WARNING AGAINST GREEDY, FALSE TEACHERS

(1 Timothy 6.3-10)

        "These things teach and exhort.  If anyone teaches differently and does not consent to healthy words, those of our Lord YAHSHUA Mashiyach, and according to pious teaching, he has been puffed up understanding nothing.  He is diseased about questionings and arguments, out of which comes envy, strife, blasphemies, evil suspicions and perpetual arguments of men having corrupt minds and having been deprived of the truth who suppose piety to be gain.  But piety with self-sufficiency is great gain.  For we have brought nothing into the world and neither can we take anything out. But if we have food and clothing with these things we will be satisfied.  Those resolving to be rich fall into temptation and many foolish and injurious lusts which cause men to sink into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is the root of all evils of which some seeking after have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains."
 

1. Determine who the message is being given to and why.  The letter was written specifically to Timothy to tell him how to deal with false teachers.

2. Determine if the message is to be understood as being literal or symbolic.  It is literal.

3. Determine the context (what is the subject).  The context is identification of  false teachers and how to deal with them.

4. Determine the dispensation and if the message is for us today.  The dispensation is the Church Age and the message is for us today.

5. Find as many passages dealing with the subject as you can.  Matt. 7.15-23; Acts 20.28-31; 2 Tim. 3. 1-13; 4.1-4; Tit. 3.10,11; Heb. 13.5; 2 Peter 2.1-3; Jude 4

6. Put together the message of all the passages to determine what is being said.  All apparent contradictions must be resolved.  False Teachers sprang up in the First Century A.D. and they will be with us until the return of the Lord.  We must expose them for what they are and rebuke, refute and correct them with Scripture in love.

7. Give clear statements far more importance than unclear statements.  Base the message of an unclear statement on a clear one and not vice-versa.

The following is an exegetical study of this passage.

    (6.3,4) Anyone who teaches doctrine contrary to the Scriptures is a false teacher. Anyone, whether they claim to be born from above or not, who teaches anything that contradicts the Scriptures which conform believers to holy living (2 Tim 3.16,17), is conceited and void of understanding.  The Church had a big problem with false teachers in the First Century. Paul warned of them (1.3-10; Acts 20.28-31) as well as Peter (2 Peter 2.1; 3.16) and John (1 John 2.18,19; 4.1-6; 2 John 9-11).  It is the duty of bishops to watch for false teachers and make sure they do not have the opportunity to lead their flocks astray (Acts 20.28-31).
    Most false teachers get involved in controversial subjects which are not dealt with in the Scriptures. Anything which is not covered in the Word of YAHWEH should not be a subject of contention among believers (2 Tim. 2.23).  If someone wants to make a non-Biblical subject equal to the Scriptures in importance that person must be dismissed from the assembly.  We were not called to be argumentative, but to be able to teach with all patience (1 Tim. 2.24).
    Another thing most false teachers make a big deal of is the meaning of specific words. Paul specifically warned Timothy and all believers not to argue about the meaning of words (2 Tim. 2.14).  They try to build an entire doctrine on an obscure meaning of a word rather than the normal meaning.  No doctrine can be built around one passage (verse) and one unusual meaning of a specific word.  All passages on a certain subject must be compared and fitted together to form a uniform teaching that does not contradict any other teaching in the Word.
    Whenever believers argue with each other about doctrines it eventually leads to envy, strife, foul language evil suspicions and continually conflict.  Pastors should not allow the members of their flocks or themselves to engage in arguments over non-essential doctrines.  It will split an church faster than anything.
    If a believer has a strong belief in a false doctrine it is best not to try to change his mind through discussion, but to challenge him to do a complete written study on it.  The pastors should then take that study and critique it explaining why it is wrong or right.  If the brother continues to believe in a false doctrine that is not essential to Messianic Faith he should not be dismissed, but loved as a brother.  Yet he must be told that he cannot discuss the subject with others.  If he does he must then be dismissed.  Pastors cannot allow a person to stir up confusion by teaching a false doctrine.

    (6.5) All false teachers are mentally depraved and they are also deprived of the truth.  They are not being taught by the HOLY SPIRIT (1 John 2.27), but are studying the teachings of the devil.  Some may believe what they teach, but most teach their false doctrines for monetary gain.  They pretend to be holy hoping it will help them make money.  They have followed "the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of righteousness" (2 Peter 2.15).
    Unfortunately, many born anew teachers and preachers believe monetary gain is more important than accurately teaching the Scriptures.  There is virtually no teacher or preacher in America on the radio or TV who teaches all that he believes.  They all hold back some doctrines for fear that their audience would cut back in their giving.
    If a teacher of the Word truly trusted in YAHWEH he would not worry whether or not a certain doctrine would cost him revenue or listeners.  They will have to give an answer to YAHSHUA for their failure to teach the whole Word and they will have loss of rewards.

    (6.6) Holy living is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.  Believers who live a holy life and are truly content with what YAHWEH has given them have great wealth.  Their wealth is not physical possessions (Luke 12.15-21) but eternal rewards (Heb. 11.6) and joy in this present life (John 16.22).
    It is possible to live a holy life, but not be content with the lot YAHWEH has given you.  It is unlikely that those in that condition will earn eternal rewards or be used much by YAHWEH.  If you desire to do more for the Lord than you are doing, don't be anxious.  Wait on the Lord (Ps. 37.7; 130.5) to open the right door.  Be obedient to YAHWEH every day by hearing (Dt. 6.3-5), reading (Rev. 1.3), studying (Acts 17.11), memorizing (Ps. 119.11) and meditating on the Word (Joshua 1.8; Ps 1.2). Share the gospel whenever the Lord gives you the opportunity (Dt. 6.8,9; Ps. 57.9; Matt. 28.19,20; 1 Peter 3.15)  Fathers and husbands must teach their wife and children (Dt. 6.7).  Be active in a local church, offering your gifts to be used as the pastors so choose.  If they do not see a need for the use of your gifts wait at least a year or longer before you move on to another church. Some pastors will not make use of your gifts. You are not obligated to stay in one church your entire life waiting on a backslidden pastor to allow you to serve the Lord.
    If you desire to be a pastor ask your pastors to train you (2 Tim. 2.2).  If they don't want to or don't have the time find a local church where the pastors want to train you.  Do not run off to Bible college or seminary.  The best training you will ever have for being a pastor is on the job training.  One of the primary duties of a pastor is to train faithful men to be pastors (2 Tim. 2.2).  If you think you should be conquering the world for the Lord instead of warming a pew remember that He is sovereign and when He wants to use you He will. Your duty is to seek after specific positions in churches or other ministries and it is up to YAHWEH to open the right door.

    (6.7,8) Believers should be content with whatever lot YAHWEH gives them.  If all one has is food and clothing he should be satisfied.  Paul was content in all situations (Phil. 4.11) and so should we.  This contentment doesn't mean we are not to try to serve Him to our fullest capacity.  Instead it means that if we serve YAHWEH with all our heart, soul, mind, and body (Mk. 12.30), and we are not elevated to a position as high as we think we should be -- we must be content with our lot and wait on Him to elevate us to a higher position if He so chooses.
    Most believers think spiritual success is measured by one's position in the local church and fame in the Church.  That has nothing to do with spiritual success.  If you are serving YAHSHUA to your fullest capacity you are living a successful, victorious life.  Success is measured by your obedience to YAHWEH and nothing else.  It is up to Him to exalt us as He desires (Jas. 4.10).
    The believers in Heaven who will have the most rewards will not be the famous preachers, teachers and evangelists.  Many of the so-called giants of faith did not serve YAHWEH to their fullest capacityu and they will not receive as many rewards as the people they pastored.  Everyone will be surprised at the distribution of rewards and also that some people didn't make it to Heaven while others, who no one thought were saved, made it.
    The things we accumulate in this life are not to be coveted.  Instead they are to be used for the glory of YAHWEH (I Kor 10.31) and not to fulfill our petty lusts.  Rather than having a love of money (Prov. 23.4) believers are to be "free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, `I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you'" (Heb. 13.5).  It is unfortunate, but most believers worry more about their possessions and indulging their petty lusts more than serving the Lord.  Few even think about how they can serve the Lord more than once every revival meeting.

    (6.9) Believers who lust after riches always fall into temptation and are trapped by sins of all kinds. The lust for wealth feeds their other petty lusts leading them down the path of destruction.  YAHSHUA warned everyone against seeking after riches with the parable of the rich man who decided to tear down his old barns to put up bigger ones.  He didn't live long enough to do so! Instead YAHWEH took his life.  YAHSHUA explained that it is far more important to be rich toward YAHWEH than to have great wealth (Lk 12.16-21).  He went on to emphasize this point explaining that YAHWEH takes care of the birds and flowers and obviously cares for the needs of His children.  Instead of worrying about food, clothing, length of one's life, and all the necessities of life -- believers are to "seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you" (Lk. 12.31).

    (6.10) The love of money is the root of all evil. The love of wealth and pride are the two most powerful and destructive desires anyone can have.  Those who conquer their pride and desire to get rich are far ahead of the average believer.  Believers who can also control their mouth (Jas. 3.2) are rare individuals who are controlled by the HOLY SPIRIT.
    YAHWEH hates pride more than anything else (Prov 8.13) and commands His children to humble themselves before Him (Jas. 4.6,10).  "YAHWEH opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (Ps. 138.6; Prov. 3.34; Jas. 4.6; 1 Peter 5.5).  Those who exalt themselves will take a fall and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Matt. 23.12).
    Pride goes before destruction (Prov 16.18) just as the love of money does.  Pride is the original sin that caused all the sin in the universe (Isaiah 14.13,14; Ezek. 28.17).  It was also pride that caused Eve to sin.  She ate due to self-centered pride. She believed the lie of satan that the fruit of the tree of knowledge would make her "like Elohim" (Gen. 3.5).
    Every believer who has chased after riches has fallen away from the faith for a time and many have fallen away for good.  A true believer in YAHSHUA of Nazareth cannot lose his salvation by seeking after wealth, but he can backslide and never again be used of YAHWEH.  Some realize that wealth is not the answer to their problems and return to the Lord, but they do pay a price.  No believer can escape experiencing some pain when he turns away from YAHSHUA and other believers.
    Freedom from the love of money is a requirement for every man who seeks to be a pastor.  In this time of the apostasy (2 Tim. 4.3,4) most bishops love money and care about little else.  One way to know if your bishops love money is to see if they are working for a doctorate. The main reason most pastors seek to earn a Doctorate of Divinity  is to find a higher paying position. You can also tell if a pastor loves money by the house he lives in, the car he drives, the clothes and jewelry he wears and the trips he takes. If he has a high standard of living he loves money and no longer is qualified to be a bishop.  It should be remembered that the love of money (greed) is idolatry (Col. 3.5) something we are commanded to guard ourselves against (1 John 5.21).

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