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Daily Devotions

2 Peter

2 Peter 
Day 
Day 19

"False teachers"

Text: 2 Peter 2:1

WARNING OF FALSE TEACHINGS

It was Moses who warned Israel of people who would bring in false teachings. They could appear as “prophets” speaking of “dreams” received from God. The Prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel preached and wrote strenuously against false prophets in their time (Jeremiah 23).

The Apostle Peter had to warn his readers of false teachers and their wicked teachings. The Apostles Paul and John also wrote to warn believers of false teachings (1 Timothy 4; 2 Timothy 3; 1 John 2, 4). So did the Apostle Jude (Epistle of Jude).

“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 Peter 2:1

1. “But there were also false prophets among the people”

a) Moses issued a warning about them (Deuteronomy 13).

b) Jeremiah warned about the false prophets (Jeremiah 23:9-40).

c) Ezekiel also warned about the false prophets (Ezekiel 13).

2. “Even as there will be false teachers among you”

a) In the first century, they were known as “false teachers”.

b) They would enter into the church community and spread their false teachings.

3. “Who will secretly bring in destructive heresies”

a) The phrase “secretly bring in” translates a single word (Greek).

i) They will enter into the church community.

ii) They will then be assimilated into the church community.

iii) They would not disclose their teachings immediately.

b) “Destructive heresies”

i) Peter spoke against them candidly.

ii) The “heresies” may appear simply as “opinions” or “alternative views”.

iii) But the consequences were indeed “destructive”.

4. “Even denying the Lord who bought them”

a) The word “Lord” here is usually translated “Master”.

i) Jesus is indeed Lord.

ii) And He is Master.

b) The work of the Lord:

i) His work was to redeem us from our sins.

ii) Thus, the word “bought” was used here.

c) “Denying the Lord”

i) This was the heresy that was deadly in Peter’s estimation.

ii) To deny the Lord and His work in bringing redemption is indeed a heresy.

iii) To deny the Lord would lead to destruction rather than salvation.

iv) The false teachers would bring destruction to themselves!