The Way of Baalam

The bible warns us several times about not going the 'way of Balaam'. You might remember the incident, where Balaam was a false prophet who was hired by King Balak of Moab to curse Israel. When Balaam's donkey refused to go any further, and Balaam was beating on it, the donkey spoke! It chided Balaam for not seeing the angel in the road blocking the way.

Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, (2 Peter 2:15)

But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. (Revelation 2:14)

Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. (Jude 1:11)

Micah reminds the People that the Lord defeated King Balak and defeated the sorceries of Balaam. (Micah 6:5)

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We are also reminded of how Balaam came to his end--

They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. And they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword. (Numbers 31:8).

Because we are reminded so often in scripture about Balaam, we should remember. Balaam was a diviner, who charged fees for divination. (Numbers 22:5,7). Of course Balaam would say what the buyer wanted said, especially if he was the highest bidder.

What he did was seduce the people of Israel into immorality and idolatry. Balaam then represents two things, the covetousness of the false teacher who loves money and the apostate who influences others to sin. (source)

For all those people who refuse to admit that there are false teachers who need calling out, beware. We call them out because they cause divisions. (Romans 16:17). We need to mark and avoid them because they seduce people into immorality and into idolatry. (Revelation 2:14). Immorality and idolatry are sins, and the wages of sin is death. Therefore we say, false teachers kill.

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Pulpit Commentary-

But I have a few things against thee. They are few in comparison with the things commended; but they are very serious; and there must be a sad want of care in the Church at Pergamum to allow such things. These corrupt teachers are alluded to in 2 Peter 2:15 and Jude 1:11. Like Balaam, they debased spiritual gifts to the vilest purposes, and thus became a snare or stumbling block, to others.

The bible is clear- Jesus tolerates neither those who teach falsely, nor those who tolerate false teachers. Both are sin.