Revelation 2:14 – “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.”
Extended Explanation of the Verse
After praising the church in Pergamum for staying faithful under pressure—even when one of their own was martyred—Jesus now gives a serious warning. He says, “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you.” That word nevertheless is a turning point. The church had done some things well, but they also had some serious issues that Jesus could not ignore.
He points out that some in the church were holding to “the teaching of Balaam.” To understand what that means, we need to go back to the Old Testament. Balaam was a prophet who, though he couldn’t curse God’s people directly, helped King Balak of Moab find another way to hurt Israel. He encouraged the Moabites to lead the Israelites into sin by tempting them with food offered to idols and with sexual immorality (see Numbers 25 and 31:16). It worked—the people fell into sin, and judgment came as a result.
Now, in Pergamum, some people in the church were doing something similar. They were blending in with the pagan culture around them, probably saying things like, “It’s okay to go to idol feasts,” or “Sexual boundaries don’t matter.” And others in the church were allowing it. Jesus was not okay with that.
Historical Context
Pergamum was full of idol worship, emperor worship, and sexual immorality—much of it tied to the religious practices of the day. Some believers were holding strong, but others were starting to compromise, maybe in the name of tolerance, cultural relevance, or even survival.
The teaching of Balaam represents a mindset that says, You can be part of the world and still follow God. It’s about lowering the standards, blending in, and softening the truth. That kind of thinking was creeping into the church, and it was dangerous.
Theological Implications
This verse reminds us that Jesus doesn’t just care about what’s happening outside the church—He deeply cares about what’s happening inside it. It’s possible for a church to be strong in some areas and still have pockets of compromise that grieve God.
Jesus makes it clear: allowing sin to take root in the name of peace or unity is not faithfulness—it’s disobedience. The gospel calls people out of sin, not to make peace with it.
Also, just as in the days of Balaam, sin often starts by appealing to natural desires—food, pleasure, acceptance—but it ends up leading people away from God and into destruction.
Literary Analysis
The sentence structure here is deliberate. Jesus starts with encouragement but shifts with the word nevertheless, which signals that something is wrong. The “teaching of Balaam” is introduced as a parallel to what’s happening in Pergamum—it draws a straight line from Old Testament compromise to present-day false teaching.
Notice Jesus doesn’t say everyone in the church is doing this, but “some among you.” That makes it even more sobering. A few wrong teachings tolerated by the rest can affect the whole body. This is a warning not just about personal sin, but about the danger of letting sin spread unchecked within the church.
Relevant Biblical Cross-References
- Numbers 25:1-3 – Israel sins with Moabite women and worships Baal.
- Numbers 31:16 – Balaam’s role in leading Israel into sin is exposed.
- 2 Peter 2:15 – False teachers are compared to Balaam, who loved personal gain.
- Jude 1:11 – Balaam is mentioned as an example of corrupt leadership.
- 1 Corinthians 10:8 – Paul warns the church not to commit sexual immorality, referencing the events in Numbers.
What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian
This verse is a wake-up call. It’s easy to stand against obvious outside threats, but are we letting compromise slip in through the back door? Are we tolerating ideas or behaviors that go against what Jesus teaches?
Today’s world pushes believers to lower their standards, to accept sin in the name of love or inclusion, or to look the other way when others in the church are drifting. Jesus says clearly—don’t. What we believe and what we allow matters to Him.
This doesn’t mean being harsh or proud—it means loving people enough to speak truth and hold to what is right, even when it’s uncomfortable.
How This Verse Relates to a Loving God
God’s love is not soft on sin because sin harms the people He loves. When Jesus speaks against compromise, it’s because He wants to protect His church. He knows that sin destroys relationships, damages hearts, and pulls people away from what’s true and good.
By calling it out, He’s not rejecting His people—He’s inviting them back to purity and wholeness. That’s what a loving Savior does. He doesn’t stay silent when His people are being led astray.
How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ
Jesus is the one who walks among the churches (Revelation 2:1), and He sees everything. He is the faithful witness (Revelation 1:5), and He expects His people to be faithful too. The sword from His mouth (Revelation 2:12) represents His Word—the truth that cuts through lies.
Jesus stood firm against every temptation (Matthew 4:1-11), and He now calls His people to do the same. He didn’t die to leave people in sin—He died to free them from it. The church in Pergamum needed to remember that, and so do we.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- Are there any areas where you’ve been tempted to compromise your faith in order to fit in?
- What “teachings of Balaam” might be present in the church today?
- How can you lovingly stand for truth without becoming harsh or prideful?
- Why is it important for the church not just to believe the truth, but to guard it?
- What does Jesus’ correction here teach you about His heart for the purity of His people?