FALSE TEACHERS: THEIR DANGER TO THE CHURCH (2 PETER 2)
I. PROPHECY: THE DESTRUCTIVE INFLUENCE OF FALSE TEACHERS (2:1-3)
1 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. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of
whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 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)
1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James…3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to
write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to
contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have
crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the
grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1-4)
II. NOAH AND LOT: GOD DELIVERS THE GODLY & JUDGES THE UNGODLY (2 PETER 2:4-9)
4 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; 5 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; 6 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; 7 and delivered righteous LOT,
who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them,
tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)-- 9 then the
Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment
for the day of judgment, (2 Peter 2:4-9)
5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of
the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep
their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness
for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar
manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are
set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 5-7)
III. SODOM: PRIDE, GLUTTONY, LAZINESS, GREED, ABOMINATIONS (EZEKIEL 16:49-50)
49 This was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She…had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of
idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty and
committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit. (Ezekiel 16:49-50)
IV. FALSE TEACHERS: SEXUAL SIN, PRIDE AND GREED (2 PETER 2:9-16)
9 The Lord knows how…to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment 10 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, 11 whereas angels,
who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.
12 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, 13 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, 14 having eyes full of adultery
and that cannot cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous
practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following
the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked
for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet.
(2 Peter 2:9-16)
8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet
Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared
not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" 10 But these speak evil of
whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they
corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the
error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. (Jude 8-11)
V. THE DESTRUCTIVE INFLUENCE OF FALSE TEACHERS (2 PETER 2:17-22)
17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness
of darkness forever. 18 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. 19 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. 20 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. 21 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. 22 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 2:17-22)
12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves.
They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead,
pulled up by the roots; 13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for
whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever….16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking
according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus
Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to
their own ungodly lusts. (Jude 12-18)
VI. THE GREAT ENEMY OF THE CHURCH: FALSE TEACHERS FROM WITHIN (2 PETER 2:1-3)
1 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. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of
whom the way of truth will be blasphemed (ridiculed by unbelievers). 3 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)
A. 2 Peter 2 and Jude (parallel passages) are among the weightiest chapters in the Bible because of their
warning of the eternal judgment of certain teaching ministries that are among them. Peter and Jude want the Church
to see that the main human enemy that will rise up against the Church is actually from within it. There are many
significant implications of this.
B. They will be born again teachers. They are described as bought by Jesus’ blood, as being “among” the
Body of Christ and participating in their fellowship meals.
1 There will be false teachers among you…denying the Lord who bought them… (2 Peter 2:1)
13 They are…carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you… (2 Peter 2:13)
12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear... (Jude 12)
C. They are those who have forsaken the right way. Thus, they once embraced it. They had previously
escaped the pollution of sin through their knowledge of Jesus as their savior. The "way" is a reference to the
gospel or the Kingdom of God (Acts 16:17; 18:25-26; 2 Peter 2:21). The early Church was called "the Way"
(Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22).
15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray… (2 Peter 2:15)
20 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. 21 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
(2 Peter 2:20-21)
D. Many false teachers have a large following within the Church. They gain a following by flattering people and
promising them liberty from all their problems in this life.
2 And many will follow their destructive ways... (2 Peter 2:2)
16 They mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. (Jude 16)
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption... (2 Peter 2:19)
E. They are subtle in the way they distort and thus deny the grace of God.
1 There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even
denying the Lord who bought them…2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom
the way of truth will be blasphemed. (2 Peter 2:1-2)
F. We must contend to proclaim and live the gospel that was given by Jesus and the first apostles. The Scripture
presents “blessed circumstances” as an important part of our covenant with God. However, in this age, godliness is
our primary focus and blessed circumstances are secondary.
3I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once
for all delivered to the saints (by Jesus and the apostles). 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed
… who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny…Jesus Christ. (Jude 3-4)
G. If the first priorities of the Kingdom become secondary, then truth is distorted. God’s promises of blessed
circumstances in this life are given in the context of producing meekness and purity.
2 I pray that you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. (3 John 2)
H. The Sermon on the Mount lifestyle is the narrow way and the broad way refuses it. The Sermon on the
Mount calls us to cultivate godliness as we pursue eight beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), resist six negatives
(Matthew 5:21-48) and embrace five positives (Matthew 6:1-18) especially in context to a godly attitude toward
money as seen in Mt. 6:19-33.
13 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction…
14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way…few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
I. The Scripture prophesies of spiritual compromise in the Church in the End-Times.
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first,
and the man of sin is revealed (Antichrist)… (2 Thessalonians 2:3-5)
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to
deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy… (1 Timothy 4:1-2)
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own
desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will
turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
1 Know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves,
lovers of money…4 lovers of pleasure…5 having a form of godliness but denying its power…6 those who
creep into households and make captives of gullible women…7 always learning and never able to come
to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7)
3 Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and
saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?" (2 Peter 3:3-4)
17 Remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles…18 how they told you that there
would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their lusts. (Jude 17-18)
VII. FALSE TEACHERS DENY THE LORD: BY COVETOUSNESS, SEXUAL SIN AND PRIDE
A. They deny Jesus and the grace of God by living ungodly and teaching Scripture in a way that promotes
covetousness, immorality and pride (rebellion against authority).
B. False teachers deny the Lord through their ministry being motivated by covetousness.
3 By covetousness they will exploit (manipulate) you with deceptive words… (2 Peter 2:3)
14 They have a heart trained (experts in greed) in covetous practices…15 They have forsaken the
right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of
unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice
restrained the madness of the prophet. (2 Peter 2:14b-16)
11 Woe to them! For they have…run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit… (Jude 11)
17 These (Bible teachers who leave the truth) are wells without water… 18 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. 19 While they (false teachers) promise them liberty,
they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him (i.e., false teacher)
also he is brought into bondage. (2 Peter 2:17-19)
16 They mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. (Jude 16)
17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God… (2 Corinthians 2:17)
C. False teachers deny the Lord through their sensuality and immorality.
9 The Lord knows how…to reserve the unjust under punishment…10 especially those who walk
according to…the lust of uncleanness…12 These , like natural brute beasts…will perish in their
corruption, 13 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…14 having
eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin… (2 Peter 2:9-14)
8 These dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority…10 whatever they know naturally, like brute
beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. (Jude 8-10)
D. False teachers deny the Lord through their pride and rebellion.
10 those who…despise authority. 10 They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak
evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling
accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these…speak evil of the things they do not
understand… (2 Peter 2:10-12)
8 These…reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending
with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling
accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 8-9)
VIII. SODOM: PRIDE, GLUTTONY, LAZINESS, GREED, ABOMINATIONS (EZEKIEL 16:49-50)
49 This was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She…had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of
idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty and
committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit. (Ezekiel 16:49-50)
IX. NOAH AND LOT: GOD DELIVERS THE GODLY & JUDGES THE UNGODLY (2 PETER 2:4-9)
4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell…to be reserved for
judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved NOAH, one of eight people…bringing in
the flood…6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes…making them an example…
7 and delivered righteous LOT… 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to
reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment… (2 Peter 2:4-9)
5 The Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not
believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain…He has reserved…for the judgment
of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah…having given themselves over to sexual immorality…
are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 5-7)
X. THE DESTRUCTIVE INFLUENCE OF FALSE TEACHERS (2 PETER 2:17-22)
17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of
darkness forever. 18 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.
19 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. 20 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. 21 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. 22 It happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog
returns to his vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire." (2 Peter 2:17-22)
12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves.
They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead,
pulled up by the roots; 13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for
whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever….
16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great
swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. 17 Remember the words which were spoken before
by the apostles…18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk
according to their lusts. (Jude 12-18)
XI. THE GROWING TIDE OF DECEPTION IN THE CHURCH: HOW TO RESPOND
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep
yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And
on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the
fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. (Jude 20-23)