But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand.
Summary: Teachers of truth point to the truth. False teachers spend their time talking smack about other teachings.
Today’s passage brings to mind Proverbs 14:12 —
“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (RSV)
What does it look like when people “blaspheme” or “speak evil” of “matters they do not understand?”
Imagine walking onto a college campus as a new student. You sign up for your classes and then, as the days go by, you start meeting people. Almost immediately, you notice people fall into one of two categories. There are those who are there to learn, and those who are there to tell others what to think.
Now, let’s take ten of the “tell others what to think” crowd and put them together in a room. Are they all saying the same thing or are they all talking about something different? It is hard to imagine that everyone is saying the same thing, isn’t it?
You walk into the room and each person there is trying to convince you that what they are telling you is (A) correct, and (B) more important than what others are saying. (Does this sound familiar?) As the competition for your attention increases, instead of telling you what to think, they turn on each other. Soon the room is full of the noise of arguing as each one points fingers and says something to the effect that, “They don’t know what they are talking about.”
This is what it means to blaspheme.
How many church people have you heard say things about a different church group that sounds like, “They don’t know what they are talking about”? This, too, is a form of blaspheme.
It is easy to say that “I speak only the truth,” but who among us can know what God knows? How many of us know THE Truth? I think the correct answer to this question is, “Nobody.”
We know what God has told us in his Word. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the truth and shows us all that we can comprehend at a given time. Yet, are we not all still growing in our ability to see and know truth? Is there any limit to what we can learn from God? (Colossians 1: 9-12)
None of us can claim to “know” everything. All of us who seek God are on the same journey, but we all start from a different place. Who in their right mind says that what they see from their path is the only thing worth seeing? Who points to someone else and says, “What you see isn’t valid?”
The False Teacher is not just one who claims to have special knowledge about God, but also speaks evil about what they do not understand.
Now that I have said all this…
What about things you do understand? Is it possible to warn people about false teachers without being one yourself? I think so. I think the teacher of Truth leads us to a closer understanding of God without blaspheming those they disagree with. It is not wrong to present arguments from your point of view.
Application: This is a difficult teaching. I think it is a cautionary tale and that the proper application is to be cautious about what we say about others.
Food for Thought: What is actually being taught when a “teacher” puts themselves above others?
What is actually being taught when a “teacher” puts themselves above others? That it’s all about them. Kinda seems a little stuck up. Basically the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit. I really hope one thing that is learned by that type of teacher is how not to be. The best teacher that I want to learn from was humble.
Mr. T,
Well said! The ‘fruit of the Spirit’ (Galatians 5: 22-23) makes an interesting checklist in this situation.
I agree with T. The fruit of the Spirit is good checklist in such a situation. And humility is required when we approach the word of God. I think true teachers are sincerely trying to accurate relay the word of God. False teachers use and distort the word of God for self promotion.
Thank you, Rich.
I totally agree about the need for humility. I wonder about sincerity, through. Haven’t you ever run across someone who teaches something you think is wrong, but they seem really sincere about what they teach? I agree that self-promotion is a red flag. It is a challenging topic!
11-08-2021, 2 Peter 2:12a, What is actually being taught when a “teacher” puts themselves above others?
Foolishness!
The beginning of all sin is when men, based entirely upon human reasoning, determine what they think in themselves, or what they simply choose to believe is right.
Romans 1:22, Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
Jesus says that those who are “poor in spirit” would have the kingdom of heaven. Being poor in spirit means that only those who admit to a total bankruptcy of spiritual value will inherit eternal life. Humility is required for all who chose to repent and follow Jesus in obedience to God.
Matthew 5:3
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant, and whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:11-12,
Ron,
“Foolishness!” – Nice and succinct!
I think you are on to something with “human reasoning,” too. Certainly a reliance on human reasoning is putting ourselves above God!
Thank you!
So, I did a study before that focused on an accurate view of God. The summation of this study was that there is a correct balance of how you understand sin vs self vs God. If you think sin is less serious than in reality, you will automatically consider God as ‘smaller’ than He is and you will think yourself ‘bigger’ than you are.
A teacher who is all about themselves has a ‘small’ God, if they even really believe in God at all (false teachers are probably the later).
Ditto on the fruit of the Spirit as a self check and humility for correction (especially when it comes to accepting advice from one another). It’s so important not to live by what is “right in your own eyes” but by what God has said is right. Also, that brings me to comparison. Our standard is God, not other people!
Well said, A! Thank you.
You make an interesting point about how big our God is. As we become more humble, there is less of our “self” in the way. As we get smaller, God gets bigger. Very interesting!
My answer would be,..that it is alright to do the same as the teacher,..if that’s what I am being taught then it must be the way it is,..and then if I have spent my life savings on the material being taught and come to find out it was all wrong,..I would be really upset and probably cross the line of temptation,.. fortunately I have been taught better than that by some very well knowledged people,..such as yourself Jeff,..
Currently we are in the 13th chapter of Mark,..I have been blessed to be able to convey this message to the guys,..I had to remind them that I would actually be reading the words Jesus spoke so they should pay attention,..Jesus spoke about false prophets and others that come in His name and say that they are the Messiah,..we are not to listen to them,..what I find interesting about the passage is that Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Jesus in private about the things Jesus was in reference to,..but this was written by Mark,..sounds like he was sticking his nose into a private conversation and to be honest,..I am glad he did,..because there is so much Jesus was talking about that fits in for what we are experiencing today,..the only One true teacher we should be listening to anyway,..
John,
Thank you! If I am a teacher, I hope that I am a teacher of humility before the Lord, because that is all I feel I have to offer. As far as you sharing God’s Word with your crew every week, I am excited for them! They get to work for and with their teacher. They see God’s Light in you. Through you God is able to reach others. As “A” commented today, the less of us there is in the way, the more of God people can see. (Or something to that effect…. 🙂 )
Less of people more of God. What a great thought/lesson to share.