What Kind of Fruit Do They Have?

I Peter 2:9-16

When I was in third grade. We had the old time desks with had the seat mounted on the desk behind it. Some kids thought it was really funny to wiggle their seat when one was trying to write an assignment, messing up the penmanship and causing mistakes. Some teachers never caught on and blamed the victim for sloppiness or disrupting the class if they retaliated. Other teachers watched more closely, and would straighten the problem out immediately, punishing the one causing the problem.

Like the better teachers, the Lord is alert to what is going on. He knows the ones who are trying to lead others astray for their own benefit. He also knows the ones who have been deceived and are ignorantly leading others astray convinced they are right.

“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.” (II Peter 2:9-11)

Judgment will be especially severe for those who in their arrogance have boldly condemned true teachers, convinced they could not be wrong themselves. These false teachers go where angels fear to tread, accusing God’s men of heresy and blasphemy, when the angels would not dare to make such accusations against the false teachers. Jesus said, Mt 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” in Matthew 7:20, and their unspiritual attitude gives them away.

"But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time.” (II Peter 2:12-13a)*

A wolf, acting on his natural instincts, may attack and kill an entire flock of sheep, having no concept that the sheep belong to a shepherd. To protect his flock the shepherd may be forced to kill the wolf once he finds out how easy it is to kill a sheep. These false teachers, with no understanding of the truth attack true doctrine and it’s teachers in an effort to turn away believers, and will be destroyed by God, just like the rest of the wicked. Their religion will be no protection.

"Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 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; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.” (II Peter 2:13b-16)

I just opened a repacked box of strawberries I bought at Walmart, and ate one. It tasted horrible. Near the center of the box was a berry covered with what appears to be a fungus. Apparently, though I couldn’t see it, the fungus had spread to the berry I tasted. The false teachers are like the fungus, concealing themselves among those who believe the truth, and infecting everyone possible.

In Romans 16:17-18, Paul instructed the Roman Christians, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Peter describes them as lacking spiritual power to cease from sin, having their eyes full of adultery, whether physical or spiritual, and working for what they covet, rather than to please God.

Numbers 22-24 tells the story of Balaam. After God forbid him to go with Balak, Balaam kept asking God to allow him to go. When God granted permission if certain conditions were met, Balaam ignored the conditions God gave and went anyway because he wanted to attain a high position with Balak’s government, with the accompanying financial rewards. After his donkey had demonstrated more spiritual insight than Balaam, he ignored the angel’s warning not to speak anything except what God had said in an effort to salvage something. Explaining why he couldn’t curse Israel and to justify himself with Balak, he revealed the reason for God’s blessings, and Balak used that against Israel. It cost him his life in Numbers 31.

Like Balaam, these false teacher are more concerned with attaining their goals than with what God actually said. They don’t hesitate to ignore or change the interpretation of scripture that contradicts their position. Titus 3:10-11 instructs us not to waste time trying to change the belief of someone who is committed to their position. “A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” He is not interested in the truth, but in promoting his position.

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* Notice that the separation of the verses is according to the original punctuation, ending at a period, whereas the verse divisions in both cases end at a semicolon, indicating the thought is not complete. Verse divisions were added by man later for convenience, and were not inspired by God. While it does not greatly affect interpretation of this passage, observing the punctuation can greatly affect the understanding of other scriptures. The punctuation should always be checked.