False Teachers Among You
Joe R. Price

Ezekiel was God’s prophet to “the captives” in Babylon (Ezek. 1:1). He spoke God’s word to “a rebellious house” that was filled with “impudent (stiff-faced, unyielding) and stubborn children” (Ezek. 2:3-4). They had been plundered and were now exiled to Babylonian captivity as punishment for their rebellion against God (Ezek. 5).

Israel was seduced by false prophets who led her away from God (Ezek. 13:1-16, esp. 10). The apostle Peter teaches us, “But there were 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” (2 Pet. 2:1). In light of Peter’s warning, it is needful for us to understand the nature and the tactics of the false prophets of Israel in order to be adequately warned and prepared against false teachers among us today.

The false prophets of Israel spoke false messages as if they were from God. “Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, ‘The Lord says,’ but I have not spoken” (Ezek. 13:7). False prophets taught false doctrine. For instance, they said, “’Peace!’ when there is no peace” (Ezek. 13:10; cf. Jer. 6:13-14). Even so today, false teachers teach false doctrine. They are identified as false teachers because they “bring in destructive heresies.” What they teach is false (2 Pet. 2:1). Many brethren have been convinced that a man is not a false teacher unless it can be proved his heart is false (not genuine and sincere, willfully false, dishonest,  hypocritical, etc.). So, we are told that a brother whose teaching is false is not a false teacher – if he is sincerely mistaken (Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Jno. 9). This calls on us to be heart-readers instead of fruit-assessors: “Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matt. 7:20). Like the false prophets, it is the nature of the teaching, not the nature of the teacher’s, that defines him (or her) to be a false teacher.

The false prophets of Israel were deceived in their hearts. Similar to Saul of Tarsus, they believed the lies they were teaching (Acts 23:1; 26:9). “And the Lord said to me, ‘The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart’” (Jer. 14:14). Their “false visions” reflected they were deceived in heart. It was precisely because they claimed their message was God’s will (when it was not) that they are deemed false prophets; their message was false. “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die” (Deut. 18:20). They believed they were teaching the truth, even speaking quite sincerely, yet they spoke without divine authority. They were presumptuous in their speech, deceived by sin and error (cf. 2 Tim. 3:13). Israel was warned against following the error of false prophets, not because those prophets’ hearts were false, but because their teaching was false (see Deut. 13:1-5).

The sincerity of the teacher does not lessen the danger of his error. He is a false teacher because he teaches false doctrine. Peter said false teachers bring in “destructive heresies.” The nature of his teaching identifies the false teacher, just as surely as teaching truth identifies the true teacher of the gospel (Gal. 1:10, 20; 1 Cor. 14:37).

The false prophets of Israel were foolish in their hearts and in their messages. “And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!” (Ezek. 13:1–3) The fool despises the wisdom and instruction of God’s truth (Prov. 1:7). The false prophets of Israel spoke from “their own spirit” instead of from the revelation of God. Out of foolish hearts they spoke foolish words:  “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings” (Jer. 23:21-22).

We do not deny that false teachers may indeed possess foolish hearts. False teachers show foolishness in heart as well as in doctrine. They forsake the right way of the Lord for the inferior and foolish ways of men (1 Pet. 2:15; Jude 11). But, we dare not excuse or defend as sincere, one who teaches error. Teaching what does not agree with apostolic truth and the wisdom of divine revelation is both false and foolish (1 Jno. 4:1, 6; 1 Cor. 1:18-25).

The false messages of the false prophets of Israel were futile. “They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ’Thus says the Lord!’ But the Lord has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed. Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, ‘The Lord says,’ but I have not spoken.” Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you,” says the Lord God” (Ezek. 13:6-8). Of their vain and useless visions, the Lord said, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord” (Jer. 23:16).

Just as it was with the false prophets of Israel, worthless words define today’s false teachers. Their instruction is futile, powerless against sin and impotent to edify the body of Christ. Their false teachings promise liberty, but enslave brethren in the corruption of error (2 Pet. 2:18-19; Gal. 2:4-5).

“There will be false teachers among you.” They must be identified and their teaching rejected, or the corruption of souls will surely occur (2 Pet. 2:1-3; Rom. 16:17). God commands the light of truth to shine out of darkness and expose false teachers (2 Cor. 4:5-6; Eph. 5:6-14). False teachers and their false teachings must be exposed, not excused. That means we must hold God, His truth and His approval in higher esteem than men (Gal. 1:10).