This is not a good text verse for claiming that signs and wonders confirm the truth! Often we hear it said that signs are used to confirm the truth. But, according to this verse the only truth that can be confirmed by a sign or wonder is truth that has already been confirmed by previous revelation of the Lord established in Scripture.

The Lord warned the people of Israel that if there is ever a time when someone performs a miraculous sign in order to lead people in a “truth” that is contrary to the truth they already know, then they are to reject that messenger and that message.

Consider Jesus’ own ministry of signs and wonders. Jesus spoke in total agreement with the written revelation of scripture. Jesus fulfilled the prophesies from the Old Testament. What about his signs, miracles and wonders? They were an exclamation point for his ministry that taught and fulfilled scripture. None of Jesus’ miracles confirmed a truth that was not already connected to written scripture. No teaching of Jesus’ was so new and radical that he himself could not quote supporting verses out of the Old Testament.

Where do these false prophets and their signs come from? Moses says,

“God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

God uses false teachers to test people’s motivation for pursuing him. To love God is to love the truth “with all your heart and with all your soul.” But, to be willing to follow new teaching contrary to the Truth means just the opposite. The person who follows false teaching (including signs and wonders) is not pursuing the Lord, but is motivated by some other passion.

We were not given eyes to
lust with, nor the tongue
for speaking evil."
- Tertullian,197