In this sense, utterly corrupt doctrine is likened to chaff, devoid of substance and unable to nurture the faithful nations, as it is merely extracted from empty husks.
Heretics often proclaim continually favorable messages, misleadingly assuring sinners that the kingdom of heaven awaits them, asserting that they can emulate God's greatness and be free of sin due to their gift of free will and understanding of the law, thus suggesting that they can fulfill whatever desires they have. They entice the vulnerable, particularly women burdened by sin, who are swayed by shifting teachings, perpetually learning without ever grasping the truth, while flatterers draw in all who listen (2 Tim. 3:6, 7, Eph. 4:14). In contrast, the Lord equates His words to the chaff of heretics by declaring, “Is not my word like fire, saith the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock?” His word warns of impending judgments, instilling fear to deter people from sinning; it threatens to consume the chaff of the wicked, aiming to shatter the hard, flint-like hearts of the heretics. His intention is to replace those hearts of stone with hearts of flesh—receptive and attuned to God’s commandments.
Additionally, the Lord reveals through Ezekiel (Ezekiel 13) that false prophets, with their empty flatteries akin to mud lacking binding material, superficially cover a wall, destined to crumble under the weight of divine judgment like torrential rain. These false prophets also provide superficial comfort to sinners by placing cushions beneath their elbows, leading them away from repenting and seeking God’s mercy. Instead of a hammer, the Septuagint refers to an axe, which John the Baptist notes is already at the roots of the trees (Matt. 3:10). This axe is meant to fell unfruitful trees, while the hammer serves to break the hardest stones. The prophet Nahum also declares, “His fury, without doubt God, melteth away the power, and the stone is shattered from Him” (Nahum 1:6), which applies to heretics. Furthermore, it is noted regarding the servants of the church, “the hammer and the axe were not heard in the house of the Lord” (3 Sam. 6:7).
THEOSIS