i pray this helps
"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: "You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings," says the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:1-2)
How does He attend to them?
And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten. (Jeremiah 23:40)
What is He talking about? Hell (Daniel 12:2). Read through Jeremiah 23:9-40 and Ezekiel 13:1-8 and you should see God is severely against those who speak falsely in His name. God is seriously opposed to false teachers (see also 2 Peter 2:3-9; Jude 5-7,11). Therefore, it is absolutely ludicrous not to expose them (Ephesians 5:11).
Some false teacher might say, "We preach the Word of God to our people. It is up to them to figure out who the false teachers are." That is ludicrous! Are we to preach the Word and turn right around and not obey it? God says, "expose" them (Eph. 5:11). "Beware" of them (Matthew 7:15). "Note" them (Romans 16:17).
C. Men of God
Paul
Paul had the Spirit of God in him, and he seriously opposed those who would lead someone astray. In Acts 13:6-12 Paul opposes Elymas. In Philippians 3:1-2 this warning is given:
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!
Paul is speaking here of human beings, and he calls them "dogs" and "the mutilation." The mutilation is a very not-so-smooth non-flattering way to talk about the Jews (Philippians 3:3). Paul is not fond of people who would lead believers astray! In Galatians Paul's words for those who propagated circumcision to those believers in Galatia are as follows:
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8-9)
I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! (Galatians 5:12)
In Acts 20:25-31 Paul exemplifies the kind of shepherd he was and the concerns that were continually upon his heart.
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. (Acts 20:29-31)
What about naming names? Did Paul name names? Yes indeed! Paul saw no problem specifically exposing people in his day. In 2 Timothy 4:14 Paul names Alexander the coppersmith. He not only gives his name and gives the trade he was in, but prays that God would judge him for what he did!
Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. (2 Timothy 4:14)
In 1 Timothy 1:18-20 Paul names Hymenaeus and Alexander. In 2 Timothy 1:15 Paul names Phygellus and Hermogenes. In 2 Timothy 2:17-19 Paul names Hymenaeus and Phyletus. In 2 Timothy 3:8 Paul names Jannes and Jambres; although they were dead, he still names them. In 2 Timothy 4:10 Paul names Demas, mentions that he had forsaken him, and notes how he "loved this present world" pointing out that the man was hell bound (1 John 2:15). In Galatians 2:11-21 Paul even publicly confronts Peter, who was not a false teacher, and calls him to account for his hypocrisy.
Christians are told to "note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them." (Romans 16:17) Paul practiced what he preached.
Jesus
God in the flesh (John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16) opposed and warned about the false teachers of His day.
." Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 16:6-12)
Jesus wasn't talking about an obscure group that didn't exist. He spoke of the Pharisees and Sadducees, who were in the right religion of the day, Judaism (Romans 3:1-2; John 4:22). The disciples knew about these two groups of religious leaders. He notes them and warns the disciples of the "doctrine [teaching] of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
Besides warning about the teaching, Jesus even mentions other matters than just their teaching.
Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the Scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation." (Mark 12:38-40)
In Matthew 23:13-33 Jesus graphically opposes the false teachers of His day. He calls them "snakes." Another perfect example of serious opposition and exposure of those who propagate lies in the name of God is found in Luke 11:37-54. Here, over the dinner table, Jesus rebukes them right to their face.
And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them." Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, "Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also." And He said, "Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs.
Therefore the wisdom of God also said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,' that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation. Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered." And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him. (Luke 11:37-54)
Jesus is in serious, to-the-face, hard core opposition to those who lead people astray. Jesus says, "Woe" to them. What is the woe? Here is the woe.
But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! (Matthew 18:6-7)
Christ is talking about believers (Matthew 18:3) who are caused to stumble. That's exactly what false teachers do; they cause the little ones to stumble (2 Peter 2:18). That woe is still effective today as Jesus' words are still true.
The false teachers of today typically give the false appearance (Matthew 23:28) that they are opposed to those who speak falsehood. They will speak of false teachers in general. They'll say, "Watch out for the false prophets." They will in general say "Watch out for false teachers" and they typically play it safe. "Watch out for Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons, or some false religion like Islam." But they fail to expose those who are "among" "God's people," who have "crept in unnoticed" (Jude 4). What we have just seen through a lot of these Scriptures is not only general warning, but specific exposure and opposition to specific people and specific groups. These are named and identified and even to their face opposed. There is not behind-closed doors kind of stuff going on here. This is out in the open, in the face, serious, hard-core opposition.
So, when you see a man who is silent about the wolves of our day, it is because he's a hireling. He's in it for the money. Thus, he is a false teacher himself and does not care about the sheep (John 10:12-13). This one identifying mark condemns him. That is all you need to know about a man. The Holy Spirit is in opposition to him.
VI. COVETOUSNESS
2 Peter 2:3 states, speaking of false teachers, "by covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words." In the second part of verse fourteen of 2 Peter 2 it says, "They have a heart trained in covetous practices . . . ." This is core to false teachers. They are covetous. This is where their heart resides, in covetousness. This is something that is hard to prove to those who are blind (i.e. those who do not walk in truth, 2 Corinthians 4:4). Nonetheless, it is an identifying mark for those who have eyes to see. [You may also want to read the article on Debt.]
1 Peter 5:1-2 says,
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.
What is contrasted to dishonest gain? Eagerness. When false teachers sell their teachings, tapes, books, etc., for profit, are they being eager about getting it out there? What are they being eager for? They're being eager for money. It is "dishonest gain" to put a price tag on the word of God and profit from it. Some churches have seminars or classes in which they charge for their teaching. Seminaries and Bible Colleges epitomize dishonest gain. Class after class requires dollar after dollar in order to be taught, supposedly, the word of God.
For many, "godliness" is for the rich! Paul said,
For we are not, as so many, [It was already a prevalent practice in Paul's day.] peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:17).
In other words, "I want your money and I want it NOW!" When men start talking about how they need your money, you can know they want your money and they are covetous (2 Peter 2:3).
For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:5)
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:13)
VII. WELL SPOKEN OF
Jesus said,
Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets. (Luke 6:26)
The Majority Text of Greek manuscripts has no "all". The NKJV footnotes this. According to the Majority Text it reads, "Woe to you when men speak well of you . . . ."
Jesus likens anyone who is "well spoken of" to the false prophets of old. This is not to say that this verse does not apply if there is a teacher who has someone speak against them in some form or fashion. In the past, false prophets had people speak against them. Elijah spoke against the false prophets of his day (1 Kings 18:27-40). Micaiah spoke against the false prophets of his day (1Kings 22:23f). Jeremiah spoke against the false prophets of his day (e.g. Jeremiah 23 & 28). In Luke 6:26 Christ wasn't saying that if everybody speaks well of you and no one speaks against you, then woe to you. Christ is saying "Woe" to those who, like the false prophets of old, give people what they want to hear (Isaiah 30:8-10; Romans 16:17-18; Galatians 1:10) and are therefore well spoken of.
If you understand that people are wicked (Psalm 14:1-3), then you should understand Jesus' words in Luke 6:26. The masses are wicked, and they desire evil teachers (2 Timothy 4:3-4). As it was in the days of Isaiah, so it is today.
Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and note it on a scroll, that it may be for time to come, forever and ever: that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the Lord; who say to the seers, "Do not see," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us." (Isaiah 30:8-11)
Israel, in this example, was very blatant in their rejection of God. Those who pretend submission to God are also those who desire "smooth things" and "deceits" (2 Timothy 3:4; 4:3; Titus 1:16). Therefore, the haters of God, both the pretenders of submission and the not so stealthy, speak well of those teachers who give them what they want to hear.
If they are well spoken of within the "Christian" community (2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3-4), as the false prophets of old were well spoken of within the Jewish community (Luke 6:26), they fit the mold of a false teacher. The "Christian" community have "itching ears" (2 Timothy 4:3), and false teachers accommodate this desire by scratching their ears with great sounding sermons.
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. (2 Peter 2:18)
False teachers scratch ears, speak great swelling words, and they speak smooth words.
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18)False teachers flatter, as the end of verse eighteen says, and you could note also Jude 16.
...they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
When a teacher spends most of his time talking about love, God's grace, etc., all the "nice" stuff, these indeed are "smooth words" (Romans 16:18). This is so missed by people, it's amazing. False teachers don't come along and say, "I'm a false teacher." They don't come with horns on their head and a red suit. They don't come and say, "I'm here to deceive you. Watch out!" Note what Jesus said in Matthew 23:27-28.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees [Scribes, by the way, were the "scholars" of the day.], hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
It's amazing how people are taken in by the outward appearance of godliness. If a man puts on a good appearance of looking righteous, people are hoodwinked. They just don't see through the facade. 2 Peter 2:1 says they "secretly bring in destructive heresies" and Jude 4 says they creep in "unnoticed." People don't notice. They creep in. It's not so blazingly obvious. But one thing is obvious. If you have a case where a man is well spoken of, that condemns him. According to Luke 6:26 that condemns him. "Woe to you when men speak well of you." (Luke 6:26, Majority Text)
An example of being "well spoken of" can be found in John MacArthur's book Successful Christian Parenting (copyright 1998). On the inside back dust jacket this boast is written.
John MacArthur is the pastor/teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley California. He is one of the most popular Bible expositors and Bible conference speakers in the country.
One of the ways this "well spoken of" is manifested is by the sheer popularity of the false teacher. The "Christian" masses (2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3; 2 Peter 2:2) speak well of false teachers, just as the "Jewish" masses spoke well of the false prophets of old (Luke 6:26).
Another graphic example of this is Billy Graham. Graham is "Hailed as the world's preacher" and "one of the world's most beloved and respected leaders" (Just As I Am, copyright 1997, inside back dust jacket). If he were a man of God, he would be hated, not loved. Jesus said,
If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)
Jesus says, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own." When you see a man loved by the world, you can know for certain that he is of the world, thus of the Devil (1 John 5:19; 2 Corinthians 11:15).
A man of God is not going to be well spoken of, especially in our evil days (Ephesians 5:16) where false Christianity abounds (2 Timothy 3:1-5 & 4:3; Luke 18:8). The false teachers are the "well spoken of" ones, and because of them the true man of God is blasphemed.
And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. (2 Peter 2:2)
Finally,
HOW DO FALSE TEACHERS DENY THE LORD?
2 Peter 2:1 and Jude 4 say that false teachers deny the Lord. How do they do this? It should be obvious that they are not going to come right out and say, "Don't believe in Christ." or "Jesus isn't Lord." or something to that effect. Jude 4 says they have "crept in unnoticed" and 2 Peter 2:1 says they "secretly" bring in destructive heresies. Titus 1:16 has the answer to how they deny the Lord who bought them.
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
CONCLUSION
Paul says at the end of his life, "I have fought the good fight . . ." (2 Timothy 4:7). Besides fighting this sinful flesh that we're in, what's the "good fight?" Contending (fighting) for the faith is the good fight (Jude 3). Paul wrote,
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Casting down falsehood and lies is part of the war. It is good, extremely good, to contend for the faith (Jude 3), to fight the good fight (2 Timothy 4:7), to cast down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:3-5), and to expose the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11). It is good to expose false teachers. Those who are caught in lies and in the darkness of this age hate this exposure (John 3:19-20), because they do not love the truth, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6)
:rainbow: :rose:
