Because of their cultural background, women in the Ephesian church had no formal religious training. They enjoyed their new freedom to study Christian truths, but their eagerness to learn made them a target for false teachers. At this time in history, there were almost no opportunities for women to be employed. Also, the church at Ephesus had a significantly large group of widows (1 Timothy 5:3-16). Thus, there were many women who may not have been fully occupied during the day. They became targets for the false teachers.
The expression, work their way into people’s homes, indicates the insidious methods of the false teachers. They targeted vulnerable women. Then with all their intellectual-sounding talk, the false teachers captivated these women and won their confidence. These women were especially vulnerable because they were burdened with the guilt of sin (that is, their consciences were laden with guilt) and controlled by many desires (their personal appetites and aspirations, remnants from their pagan days, were so strong as to still cause them problems, probably leading to their overwhelmed consciences!). Their weakness combined with their guilt made them easy targets for the “cures” that the false teachers brought. Paul warned Timothy to watch out for men who would take advantage of these women.
These women were forever following new teachings, making them easy targets for the false teachers. But without basic knowledge of the faith that leads to repentance and forgiveness of their sins, these women would only get confused and never be able to recognize and understand the truth. Churches that have little or no biblical and theological content in their teaching program fall right into this error. People who attend this kind of church are easy targets for false teachers. It is possible to be a perpetual student and never graduate to accepting the truth and putting it into practice. But honest seekers and true students look for answers and, when they find them, continue in their study and application of that truth. The accumulation of seminars, classes, Bible studies, and books without specific application in our daily lives can easily become our own version of what Paul was describing here. Remember this as you study God’s word. Seek to find God’s truth and will for your life.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
How do we guard against false teachers? We must know the Word - God's Word - the Bible. But more than that - we must live the Word. Put it into practice.
James 1:22-25 (NIV)
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.
When we live out God's Word - applying it to our lives, we gain a far deeper understanding of God's will and truth that we ever would by just garnering an academic understanding.
Let me ask you today - what has God already taught you from His Word that you are NOT doing right now? Why? What's holding you back?
When we fail to apply God's Word, our heart gets a little bit harder - a little bit more rigid - and just a little bit more prone to being susceptible to false teaching.
Hebrews 3:7-8 (NIV)
So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..."
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