From his morning devotional study:  David Niednagel, Pastor and Teacher, Evansville, IN.  David uses the S.O.A.P. method for his morning study time: study, observe, apply, pray.

False prophets 

2 Peter 2:1-3    

2:1  But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.   ESV 

Peter finished Ch 1 by speaking of OT prophets who were “carried along” by the Holy Spirit to speak and write the Word of God. They were courageous and faithful to declare whatever God said, mainly that God would bring judgment on them for their idolatry and oppression of the weak and vulnerable ones in their communities. However, there were also false prophets then who told the people what they wanted to hear – and their main message was that judgment would not come upon them. The false prophets softened the call to obedience and holiness, “denying the Master who bought them.” They found ways to justify choices “under the circumstances” and taught they did not have to be “legalistic” in following the Law of Moses. Somehow, they redefined obedience, especially in the area of “sensuality”, which normally speaks of sexual behavior. Sex is a wonderful and powerful expression of intimacy and love in marriage, but false prophets found ways to justify sex without the work of a committed relationship of purity. People liked that kind of preacher in the OT, and in Peter’s day, and in ours. 

Those “prophets” knew how to give a message people wanted to hear and to get financial advantage at the same time. People will pay for the privilege of being free of purity and responsibility, but God will condemn those spiritual leaders who participate in that deception, because they are teaching “another god’ than Yahweh. 

Lord, I’m so thankful You were/are pure in all Your ways and that You live in me/us giving us the opportunity to show our world what you are like. It is wonderful when I walk in the Light, and terrible when I don’t. Help me live and teach that You bought me, and I am not my own. And that is not something bad that I want to reject, it is a continuing reminder than I am loved and set apart for You. Protect my heart as long as I live, and use me to help others find the joy of walking in the Light.  Amen