False Teachers: Pursuing Works, Money and Ambition

by David Chadwick

Wheat and tares are growing up side by side and will continue to do so until Jesus’s return (see Matthew 13). It is not our job to determine who is wheat and who is a tare regarding the eternal destiny of people’s souls. However, we are called to examine fruit. We are to be shrewd as serpents, while remaining innocent as doves.

The fourth characteristic of a false teacher is that they emulate characteristics of biblical figures who walked in extreme error. Jude 1:11 describes false teachers by saying they “walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.” What does this mean exactly? Let’s briefly take a look at each story.

God made it very clear that forgiveness only came through the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). Abel obeyed and came with a shed blood sacrifice from his herd, but Cain offered a sacrifice by his works from the ground and God did not accept it. False teachers preach a false gospel that we are saved by works. They deny the sufficiency of the cross and preach a message that should be accursed according to Galatians 1:8.

Balaam, in Numbers 22-25 and Numbers 31, was encouraging the corruption of the Israelites into all sorts of evil practices for his own profit. The love of money and sin of covetousness overtook him and caused him to do wicked things. False teachers get wealthy by asking people to give them money and promising financial blessings in return. They are motivated by personal prestige, privilege, and personal gain. False teachers want to fleece God’s sheep, not feed them.

Finally, in Numbers 16, Korah led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron because of personal selfish ambition (James 3:16). This is another characteristic of a false teacher. This is an individual who intentionally comes in to lure the people unto himself with evil, selfish ambition and vain conceit. He wants to build his own personal platform at the expense of the one leading, often creating factions and divisions.

In conclusion, preaching salvation through works, preaching because of a love of money, and preaching with personal ambition intended to divide are earmarks of false teachers.

Be alert and aware!