Last time we continued with our look at 2Peter and 22 “clues” to false teaching and we left off with #11. We begin here with #12 and a the direct assault of the 7th Commandment by false teachers … You shall not commit adultery.

2Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

Clue #12 – There eyes are full of adultery. Jesus told us in that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery in his heart (Matt 5:28). False teachers that live in the flesh have eyes that are full of adultery; they use people for their own gratification. And, looking at it spiritually, their teachings are the result of spiritual adultery with the world, its message and its system. And one doesn’t have to look very far to see ministries that have fallen as a direct result of adultery in the natural, along with falling into other vices. They have been corrupted by the world and, sadly, many still remain in the ministry, tolerated and even supported by congregations that have been fooled or are themselves victims of Laodicean lukewarm apostasy.

Clue #13 – There eyes never cease from sinning. It was John who told us about the danger in loving the world: For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not the Father but is of the world (1John 2:16). The world is full of “things” that can lure one into sin, that can entrap one in a sinful lifestyle or envelop one’s life with coveting. Those who have a lust for money and power in the church are often lured into the world’s system by the root of the very thing they are seeking. They are addicted as seen in the Greek word for cease; akatapaustos – incessant, not to be set at rest. It is appalling that these false teachers are ordained leaders of the church.

Clue #14 – They beguile unstable souls. Beguile in the Greek (deleazo) means to entice, allure, entrap or delude. These false teachers entice those who are unstable or not well founded in the Word of God into following their false doctrines. Unstable people are often easily persuaded by messages that “tingle the ear” and appeal to the conscience. We don’t have to look very far, it is happening all around us. Consider this from J.B. Phillips (paraphrased):

Bishop John Shelbby Spong of the American Episcopal Church … has no use for conservative Protestants who take a literal view of biblical interpretation … has written a number of books of ill repute that challenge sexual abstinence and heterosexual monogamy and claim that traditional morality is the product of patriarchal bias … sex outside of marriage can be holy and life-giving … scorns fundamentalist views on homosexuality … claims Paul was ignorant when he wrote such scalding passages as Rom 8: 24-28 … the church should repent of its past ignorance and prejudice … one of his books is “Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism” … He portrays Jesus as narrow-minded and vindictive … he denies the Resurrection … he calls Paul a repressed and self-loathing homosexual …

Sadly these views are not limited, they are growing within mainstream Christianity and many who are seeking the truth are captivated by these false teachers and their false doctrines. The modern apostate isn’t so far removed from those that Peter writes about. They both prey on unstable souls. The bride of Christ cannot afford to be ignorant of them and their messages as she will be confronted by those who have fallen into the trap and need to be set free by the Word of Truth.

Clue #15 – The have a heart trained in covetous practices. This literally means they have trained their hearts through “continuous use” to be greedy or to covet that which belongs to someone else. This is in direct violation of the 10th Commandment; Thou shall not covet. What this also infers is that they, through long practice, have brought their technique of getting what they want to a high degree of proficiency. They have used heretical teachings to line their pockets by becoming sophisticated in their seduction of unstable souls.

Clue #16 – They are accursed children. False teachers who are leading others astray are living under a curse from God. The truly sad part is that they don’t even realize it. The translation is literally, they are “children of the curse.” One wonders if they have even known the touch of God’s saving grace in their lives. It reminds me of the “tares” among the “wheat.” You can’t tell them apart until just before the harvest for its then that the tares, which are poisonous, turn black and can easily be discerned from the wheat. We are fast approaching the time of the harvest and many of the tares are becoming black. These are those who Paul referred to as the children of disobedience (Eph 2:12; 5:16) and the children of wrath (Eph 2:3).

2Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

Clue #17 – They have forsaken the right way and gone astray. Isaiah told us that we are all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way (Isa 53:6). Jesus told us that we have the narrow way of righteousness and the broad way which leads to destruction to choose from (Matt 7:13). There is no better example than Balaam, who chose the broad way and had to be rebuked by a donkey (Num 22). Balaam followed the broad path that led to materialism; it was money that was his ultimate goal, not the narrow way of the Lord. He was a pagan but had some knowledge of God and God used him by taking control of his tongue, making him bless Israel rather than curse them. There are many in the ministry today that, like Balaam, have abandoned the faith for lucrative positions in the pulpit and the seminary and their messages are destroying others.

Like Balaam, their messages lead down the path away from purity and separation — the doctrine of Balaam — and God will punish them for it. God rebuked him (echo; sharply reprimanded) out of the donkey’s mouth but he soon forgot in his pursuit of money. His iniquity (paranomia; provoking) was breaking the law of God; His clear commandment to bless Israel. But the rebuke was soon forgotten and the result was his becoming mad. This, too, will be the fate of those who go against the Word of Truth in pursuit of material gain. We cannot afford to be like Israel and follow today’s Balaams or allow others to be deceived by their doctrines.

We will take up the last five clues next time as Peter moves from the scriptural world to the secular world as he continues to illustrate and identify these false teachers, these apostates. He provides us with a biographical picture of their empty profession, preaching and promises. We as the bride of Christ need to be well informed and well armed to deal with them. There are many who hunger and are seeking an answer for the dryness of their souls, and the Balaams of today are only too eager to satisfy them with the world’s empty messages and promises. The time of the harvest is nearly upon us and we have the truth that they need. The tares are beginning to mature and they are poisonous.

Parts 1-4 of this series are available here.