The fruit (life and doctrine) of an individual will show whether they are a true prophet or a false prophet. Since God is involved with true prophets, their lives will show his presence.1 They will preach what Christ taught and they will seek to live in conformity with God’s law. False prophets, however, will be different. They will either forsake Christ’s teaching, or they will live in ways that are out of step with God’s law.2 The fact that believers are told that they will recognize true from false implies that believers must be watchful and cautious of whom they allow to be their teachers, testing the spirits to see if they come from God (John 10:1–2, John 10:8–10, John 10:12–13; 1 John 4:1).3 There is a need for discernment between the true and the false in order to stay on the right path.4
20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.