False Teachers = Hypocrites and Liars

Reading 1 Timothy 4 today along with William MacDonald’s Believer’s Bible Commentary, I came across this thought-provoking comment:

The word hypocrisy suggests “wearing a mask.” How typical this is of the false cultists! They try to hide their true identity. They do not want people to know the system with which they are identified. They masquerade by using Bible terms and singing Christian hymns. Not only are they hypocrites, but they are liars as well. Their teaching is not according to the truth of God’s word; they know this, and purposely deceive the people. 

Their conscience is seared with a hot iron. Perhaps early in their lives their conscience had been tender, but they suppressed it so often and sinned against the light so much that now their conscience has become insensitive and hardened. They no longer have any scruples about contradicting the word of God and teaching things they know are untrue. 

Think about those false teachers who know very well what the Bible says about homosexual behavior and yet their consciences are seared because they seek the approval of man.  Think also about Joseph Smith who knew very well that his Book of Mormon was a fraud, that polygamy was debauchery, and that his system of gods was false, yet he kept the pretense until death because he benefited personally.  And think about the many Word of Faith teachers who are exceedingly wealthy because they dupe their followers into sending them large amounts of money.

All these false teachers know what they teach is false, but they “no longer have any scruples about contradicting the word of God and teaching things they know are untrue.”  They will be judged more severely than those who they teach.  (James 3:1)