Divine versus Private Interpretation

Introduction

True prophecy is given directly by God — unshaken, consistent, and perfectly aligned with His holiness. It is always for His glory and the fulfillment of His divine will. Private Interpretation, by contrast, originates in human perspective and is shaped by emotions, impressions, or personal reasoning.

Divine Revelation

Divine revelation is given directly by God, unshaken, consistent, and aligned with His holiness. It is ultimately for His glory and the fulfillment of His divine will.

• God‑breathed Scripture – All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.
  2 Timothy 3:16-17
• Unchanging gospel – Even an angel from heaven must not bring a message different from the gospel already given.
  Galatians 1:8

Private Interpretation

Private Interpretation from the self originates in human impressions, emotions, or personal reasoning, rather than from divine inspiration.

In Scripture, a presumptuous prophet is one who speaks a message in the Lord’s name that He has not commanded, or speaks in the name of other gods (Deuteronomy 18:20). This is the kind of self‑originated message being warned against here.

• The deceptive heart – Human hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.
  Jeremiah 17:9
• The danger of self‑reliance – A way may seem right to a person, but its end is the way of death.
  Proverbs 14:12

The Presumptuous Spirit

Speaking on behalf of God without His authorization, often leading to false teachings and deception

Biblical Warnings Against Presumptuous Prophets

• Unauthorized speaking in God’s name – Declaring words in the Lord’s name that He has not commanded, or speaking in the name of other gods.
  Deuteronomy 18:20
• Following their own vision – Delivering messages from their own heart instead of God’s mouth, offering false assurances to those who reject His word.
  Jeremiah 23:16-17
• Self‑led and blind – Acting on their own spirit without receiving any true revelation from God.
  Ezekiel 13:3
• Stealing God’s words – Borrowing or plagiarizing prophetic messages and claiming them as their own.
  Jeremiah 23:30
• Causing God’s people to forget His name – Leading others to replace God’s truth with lies and traditions.
  Jeremiah 23:26-27
• Strengthening the hands of evildoers – Encouraging the wicked so that none turn from their sins.
  Jeremiah 23:14

Characteristics of Presumptuous Prophets

• Self-serving motives – They prophesy for personal gain or influence. Presumptuous prophets often put influence, wealth, or status over truth.
  Micah 3:11
• False hope – They tell people what they want to hear rather than God’s truth.
  Jeremiah 6:14
• Contradiction to Scripture – Their words do not align with biblical revelation. Any prophetic word that contradicts established revelation is to be rejected..
  Isaiah 8:20
• Lack of fulfillment – Their prophecies fail to come true, proving they were not from God.
  Deuteronomy 18:22
• Speaking from their own imagination – They follow their own spirit instead of God’s Word.
  Ezekiel 13:2-3
• Claiming God’s authority falsely – Declaring “Thus says the LORD” when God has not spoken.
  Jeremiah 23:30-32
• Leading into disobedience or idolatry – Encouraging people to turn from God’s commands.
  Deuteronomy 13:1-5

How to Discern True vs. False Prophecy

• Test the spirits – Believers are commanded to examine spiritual claims to see if they are from God.
  1 John 4:1
• Compare with Scripture – True prophecy always aligns with God’s Word and never contradicts it.
  Isaiah 8:20
• Look for fulfillment – If a prophecy does not come to pass, it was not from God.
  Deuteronomy 18:22
• Confirm Christ-centeredness – The Holy Spirit exalts Jesus; a true message will point to Him.
  John 16:13-14
• Watch the fruit over time – A true prophet’s life and message will consistently produce godly results, though this may only become clear with time.
  Even Moses and Jesus were falsely accused; patience, discernment, and humility are essential when applying this test.
  Matthew 7:15-20

Anointed Prophets of the Lord

Those whom the Lord anoints as prophets bear distinct marks of His calling and empowerment.

• Divinely appointed and given God’s words – "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren... and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." (Deuteronomy 18:18) God told Moses, "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." (Exodus 4:12)
• Will produce godly fruit in God's appointed time – "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" (Matthew 7:16-20) The Lord says of His people, "That they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified." (Isaiah 61:3)
• Inspired by the Holy Spirit – "Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:21) Jesus promised, "For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." (Matthew 10:20)
• Receive divine revelation – "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7) God said, "If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream." (Numbers 12:6)
• Protected by God – "Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm." (Psalm 105:15) The Lord told Jeremiah, "Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD." (Jeremiah 1:8)

Divine Authority

The Lord anoints and empowers His servants to proclaim His truth and accomplish His mission.

• Taught by the anointing – "The anointing... teacheth you of all things... and is truth, and is no lie." (1 John 2:27) Jesus promised, "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost... shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance." (John 14:26)
• Sent to proclaim good news – "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor..." (Luke 4:18) Paul testified, "Christ sent me... to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." (1 Corinthians 1:17)
• Proclaim liberty and healing – "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me... to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives..." (Isaiah 61:1) Jesus declared, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)
• Empowered for service – "Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him... and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David..." (1 Samuel 16:13) Micah said, "But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression..." (Micah 3:8)
• Protected in commission – "Fear thou not; for I am with thee... I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10) This assurance was later echoed to Paul in Corinth: "Be not afraid... for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee." (Acts 18:9-10)

Recognizing True Prophets

God’s people are called to test those who claim to speak for Him, holding fast to what is true and rejecting what is false.

• Speak God’s message, not their own – "They speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD." (Jeremiah 23:16) God said, "The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully." (Jeremiah 23:28)
• Remain faithful to the one true God – Even if a sign or wonder comes to pass, do not follow anyone who says, "Let us go after other gods." (Deuteronomy 13:1-3) Elijah declared, "If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him." (1 Kings 18:21)
• Test the spirits – "Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God." (1 John 4:1) Paul affirmed, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
• Remain true to God’s Word – "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20) Jesus prayed, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17)

God’s Word is the Ultimate Guide

The unchanging Word of God is the standard by which all messages and messengers are to be measured.

• Guides our path – "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105) "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." (Psalm 119:130)
• The eternal Word – "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1-3) "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." (Isaiah 40:8)
• Trust God’s wisdom – "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart... and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jeremiah 10:23)
• The only way – "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) Peter proclaimed, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Divine Revelation vs. Private Interpretation
2 Peter 1:20–21