God’s Approach To False Teachers - Amos 5-9

Amos 7:16-17 (ESV)

Now therefore hear the word of the LORD.

“You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel,

and do not preach against the house of Isaac.’

Therefore thus says the LORD:

“‘Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city,

and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword,

and your land shall be divided up with a measuring line;

you yourself shall die in an unclean land,

and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.’”

What does God think about false teachers?  What does God do with false teacher?  What does God do with those who twist the truth and/or forbid the truth to be spoken.   In the above text we can see one answer to those questions.    Amos was sent by God to deliver a hard message about Israel going into captivity for their sin of idolatry and rejecting God.   In the midst of delivering that message, a false prophet named, Amaziah, came to shut Amos’ ministry down.  He even went to the king of Israel, Jeroboam, and asked for permission to stop Amos’ teaching (7:10-15).    Amos states that three things are going to happen to Amaziah.  1). His wife will become a prostitute.  2).  His children will die from the hands of the army that takes them captive.  3).  He property will be divided up among the invaders.   Those who prevent truth from being spoken are seen by God and dealt with by God.  Note what Jesus said to His disciples about those who don’t allow truth to be spoken to children:

Matthew 18:6 (ESV)

but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Notice what Paul said about false teachers when writing to young Pastor Timothy:

1 Timothy 1:18-20 (ESV)

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

God does not tolerate false teachers, or those who forbid truth being taught!