Attitudes of False Teachers

In Matthew 7:15, Jesus tells us to, "Beware of false prophets, who comes to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly, they are ravenous wolves." In other words, false teachers may seem good, but inwardly, they are evil. As Jesus goes on to say in verses 16-19, a false prophet will eventually do things that will reveal their true character - they will "bear bad fruit" and thus prove that they are truly evil. The lesson for us? Don't be deceived! If someone claims to be a prophet (or a gospel preacher), pay close attention to the things they say and do! If their works are evil, their heart is evil!

I am reminded first of all of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were highly respected for their alleged holiness and devotion. Outwardly, they appeared righteous to men (Matthew 23:28), but in reality, they were hypocrites! Jesus had many encounters with the Pharisees and He never ceased to point out their hypocrisy and wickedness. He even told His disciples to "beware" of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:12). These men were FALSE TEACHERS. They were false because of what they taught (they emphasized human traditions over God's commandments), and their works proved their wickedness.

Then there were those even in the church who were LIKE the Pharisees in that they advocated error while also having an attitude or lifestyle that wasn't reflective of Christ. Notice these two passages:

"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).

 "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of God" (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

"Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort" (1 Timothy 6:17). They were spreading error on the resurrection and causing quite a bit of controversy. There were also the Judaizing teachers in Galatia who were pushing circumcision for selfish reasons (Galatians 6:12-13). Finally, I am reminded of "Jezebel," a wicked woman who led many Christians away from God in Thyatira (Revelation 2:20-23).

Even today, there are men and women who call themselves Christians and who advocate error for similar reasons or in similar fashion. Maybe they are pushing a doctrine for carnal purposes (to justify immoral behavior). Maybe they are advancing error and splitting up faithful congregations of the Lord's people. There are some who know very little about God's word, and whose lives are filled with sin (or unwise behavior), and their teachings reflect it. As the scriptures teach, we ought to "withdraw" ourselves from such false teachers!

HOWEVER...

That's not to say that all "false teachers" are insincere, carnal and wicked. In other words, it is possible to be sincerely wrong. Apollos is the first example that comes to mind. In Acts 18:24, we are told that Apollos was "an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures" and that he "spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord" (vs. 25). Yet he was unfamiliar with the truth on baptism (vs. 25) and had baptized many people in Ephesus the wrong way (according to the baptism of John).

Obviously, Apollos was not like the Pharisees, or Hymenaeus and Philetus, or Jezebel. He was a God-fearing man who just so happened to misunderstand a particular spiritual topic. But despite his "good intentions," he was still wrong, and something needed to be done! As we read in Acts 18:26, "Aquila and Priscilla heard him" and "took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately."

Some might argue that Apollos wasn't a true "FALSE teacher" because, after all, he was well-intentioned and sincere - a good man, if you all. Fine. Then call him a "proponent of error," or "mistaken." Either way, the man was still in need of correction, and his error still needed to be remedied (which Paul did in Acts 19).

We may handle different "false teachers" differently. There are some, like the Pharisees or Jezebel, that might warrant a more direct, "harsher" approach. And then there are others, like Apollos, that simply need to be taken aside and straightened out.

As Christians, we need to do the best we can to make the proper distinctions. But we also must address error whenever and however it rears its ugly head.