Their hearts are inclined to evil ways and filled with fleshly desires; loving the things of the world and often confessing, “We can not live in this world without committing sin.” By their evil example and false teachings they are beguiling many unstable souls. Their covetous heart is scarcely ever satisfied.
The prophet Isaiah speaks of these prophets saying, “They are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they can not bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough.” Isa. 56:10, 11. This is a lazy, ease-loving greedy ministry. If they are getting $500.00 a year they will want $600.00. If they are receiving $1,000.00 they will want $1,200.00, and go wherever they can get the most. “Cursed children.”
15. “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.”
These false teachers have known a better way. The Lord showed Balaam the right way, but he was seduced by the reward offered by Balak. So with these teachers; they once knew a more righteous way, but have turned aside for the wages of unrighteousness.
16. “But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.” As Balaam was rebuked by the dumb ass, so these false teachers in their madness for worldly honor, gain and wisdom are rebuked by the humble ignorant Christians, whom they consider as dumb ignorant creatures.
17. “These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.”
Salvation is often spoken of as the “water of life.” These false teachers are wells without water. Their [pg 417] preaching does not feed and water their flock. Their empty forms and stale essays contain no spiritual food. For this reason there is a famine throughout Babylon. “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.” Amos 8:11. From the pulpit we hear lectures, stories, and history, and not the pure gospel; this is the cause of this famine. “Clouds they are carried with a tempest.” When there is some appearance of rain or water from these teachers, and you have hopes of hearing some of the Word of God, behold some false wind of doctrine for personal advantage carries away every sign of rain.
18. “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lust of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.”
They preach in sublime style, and speak great words of vanity, almost incomprehensible to common people, and by touching incidents and sympathetic stories they allure, and those who were really converted are often led into error and formalism by these vain teachers.
19. “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption.”