What is the Doctrine of Balaam?
The Doctrine of Balaam refers to the corrupt teaching or influence associated with Balaam, the false prophet from the Old Testament, and is specifically mentioned by Jesus in Revelation 2:14.
In Revelation 2:14 Jesus says: “But I have a few things against you: You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the Israelites: to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.”
The Doctrine of Balaam encourages compromise with the world, particularly in these areas:
1. Money, Greed and Self-Interest
Balaam’s actions were motivated by material gain, not by obedience to God (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 1:11). He used his spiritual influence for personal and financial gain.
Balaam was a prophet for hire. Though God told him not to curse Israel, he was enticed by Balak’s rewards and ultimately found a way to profit by advising Moab how to make Israel fall (Numbers 22–25; 31:16).
2 Peter 2:15 says Balaam “loved the wages of unrighteousness.”
Jude 1:11 warns of those who run “greedily in the error of Balaam for profit.”
This shows how financial motives can corrupt someone who claims to speak for God. Even today in our world there are many charlatans, false prophets and false teachers who have commercialized Christianity by secretly converting their church institutions into businesses for monetary profit. These charlatans sell miracles and salvation for monetary gain. They promote false doctrines such as the prosperity gospel and seed-faith teachings in order to accumulate money from their followers and congregation.
Therefore the Doctrine of Balaam is about using religion for material and monetary gain. The Doctrine of Balaam twists the Scriptures and exploits others for money. This doctrine ultimately leads to rebellion against God in order because money is the thing that is desired above obedience to God. Balaam himself did not really desire to obey God – but he was willing to use his spiritual position to exploit and manipulate for monetary gain.
2. Sin & Idolatry
Balaam advised King Balak to lead Israel into worshiping false gods (Numbers 25:1–3; 31:16). His ultimate goal was to earn Balak’s monetary reward, so Balaam was willing see Israel fall into idolatry just so that he can receive his personal financial reward.
Ironically, Balaam himself was an idolater. His false god was mammon. He desired money more than obeying God. So as a false prophet who chased after money, he led his own people into idolatry so that Balak could financially reward him.
In the Matthew 6:24 Jesus compared God with money and stated that we cannot be loyal to both money and God at the same time. God and money are 2 opposing masters. Jesus says: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
The Doctrine of Balaam promotes idolatry for financial gain. With the Dcotrine of Balaam, both the preacher and the follower are idolaters.
Balaam also encouraged Balak to use Moabite women to seduce Israelite men, leading them into fornication and spiritual unfaithfulness.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 says: People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Conclusion
The Doctrine of Balaam warns against commercializing faith. When preachers or churches prioritize money over truth, they repeat Balaam’s mistake— using God’s name for personal gain. The prosperity gospel is a modern form of this false doctrine, leading people to pursue riches instead of righteousness
The doctrine of Balaam is also a warning to believers not to tolerate teachings or behaviors that mix godliness with sin, especially in areas of morality, worship, and compromise with culture.
It calls Christians to remain faithful, holy, and set apart, rejecting teachings that lead to spiritual corruption.
