GOD’S OPINION OF FALSE TEACHERS   by Carl McMurray

Ezekiel was God’s spokesman in Babylon. He prophesied during the time of Judah’s seventy year captivity. In Ezekiel 12:26-28 the people were saying that the prophesies were for “many days from now” and “times afar off.”  The Lord answers their complaint by addressing, in chapter 13, the false prophets and teachers which were among them.  Whether it was in that time, or the first century (1 John 4:1), or today there is always the present danger of getting comfortable with false teachers. It would do us well to consider God’s opinion of these people and get serious about them.

In Ezekiel 13, false teachers are identified as those who spoke from their own hearts (v. 2), followed their own spirit (v. 3), saw false visions and lying omens (v. 4), and said “Declared the Lord...” when the Lord had not spoken. These are men (and later in the chapter, women) who are following their own wants and wishes. They have all kinds of confidence building evidence like visions and omens, and they clearly claim that the Lord is speaking in what they say. Notice what is not present in these people, however. Simply put, the word of God was missing. Omens, signs, visions, and declarations that the Lord was speaking... there was plenty of these things, but no truth in evidence.

What was the result of these type of prophesies? Well, first, the expected untruths were taught convincingly. In v. 10 the people were misled by those who said “Peace” when there was no peace. People were deceived, misled, and lulled into complacency when in fact they should have been learning and repenting. Secondly, v. 8 is where the Lord declares, “I am against you.” So these teachers were in fact enemies of God for what they were doing. And lest we think that the teacher is the only one that God was concerned with, chapter 14 and v. 10 is where God says that both the prophet and the one that inquired of the prophet would be punished alike. Kind of sounds like the blind leading the blind in Jesus’ words doesn’t it. Third, and lastly, the result of these activities is that truth suffers. When error is taught, the Lord is dishonored because His true word is being ignored. When His word is ignored then His people can’t cleanse themselves, commit themselves, or grow as they should.

In our culture “tolerance” is constantly pushed and we are pressed to “civility,” peace, and getting along with everyone. Do we believe that God’s opinion of false teachers has likewise calmed down and now he wants us to “live and let live”? Or, have we been exhorted to “try the spirits” (1 John 4:1), to test teachers and to stand against them when they are discovered to be false. God’s opinion should be ours also.