Here are several characteristics of false teachers/preachers:
· False Teachers are men-pleasers. Such smooth teachers are sweet soul-poisoners. Jeremiah 23:16-17 says, Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”
· False Teachers throw dirt at Christ’s people. They cast dirt, scorn, and reproach upon the persons, names, and credits of Christ's most faithful ambassadors. For example, Paul, that apostle of the Gentiles, had his ministry undermined and his reputation blasted by false teachers: 'For his letters'' say they, 'are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak and contemptible' (2 Cor. 10:10). The false teachers looked upon Paul as a dunce rather than a doctor. And the Scribes and Pharisees laboured for their life to build their own credit upon by attempting to ruin Christ’s reputation.
· False Teachers Gain from Their Followers. False teachers make merchandise of their followers. 'But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not' (2 Peter 2:1-3). They eye your goods, pick your purse, so they may have your substance to serve themselves, they are great worshippers of the golden calf. (Jeremiah 6:13)
Listen, you do not have to pay peddlers/merchants for the Word of God, you can study for yourself, if you study and spend time in the Word, the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth to you for free. Paul said in Acts 20:33, that he desired no one’s gold or silver or clothing. Paul also refused the support from some churches so they could not accuse him of greed, (1 Corinthians 9:15-19).
2 Corinthians 2:17 says, For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God [acting like merchants, preaching for profit and personal gain]; but as of sincerity [uncompromised motives], but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ [God is watching].
2 Corinthians 4:2 says, But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully [falsifying God’s Word]; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God [God is watching].