Now you may know a false teacher by the following distinguishing marks. The first distinguishing mark is that they are men-pleasers. They preach more to please the ear than to profit the heart. Isaiah thus described the longing of God s rebellious people. These men handle the holy things rather with wit and entertainment than with godly fear and reverence.
False teachers are soul-destroyers.
They are like evil surgeons, that skin over the wound, but never heal it. Flattery destroyed Ahab and Herod, Nero and Alexander. False teachers are hell s great enrichers. It is not bitter, but flattering words which do all the mischief, said Valerian, the Roman emperor. The second distinguishing mark of false teachers is that they are notable for casting dirt, scorn and reproach upon the person, names, and credits of Christ s most faithful ambassadors.