Profiles Of False Teachers 2 Peter 2:10-18 Introduction

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1 Introduction The FBI is famous for its criminal profiling procedures. The way the FBI profiles serves as a powerful tool to recognize the patterns that criminals employ in committing crimes. There are also inherent weaknesses in the profile procedure. Every crime scene says something about the crime and the criminal. Crimes scenes are sometimes organized and disorganized. Crime scenes have clues; and even the absence of clues becomes a clue. Peter offers a profile of the character and conduct of false teachers. Words are their weapons. They target men s souls by appealing to our carnal nature, our fallen nature, our lower nature; they use spiritual emptiness and ignorance to target their appeal. Like the serial killer; the false teacher may not fit every point in the profile; but enough points will emerge to give clear indication of who and what you are dealing with. In this chapter Peter gives a sweeping overview of the false teacher and their false teaching. He addresses their identity; their iniquity; and draws on illustrations of their judgment in the Old Testament. They are filled with lust (v.10a); they are licentious (v.13) they are lost (v.14). Peter exposes their claims (vv.15-19) and will still later expose their converts (vv.20-22). Peter draws on many metaphors to describe these men; brute beasts (v.12b); stains upon Christianity (13b); unstable, storm driven clouds (v.17b); dogs returning to their own vomit (v. 22a); hogs wallowing in the mud (v.22b). Peter s profile of the false teacher includes a person who lives primarily for physical pleasure, satisfying and gratifying their own lust. Peter says the false teacher ignores God s law and human government; and have very little respect for anything sacred. The FBI notes that the typical serial killer are white males in their twenties or thirties, who target strangers near their homes or places of work. According to Eric Hickey who has gathered the most extensive data base on the demography of serial murder states that 88% are Caucasian and the average age when they claim their first victim is about 28 years old. In terms of victim selection; 62% of the killers target strangers exclusively, and another 22% kill at least one stranger. Finally, 71% of the killers operate in a specific location or area, rather than traveling wide distances to commit their crimes (see Apsche p. 16; 1993). According to the FBI in order to be classified as a serial killer, the person must complete three separate murders; these are spaced by what experts call a cooling off period; which can vary from several days to several years. But one thing that very few definitions include is that for a killer to be known as a serial killer they must have a particular method to their killings. For instance Wayne Gacy, had the trade mark of gagging victims with their own underwear so that they would die in their own vomit. Disgusting. False Teachers are not simply misguided or misled or misunderstood. They are disgusting. They consume and seduce the unstable (vv. 13;14b; 18b). There are typical serial killers and there are typical false teachers. But not all serial killers are white males in their twenties or thirties. Some do not fit the profile. A growing population of black serial killers and female serial killers though rare are sometimes found. All seem to share 1

2 evidence of abuse in childhood; bedwetting past the age of ten; abuse to animals; and a history of arson. The serial killer typically acts alone; but not always. This is why the FBI uses the profile as an aid to investigation; and still looks at the evidence and the facts. Not all false teachers will at first glance in their character and conduct display all these characteristics. But the false teacher will deny Jesus, the Jesus of the New Testament. The false teacher will depart from Biblical truth. False teachers are often winsome, attractive, charismatic, intelligent, sophisticated; they sometimes manage to mask their lust and lawlessness. Wicked Behavior (vv.10-13) 2 Peter 2:10 (NKJV) and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, False teachers walk according to the flesh. False teachers are filled with lust. Peter describes the false teachers and include those who walk according to the flesh. What does that mean? In the Bible the flesh includes the human nature and the human will and the human predispositions. The flesh is everything that we are apart from God s Christ and the Holy Spirit. The flesh is everything we are apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Not simply the bad things, but also what we would consider our good qualities, our talents our training, our gifts. Here Peter draws attention to those who walk in the lust (strong desire) of uncleanness. The false teacher ignores the Spirit and follow their passions; and that passion means indulging their flesh. The false teacher s teach because they see Christ and Christianity as a way to make a living, to gain recognition and honor, and a following. To gain worldly freedom and do away with godly restraints and the New Testament demands of living a life honoring and pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ. False teachers focus on satisfying their desires and lust; which invariably means they are lawless. False teachers despise authority. Again, I don t think the Apostle is warning us about well-meaning but misguided seekers of the truth. I suspect the Apostle is dealing with men who have known the truth but turned their backs on the truth. They have proud exalted opinions of themselves; and they have little or no respect for those whom God has placed in legitimate positions of authority. The false teacher will claim the right to do as he or she pleases; in accordance with their own desires. False teachers emphasize rights, privileges, freedom and liberty. Is there something wrong with rights, privileges, freedom and liberty? No! We thank God for rights, privileges, freedom and liberty! But the false teacher hints that your rights, and privileges and freedom and liberty include the right, the privilege the freedom and liberty to dishonor God and disobey God. The false teacher does not want anything or anyone to limit, restrict, restrain, or control them. Clearly God Himself is the source of all legitimate authority. Does God have 2

3 authority in your life? Does the Bible exercise some kind of authority in your life? God has entrusted to Jesus Christ all power and authority. The person who refuses to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ allows themselves the freedom to continue to exercise freedom. False teachers are presumptuous. What does that mean? The word is tolmetes (tol mee tees; only here in the Greek NT); it comes from the verb tolmao; which means dare; or daring; or boldness; and can be translated daring (NASB) or bold (NIV). False teachers are self-willed. False teachers are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries. What does that mean? I suspect Peter has in mind spiritual beings or spirit beings. It may mean they are willing to malign superiors to whom they are responsible. If the false teacher truly believed that God holds them responsible for every idle word, that God takes note of everything said, and that God will hold them accountable for every thing said, they would have been more cautious in their speech. Jesus said, My words are spirit and they are life. The false teacher doubts the Holy Spirit and then denies the Holy Spirit. It may mean they do not believe in angels or demons; or it may mean they are willing to believe every angel and every demon. The philosophical naturalist doubts or denies the existence of a spirit world or spirit beings. 2 Peter 2:11 (NKJV) whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. I think verse 11 gives us insight into verse 10. The angels who are greater in power and might than the false teachers; know better than to bring a reviling accusation against other spirit beings. In other words, angels are careful of what they say, they are careful not to speak disparagingly of their superiors; Jude mentions that when Michael the Archangel in disputing with the devil over the body of Moses; dared not bring against him (Satan) a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke you (Jude 9). It would seem there is a hierarchy in the spirit world; what Paul calls principalities and powers. Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Colossians 1:16 (NKJV) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 3

4 2 Peter 2:12 (NKJV) But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, Peter describes the false teachers like natural brute beasts. The word natural is the adjective physicos (only here and Rom. 1:26,27); from physis; nature! One Bible scholar (Mayor p.130) translates this born creatures of instinct (cf. NASB). Brute--the adjective alogos (in NT only here; Acts 25:27; and Jude 10); alpha privative a--and logos or reason and so without reason or unreasoning (NASB). Unreasoning like an animal; or not open to reason; and so perish in their own corruption; NASB; will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed. speak evil of the things they do not understand. The false teacher is guilty of insulting language and insulting behavior. The false teacher shows little regard or respect for people in leadership; because they embrace a philosophy which denies Biblical teaching; the One true and living God; and a future accountability to Him. Many false teachers reject the notion that the Scriptures teach a God who is personal, righteous and just. Quick to point to God s love they are quick to abandon Biblical notions of justice and judgment and wrath. The false teacher who speak of generations past or generations present who emphasize the holiness of God or the righteousness of God and anger over sin--as being slaves to a crippling fear; and are quick to degrade or scoff at people like Jonathan Edwards or the Puritan saints. Clearly there were times when the puritans were severe and they made mistakes; but any careful reading of the Puritan writers reveals a group of people who loved God, aware of His judgment, but also His compassion and concern for His people. My grandparents generation used to say; The man who bows down to nothing can never bear the burden of himself. People who pride themselves on rejecting the Bible and rejecting the Bible s description of God are left to their own fears, and phobias, and guilt and shame. A growing number turn to psychiatric solutions, alcohol, medical marijuana to calm their fears and soothe their nerves. The fear of God quiets other fears. False Teachers often have no idea what they are talking about. False teachers may speak of heaven or hell or the spirit world. They speak of heaven as if they ve been there or hell as if they ve been there. What do we really know about heaven and hell? We are left at the mercy of the revelation of the Bible and the words of Jesus Christ. There is only one person who has come from heaven, appeared on earth and ascended back to heaven. That person is the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 2:13 (NKJV) and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, False teachers carouse around in pleasure and they do it openly. This means they are unwilling to be restricted by normal measures and restraints. No self respecting Roman would carouse (indulge sexual feelings) in broad daylight. This was something done under the cover of darkness. The false teacher rejects the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the strict demands of God s Word. The false teacher feels no pressure to separate from this world, from its pleasures 4

5 and possessions. The ideas of separation and sacrifice and self-denial are cleverly explained away. The false teacher has little sense or no sense of personal shame. The false teacher celebrates their freedom at the expense of God s holiness and righteousness. Some scholars believe the feast here refers to the love feast or the agape feast where believers would come together and celebrate God s love and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross. They pretend to enjoy friendship and fellowship but are in fact using Christian Fellowship as an opportunity to prey on unsuspecting Christians. Beguiling Behavior (vv ) 2 Peter 2:14 (NKJV) having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. False teachers have eyes full of adultery that cannot cease from sin. The Bible describes actual sexual immorality; and it also uses sexually immoral behavior as a metaphor for lack of loyalty, fidelity, integrity, to spiritual commitments; including our commitment to love the Lord and serve the Lord. Here the idea is that the false teacher is willing to use church and fellowship as an opportunity to troll for unsuspecting victims. False teachers entice unstable souls. The word entice (deleazo) is translated allure verse 18 and in James 1:14 and can also be translated seduce. The false teacher reaches out to others through personal opinions and bizarre teachings. Unstable, immature, vulnerable people are led astray. The word unstable (asteriktos; only here and 3:16); sterizo; to fix firmly; or establish; here not fixed firmly; not established; unstable or unsettled souls. The false teachers have a heart trained (exercised) in covetous practices. Peter exposes the fact that false teachers are typically worldly minded; the false teachers desire the pleasures and possessions that this world has to offer; they are concerned about popularity; attention, recognition, a following, perhaps a large ministry, success, money, raises, gifts, livelihood, security, position, leadership, fame, possessions. False teachers are accursed children. What does Peter mean by accursed children? Peter meant the false teachers are living under the curse of God, not the blessing and approval of God. The false teacher will be condemned, punished, destroyed. In one single verse Peter describes the false teacher s corruption (v.14a); addiction (v.14b); seduction (14c); sophistication (14d); and damnation (14e). 2 Peter 2:15 (NKJV) They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; The false teacher has forsaken the right way and have gone astray. The false teacher has forsaken the way of life and embraced a way that leads to death. 5

6 2 Peter 2:16 (NKJV) but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. Do false prophets experience genuine miracles? Balaam certainly did. Peter draws on Balaam the son of Beor (not to be confused with Eor the donkey from Christopher Robin). Peter writes they have forsaken the right way. Peter believed Jesus was the right way. When Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life (Num. 22:1). The false teacher intimates a different way, a better way, or suggests many ways. Think carefully. In order to abandon the way, and embrace a new way or a different way you must forsake the way and go astray. Think of what Peter is saying. The false teacher must abandon the way to God, forsake the truth of God and reject the life of God. The story of Balaam is found in Numbers 22. The King of Moab was a man named Balak. He feared the people of Israel who came out of Egypt. He sent messengers to a so called prophet and diviner named Balaam to come and put a curse on the children of Israel. At first Balaam refused to go and discuss the matter with the king. But the king continued to offer him greater wealth and greater position, and Balaam s heart collapsed under the power of coveteousness; and agreed to meet with the king. Along the way, God allowed a donkey to speak and rebuked Balaam through this donkey. Balaam would later turn Israel away from God and lead them into sin (Num. 31:16). Peter is drawing on a well known story of a false teacher who identifies with wealth and gain and agrees to lead God s people into compromise and then sin. Balaam advised the Midianites to lure the Israelites into immorality and worship of Baal. The men of Israel caved into the temptation, and some 24,000 of them died in God s judgment. A short time later Jewish soldiers killed Balaam along with the leaders of Midian. Balaam wanted money so bad he deliberately went against what he knew was God s will. He was ready to see a nation destroyed for financial gain. False teachers are willing to make concessions, then compromises, then lead people into sin and sin leads to death. They Are Empty And Unstable (vv.17-18) 2 Peter 2:17 (NKJV) These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. Two illustrations are given to describe false teachers. They are like wells that offer water to weary pilgrims who have crossed a dry and barren desert. But when they finally get to the well the well is empty, dry. They are like storm clouds that hold out the hope of rain for the farmer, who s crop is about to die. The clouds arrive but they are quickly carried away by blowing hot wind. The false prophet sinks to the lowest depths (well); soars to the highest heights (clouds);but have nothing real to offer. 6

7 2 Peter 2:18 (NKJV) For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. The false teacher is bright, articulate, and is able to turn a phrase; the false teacher can use cliche and interesting stories that appeal to emotion, sentiment, and lust. But what they say is really empty. False teachers speak great swelling words of emptiness. Why are they empty? The false teacher may use words like Jesus Christ, and grace and faith, but it is not the Jesus of the New Testament, it is not the grace described in the New Testament, it is not a faith embraced by Peter, James, John and the Apostles and writers of the New Testament. The false teacher s speech consist of their own ideas, their own opinions, their own speculations. The false teaching offers a false hope, the false teaching does not provide Biblical solutions to the problems of human pain, human suffering, and human sin. The teaching leaves the hearer empty and unstable; and when the false teacher dies their wicked teaching may survive the grave through wicked followers. But it is not the message of Jesus. It is not the message of hope for heaven. Paul writes about such; For that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the heart of the simple (Romans 16:18). Who are the targets of the false teacher? The false teacher targets the new believer, the immature believer, the young believer who has just barely escaped the world. This is a warning to those who are not rooted and grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ and in God s Word. The Believer must grow and mature and embrace the Word of God. This is perhaps the greatest tool to escape the predatory practices of the false teacher. Conclusion The false teacher seduces those in the church; spawn cults; and deny the faith. When teachers deny Christ they are free to chose a new authority; an authority that will allow them to follow and satisfy there own desires. False teachers are cruel impostors; wicked charlatans. They lead unsuspecting souls down a cruel path that eventually leads to destruction. Beware the false teacher. They come with a false gospel and claim a false power. Beware the false teacher who makes great claims; but whose doctrine and life mark them as false teachers. Be on guard against men who do not fear the Lord; or respect His Word and who lead their victims astray for personal acclaim or financial gain (Adopted from Richard W. DeHaan; see page 90-91; Studies in 2 Peter). 7