Facing the Storm of False Teachers

A warning from 2 Peter 2.

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Peter knew he didn’t have much time left on this earth (2 Peter 1:12-15), and so he reminded Christians of things they already knew but needed to remember.

He was deeply concerned that they continue to view the Scriptures as God’s word and the gospel of Christ as God’s eternal plan (2 Peter 1:16-21).

Peter knew there would be those who attempted to undermine the authority of God’s word and pervert the truth of the gospel – which would lead Christians away from the “exceedingly great and precious promises” of God (2 Peter 1:4).

And so, an entire chapter of 2 Peter is devoted to warning Christians about “the storm of false teachers.”

The Destructive Results of False Teachers.

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. (2 Peter 2:1-3)

False teachers are nothing new – so we shouldn’t be naïve and think, “Oh that would never happen to us!”

They move quietly and secretly promoting their destructive message of “disunion” or “party” – it’s about themselves, not the Lord. This brings “swift destruction” from the Lord.

Many will follow their “sensuality” to destruction because they say things that people like to hear, and the false teachers will exploit these people out of greed (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Because of these false teachers, people will speak “evil” of the way of truth.

But just as false teachers are nothing new, so the Lord’s condemnation and judgment upon them is nothing new. “Their condemnation pronounced long ago is not sitting idly by; their destruction is not asleep” (NET).

The Divine Judgment upon False Teachers.

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 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, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. (2 Peter 2:4-11)

Peter gives three examples of God’s judgment from “long ago” as support for his case that God won’t just “ignore” the destruction these false teachers are bringing upon His church.

1. The angels who sinned.

2. The world of Noah’s day.

3. Sodom and Gomorrah.

These are all examples of God’s righteous judgment upon the ungodly. However, just as God saved Noah and Lot, He also will save the righteous. He is perfectly able to distinguish between the godly and the ungodly.

Peter specifically focuses on two aspects of the ungodly – walking after the lusts of the flesh and despising authority. Those who live however they please and rebel against God’s authority will face punishment.

After telling Christians that God is able to perfectly distinguish who the false teachers are, Peter helps them identify the “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

The Sinful Ways of False Teachers.

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, 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, 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. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. (2 Peter 2:12-16)

They are like irrational animals that will be caught and destroyed – they blaspheme about matters they do not understand. These false teachers haven't considered the price they will pay (Matthew 7:15-20).

They enjoy reveling in their sins and deceptions while “feasting with you.” What these false teachers are doing will eventually become known and they want Christians to accept them.

They are greedy, always searching for more and tricking unsteady souls. Like Balaam, they follow wherever the money leads (Numbers 22-24).

The Lying Words of False Teachers.

These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 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. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. (2 Peter 2:17-19)

They are like a spring without water, and storm clouds without rain. Jesus gives the living water to all who will come to Him (John 4:13-14). These false teachers proclaim a message empty of all spiritual refreshments offered by the Lord.

Their words sound great, but they are empty of all benefits. Jesus said His words are life (John 6:63), but the words of false teachers - while perhaps sounding good - offer no benefit at all.

They attract people using the lusts of the flesh. This shows they appeal to people using the things of the world, rather than the things of God (1 John 2:15-17).

They promise freedom but are themselves a captive of corruption. Jesus gives freedom and new life to those who are buried with Him (Romans 6:1-7), but these false teachers proclaim a hopeless message because they do not proclaim the truth of the gospel.

The Disgusting End of False Teachers.

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:20-22)

They pull people who have escaped the filth and pollution of the world through Jesus Christ back down into the filth and entangle them again. This is a worse end than if someone had never known the way of righteousness.

This end is like a dog returning to its own vomit, or a clean pig going back to wallow in the muck and mire of the pigsty.

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Peter warns Christians, “False teachers will come, and you don’t want to follow them!”

Today the warning to Christians remains the same – we must hold tight to the truth of God’s word and the purity of the gospel of Christ.

Do not listen to or follow false teachers.