²Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; ³and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Typically, daily devotionals use uplifting passages; many are of the “chicken soup for the Christian soul” variety. God has used these to encourage Christians in their daily walk. Scripture, however, is not always warm and fuzzy. Yet, even in the more harsh teachings concerning the reality of our fallen world, we see the character of God and His preparation for us as we interject the gospel into our culture and defend against distorted false views of spirituality that creep into our Christian fellowships.

Jesus set the example when He sent out the twelve on their short-term mission with a “devotional” teaching that included this: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matt. 10:16). Daily we need to recalibrate our spiritual radars in order to stay alert. We need the wisdom of all Scripture, including insights into the motivation behind false teachers.

Sensuality is at the head of the list of motivations for false teaching. A major Greek lexicon describes the Greek word translated “sensuality” as “lack of self-constraint which involves conduct that violates all bounds of what is socially acceptable” (BDAG). They are driven by their own lusts and desires, which all would acknowledge as immoral. This may not show on the surface, but God knows their hearts. They are ultimately motivated by what is in their own best interests, not what is truth. Logically arguing with such teachers is fruitless, and the only adequate response is rebuke and judgment.

False teachers are skilled in word plays, redefinitions, misdirection—all amounting to “false words.” False teachers can, for example, say, “Salvation is by grace, through faith,” which of course uses proper-sounding biblical terminology (Eph. 2:8–9). That is, until we understand that their definition of “grace” is something a person earns through good works, and “faith” means believing in their false interpretation. False teachers are masters at sounding convincing, but God has already pronounced their harsh judgment.

So why do false teachers do what they do? Because they greedily desire to puff up their arrogance, power, and authority to appease their darkened hearts. Praise God for preparing us to guard our hearts and minds against these kinds of people who would assault our souls with erroneous, heretical teaching.

Lord, thank You for the wisdom to see through the motivations of false teachers, and encouraging me to stand in the truth!