1 Peter 2:1-3 (my paraphrase) says, "Just as there were false prophets among the people of Israel, so also there will be false teachers among you, for they have secretly slipped in like spies, subtly bringing in the contagion of destructive heresies and bad doctrine, even denying Christ's lordship over their lives as they refuse to submit to Him with their immoral disobediences. For these follow sensualities [lusts] and are greedy for the gain and make market of you in their covetousness for money. They exploit you with words and they are condemned for destruction." Now there's a lot here. If I were putting this in list form, there would be at least five facets of a false teacher in the New Testament (and now) that parallel the Old Testament false prophets in the past. For study purposes, I will treat them one and the same. In this article, I would like to specifically focus on just the first part of verse 1, "Just as there were false prophets among the people of Israel." Jeremiah chapter 10 calls these false prophets "stupid [senseless; literally 'without the sense'] shepherds" (I will have much more to say about Jeremiah chapter 10 in part three of my study). But I want you to know that this passage completely parallels many NT authors such as Paul, Peter, John, and Jude. Even the gospel authors, especially Luke, pay careful attention to detailing the work of these imposters who were found within religious leadership. They were then (OT & NT) and they are now. Personally, I have been on a nearly two-year study working through the details of Scripture concerning false prophets, false apostles, and false teachers. The OT prophets dealt with them, as did the Lord Jesus and the apostles and the NT authors who laid the biblical framework for the church. In a recent conversation with Pastor Nate about false teachers, he said to me, "I think you're onto something Thor. Nobody's talking about that. You're onto something, man." He means that no one in Christian leadership circles or even in local or regional or high levels is discussing this as a problem for churches. Knowing me as the pastoral counselor, it would be easier for me to pick a typical counseling topic for an article. But actually, the damage that false teachers have done to people in the realm of deception is a huge problem. People are often swallowed up by the cliché theology of false teachers. People look for Jesus in things that don't align with the Word of God. And the false teachers, like the false prophets of old, push into the people and do much damage. So I'm going to take Nate's encouraging counsel and continue to press into this theological issue where the Scriptures are not silent. Nobody may be talking about it, but I'm glad to be that nobody. We cannot neglect major portions of Scripture dedicated to the descriptions, depictions, and refutations of false leaders. If we do, we neglect these ravenous wolves, by natural instincts, who want to devour beloved sheep. And as shepherds, we must protect the sheep from these wolves.

Jeremiah probably has the most to say about false prophets. His descriptions of them are vivid and detailed; plus, they falsely accused and assaulted him directly because his confrontation of them that was always so bold and forthright. In Bible study, repetition is an often-employed strategy in language for major emphasis. Solomon does this often in the Proverbs, as David his father did in the Psalms. Paul does it repeatedly in the New Testament. The Spirit of the LORD does this often in Scripture -- 2 Peter chapter 2 practically mirrors the book of Jude. Jeremiah also does this in the details about false prophets. Did you know that Jeremiah 6:9-15 is practically the verbatim of Jeremiah 8:10-12? Both list these four main characteristics of false prophets:

1. They are greedy for gain; market exploitation; heart for money (6:13a mirrors 8:10)
2. They practice falsehood and fraud; ignored The Word of the LORD (6:13b mirrors 8:10b)
3. They treat fractures as superficial; say 'all is well' when NOT; false peace(6:14 mirrors 8:11)
4. They are unashamed; never blush at their words or sins; unrepentant (6:14-15 mirrors 8:12)

There is no need to dissect these as they are pretty much self-explanatory. False prophets want money, practice fraud & deceit, give a false sense of peace, and are never ashamed of their sin. Wow! What a blessing we have that the Word of our LORD in the Bible, which is so clear and concise in its Self-Authenticating Nature. And here's what's even more interesting to note: like the false prophets, false teachers in the New Testament and today are doing the same kinds of things. They love money. They are deceiving and fraudulent; literally, "plastic counterfeits." They spread the lies of a false peace, which appeals to complacency. And they lack deep heart repentance because they aren't sorry for their sin and refuse to blush in shame. Peter, Jude, and Paul in 1st Timothy, even the Lord Jesus Himself, list these same characteristics of false prophets while confronting the reality of false apostles and false teachers. These biblical lists expose the false prophets; and remind us that they are among the people in a very subtle sphere of operation. And we simply cannot ignore The Word of The Lord God; for He, the Great Shepherd, has much to say about what and WHOM is false; so that The Truth is Always Revealed. Praise Him. [TO BE CONTINUED SOON]