April 19, 2026, Sunday School Lesson

The Deception of False Teachers

Lesson Text: 2 Peter 2:10b – 22

Related Scriptures: Jude 1:8-16; Numbers 22:1-35; Revelations 2:122-17; Matthew 7:15-23; 12:43-45

TIME: between A.D. 63-64

PLACE: unknown

Golden Text – “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” (2 Peter 2:15)

Introduction

False teachers are a Satanic plague that afflicted the God’s church soon after Jesus founded it. Jesus warned about false teachers, who He described as “ravening wolves” that intend to harm God’s flock (Matt. 7:15).

Paul warned the church at Corinth against false apostles, who deceptively claimed to be sent by Christ for the edification of His church (2 Cor. 11:13-15). He referred to them as deceitful workers who transformed (disguised) themselves as apostles.

The apostle John, likewise, warned believers about the intrusion of false teachers in the church, urging them to test those who claim to teach God’s Word (1 John 4:1-6), Jude, likely written earlier than Peter’s second letter, provided the raw materials that Peter drew upon for his warning to the church, admonishing believers to earnestly contend for the faith.

All false teachers want to deceive God’s people for their own selfish gain. The church needs to be prepared to reject their teaching and lifestyles.

LESSON OUTLINE

1. DESCRIPTIONS OF FALSE TEACHERS – 2 Peter 2:10b-14

2. THE WARNING OF BALAAM - 2 Peter 2:15-16

3. DANGER FOR WEAK CHRISTIANS 2 Peter: 2:17-22

QUESTIONS

1. Who are false teachers not afraid to speak evil of?

2. What are possible interpretations of the term “dignities”?

3. What is the view of false teachers concerning angels?

4. What is the false teachers’ view of God’s judgment?

5. To whom did Peter compare false teachers?

6. Why is this comparison appropriate?

7. Why is Balaam another good comparison to false teachers?

8. What practice did both Balaam and false teachers in 2 Peter 2 advocate?

9. What do false teachers promise, and what do they actually deliver?

10. Who are the primary targets of false teachers?

ANSWERS

1. They are not afraid to slander or speak evil of “dignities” or, more literally, “glories” (vs. 10)

2. Scholars have proposed several understandings of the meaning of the term “dignities,” including human authorities in the church, angels, and even fallen angels.

3. Considering their fleshly lifestyles, false prophets may raise doubts in the church about the very existence of supernatural powers and the consequential judgment of those evil powers. They set themselves above even the angels in their behavior and speech. They are libertines with a false understanding of grace and a denial of a judgment at the second coming of Christ.

4. False teachers foolishly have no fear of judgment for their behavior. To them, the coming judgment is a cleverly concocted myth (2 Peter 1:16-18).

5. In 2 Peter 2:12-13, Peter compared false prophets to “natural brute beasts,” creatures of instinct that are born to be caught and killed, a theme borrowed from Jude 1:10. Peter said false prophets act no better than beasts.

6. False prophets are seen as creatures living solely by instinct and who, through stupidity, ignore or scoff at the power of both God and the evil in this world. They lack the knowledge of the reality of good and evil, and they ignore the dangers of immorality.

7. In verses 15-16, Peter said that they leave the straight road and go astray. That implies that at one time, they followed the right road, the way of Christ. Peter used the example of Balaam the son of Bosor (or Beor) to illustrate this.

8. We can now see why the story of Balaam resonated in Peter’s letter. Balaam initially sided with God for the Israelites but later sided with Balak and advised the use of sexual immorality to corrupt Israel. False prophets in 2 Peter 2 were also using sexual immorality to corrupt the church.

9. They intend to lead people astray by promising them liberty. Peter noted, however, that false prophets themselves are enslaved to corruption. When corruption masters a person, that person becomes enslaved to it.

10. The nature of those who are enticed is important. They certainly are not well-seasoned believers in Christ who have endured trials and overcome them. These are individuals who are new to the faith and have just recently escaped from lives of error. False prophets target new Christians.