because some of the information is not correct OR deviated from your current understanding of the scripture.

This is the LESSON to be learned from Deuteronomy 18:22;

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF HIM

GOD BLESS YOU

This was written by Johhny Baptist at tribuation-now. Hope you enjoyed.

Agape,

Charles Holler Sr.

NEVER CALL NAMES Know Your Scripture