April 2, 2023: 2 Peter 2:13 - False Teachers will Receive the Wages of Unrighteousness

“…and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you…” - 2 Peter 2:13

In today’s Scripture verse, the apostle Peter continues with his description of the depravity of false teachers who infiltrate churches in order to deceive people and take advantage of them. Strong’s Concordance defines “carouse” as “softness, daintiness, luxuriousness.” The associated HELPS Word Studies states: “5172 tryphḗ (from thryptō, "to break down due to over-indulgence, i.e. living in excessive luxury") – properly, feebleness brought on by self-indulgence (luxury); (figuratively) moral and spiritual breakdown ("enfeeblement") from over-indulging in dainty ("delicate") things, i.e. "dainty living" that deteriorates soul and body.” (See: https://biblehub.com/greek/5172.htm). These definitions are perfectly fitting to the false teachers in churches today. Many of them are pastors of modern mega-churches who live, as Peter described, in excessive luxury and over-indulgence in moral and spiritual breakdown. There are pastors who live in excessively large mansions and even own their own jets with one “pastor” owning three of them, as they tell their congregations to keep the donations coming.

What does the Bible tell us of the wages of unrighteousness?

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18-19)

The truth is that while these pastors may live luxuriously, owning houses most of us could only dream of, they truly are living their best life now. If they are not saved by the blood of Jesus Christ by believing in Him as their Savior and are only pretending to be so that their flocks keep coming to them in hopes that they too may one day be rich like them, they will be judged by their works, by the things that they did while they were alive on earth. (Revelation 20:11-15) The Bible tells us that no works that we do can save us from our sins and anyone not saved by Jesus Christ will be found guilty in their unrighteousness.

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (Jesus Christ; John 3:18)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

These false teachers in the churches are stains upon that which is meant to be holy, and I believe this is one reason why Christianity in the USA is in spiritual free fall, and as it goes, so does our country. They are not serving God Almighty but are serving their false god: money. Money in and of itself is not evil, but the Bible tells us:

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10)

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [riches].” (Jesus Christ; Matthew 6:24)

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Jesus Christ; Matthew 6:19-21)

If we truly believe that, as one mega-church pastor wrote in a book, we can have our best life now, does that not mean that we will do whatever is needed in order to obtain it and once we have it, to sustain it? As a pastor, does this also mean that one must soften the word of God so that it doesn’t oftend anyone? If people are offended, they won’t keep coming to church and putting money in the money boxes. Having our best life now is contrary to what the Bible says because this world is filled with sin and those who reject the only One who can save them from it - Jesus Christ. No, in this world are sorrow, pain, suffering, and tears. If these false pastors who have made themselves rich by deceiving the masses were to lose everything, what then would they be saying to their congregation? Would they still be saying their best life is now, or would they realize that that is a lie and that our true hope is in Jesus Christ? Our best life is still yet to come, when we are resurrected to new life in Jesus Christ, and when we will live and be with Him at His second coming, during His 1,000-year reign on earth, and then when He destroys this current earth by fire and creates a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem. It is only then when, as the apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation:

“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’” (Revelation 21:2-4)

But entry to this new earth will be denied to anyone who has not accepted Jesus as their Savior, to those who choose to live in their unrighteousness instead of being made righteous by the cleansing blood of Jesus:

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

I pray for these false teachers, for they themselves are deceived in their own deception. I pray they will wake up to the truth of God and turn to Jesus Christ as their Savior. I pray they will look to His promises that our best life is not here and now, but in our eternity. We are all born sinners, as the Bible reminds us, and it is only through the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ that we can be washed clean and be made righteous in Him.

“For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3-7)

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) ✝️