A common characteristic of false teachers (like Balaam) is that they are inwardly covetous, though they carefully cloak themselves as godly and pious… Of such the Apostle Peter says, “in their greed they will exploit you with ‘plastic words’ (πλαστοῖς λόγοις) to make merchandise out of you” (2 Pet. 2:3). This suggests they “mold” their speech to exploit (or to suit) their listeners, plastering over what they really believe, and using words with elastic meaning to deceive others… Such teachers therefore appeal to the flesh, to human pride, by scratching the “itch” people have to feel superior toward others, and therefore they often find their audience among the insecure, the weak, and the vulnerable… Because they are covetous – always wanting more – they invariably seek positions of power, authority, fame, and of course they crave wealth to fund their “entitled” lifestyle. Peter says such false teachers make “merchandise” out of you, that is, they regard you as a commodity, an article of exchange, a coin in their pocket… They are not really there for you, though they appeal to you to be there for them, or for the sake of the “little children” or some other cause they will exploit for their advantage.
“Beware of false prophets,” Yeshua warned, “who come to you in sheep’s clothing (literally, “the skins of sheep,” ἐν ἐνδύμασι προβάτων), but who inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:15; cp. 2 Pet. 2:1). However, because they come in disguise, pretending to be “children of light,” we must be all the more vigilant. On the one hand, we must beware of those who “wrap themselves in a tallit” (legalists) and teach that we should come under the yoke of the law (Matt. 23:15), and on the other, we must beware those who minimize words of the holy Torah, who falsely claim that the way to heaven is “broad,” and that we therefore are “free” to walk after the desires of our own hearts (antinomianists). We must use godly discernment, friends. Note this well: The LORD allows false teachers in our midst to test our hearts: “For there must be (δεῖ) factions among you so that those who are genuine among you may be recognized” (1 Cor. 11:19). Therefore “test the spirits” to see if they are “of God,” that is, whether they focus on the righteousness of God given exclusively through Yeshua, the “narrow way that leads to life” – or whether they focus on something else. The Holy Spirit always centers the heart on the glory of God revealed in Yeshua (John 16:14; 1 Cor. 2:2, etc.).
It is written in our Scriptures, “Watch out, friends, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart (לֵב מְרֻשָּׁע וַחֲסַר אֱמוּנָה), leading you to fall away from the living God, but exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deception” (Heb. 3:12-13). Note that the Greek word translated “exhort” here (i.e., parakaleo: παρακαλέω) comes from the same root used to describe the work of the Holy Spirit to strengthen God’s people: As Yeshua said: “But the Parakletos (῾ο παράκλητος), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my Name, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). Each and every day, then, we need exhortation from one another to remind us of what is real to encourage us to turn toward the Living God (אֱלהִים חַיִּים). As we do this we serve as vessels of God’s Spirit, empowering us to remain steadfast and constant in our devotion, and guarding our hearts from the temptation to despair….
Hebrew Lesson:
