12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
Commentary
In verses ten and eleven the Apostle Peter began to graphically describe false teachers nature. Beginning to present there a whole list of godless attributes that both defines their persons, and describes their character. Saying that they walk (i.e. live) according to the flesh "in the lust of uncleanness" (vs. 10); that is they live according to their sexual lusts and bodily appetites (consider Phil 3:17-19). Saying that they despise (i.e. disdain) authority, whether from God or through man. Saying they are presumptuous, self-willed individuals, who are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries whereas angels who are greater in power and might don't even dare do so. And so Peter continues on here by saying that "they like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption" vs. 12
The Apostle Peter thus compares their constitution or nature to that of natural brute beasts who like them, are only governed by their natural instincts and desires. And like wild beasts that are only fit to be caught and destroyed, so these are to be regarded, or better disregarded completely. For these false teachers being devoid of the Spirit of God (and thus all healthy Spirit given appetites for Godly things like righteousness, holiness and self-control) are only led and ruled by their sinful desires. And so both their reasoning's and rationalization of all things they say, do, and pursue, reflects their lack of spiritual life, discernment, and understanding. For they not only error in their judgments on spiritual matters (consider 1 Cor 2:13-15). They also speak evil of whatever things they do not understand.
For having neither the Word of God or the Wisdom of God in their lives (as the original word translated brute here is indicating). They truly are spiritually dumb, in every aspect of Holy Spirit life and liberty. Instead they corrupt themselves in whatever things they know naturally, as the Apostle Jude also states of them: "But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves." Jude 10
And so Peter using a kind of a play on a word here in the original says "they will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime"... vs 12-13
That will they perish in their own corruption is indicating their eternal judgment (consider 1 Peter 4:18). And so they will receive "the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime..." (consider Prov. 11:31; Gal 6:7). Peter then continues on after that thought by saying "....They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you"... The Apostle Peters referring to them as spots and blemishes is indicating that in the Body of Christ where moral and spiritual purity is to be highly cherished and pursued (consider Eph 5:27). These natural brute beasts who live according to their own ungodly lusts, are truly moral spots and spiritual blemishes amongst all brethren. For in whatever things they corrupt themselves, they inevitably corrupt others. The Apostle Peter further says of them "carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children." vs. 13-14
And so carousing (or reveling) in their own deceptions while they feast with true brethren, these dreamers who claim spiritual knowledge, and to be teachers anointed by God, are in reality just self serving dogs. Just consider the four reprehensible things that the Apostle Peter says of them here:
1) they carouse in their own deceptions while they feast with you
2) they have eyes full of adultery and cannot cease from sin
3) they entice unstable souls (and so as noted in 2 Peter 3:16 they make unstable disciples)
4) They have a heart trained in (lit. exercised towards) covetousness (consider 1 Tim 6:5)
Thus they are singularly defined by what is utterly base and dishonorable. For they are greedy, immoral, deceivers, who wilfully misrepresent the truth of the Gospel.
Vs. 15-16 And so Peters recalling their covetousness says them: "15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet." vs. 15-16
Now Balaam was a prophet who though knowing the Lord's will, forsook it, for his own greedy desires. And so Balaam sought to make himself rich by cursing the children of Israel (who were preparing to enter the promised land) for the then king of Moab who had sent envoy's to him. For he feared the children of Israel would over run him and his people. And so when Balaam went with the envoy's, contrary to the Lord's will, the Angel of the Lord withstood him. Yet at first only his donkey saw Him; Balaam being spiritually blinded by his own greed did not, and so Balaam's donkey fearing certain death kept trying to turn aside to save them. But Balaam in his greed kept driving her on. And so the Lord opened the mouth of his own dumb donkey to rebuke him through it. And so the irony is self-evident as a prophet is supposed to be wise and discerning, fearing the Lord in all things, not self-willed and stupid (See Numbers 22:22-35). Therefore the Apostle Peter compares the false teachers greed and covetousness to that of Balaam. Who likewise in their greediness "drive on" against the Lord's will and commandments to their own ruin and eternal destruction (consider Matt 6:24). And so the Apostle Peter sums up his condemnation of them by saying: "These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever." vs. 17
For in having no substance, these false teachers are compared with wells without water; that is they being empty of Spirit life and giftedness are utterly useless at satisfying the souls thirst. As well they are compared too clouds carried by a tempest. And so like clouds carried by a tempest to their finial destiny. So false teachers will be carried by the Tempest of God's wrath to their finial resting places,
Scripture Citations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982
Additional Resources Consulted
Walvoord, John F., Roy B. Zuck, and Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
Word Studies
brute (Str 249; GK 263; TDNT 4.141; TDNTA 505; LN 30.12; 89.19)
utterly perish (Str 2709; GK 2967; TDNT 9.93; TDNTA 1259)
corruption (Str 5351; GK 5780; TDNT 9.93; TDNTA 1259)
carouse (Str 5172; GK 5588; LN 88.253)
carousing (Str 1792; GK 1960; LN 88.253; LN 88.253)
Commentary
In verses ten and eleven the Apostle Peter began to graphically describe false teachers nature. Beginning to present there a whole list of godless attributes that both defines their persons, and describes their character. Saying that they walk (i.e. live) according to the flesh "in the lust of uncleanness" (vs. 10); that is they live according to their sexual lusts and bodily appetites (consider Phil 3:17-19). Saying that they despise (i.e. disdain) authority, whether from God or through man. Saying they are presumptuous, self-willed individuals, who are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries whereas angels who are greater in power and might don't even dare do so. And so Peter continues on here by saying that "they like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption" vs. 12
The Apostle Peter thus compares their constitution or nature to that of natural brute beasts who like them, are only governed by their natural instincts and desires. And like wild beasts that are only fit to be caught and destroyed, so these are to be regarded, or better disregarded completely. For these false teachers being devoid of the Spirit of God (and thus all healthy Spirit given appetites for Godly things like righteousness, holiness and self-control) are only led and ruled by their sinful desires. And so both their reasoning's and rationalization of all things they say, do, and pursue, reflects their lack of spiritual life, discernment, and understanding. For they not only error in their judgments on spiritual matters (consider 1 Cor 2:13-15). They also speak evil of whatever things they do not understand.
For having neither the Word of God or the Wisdom of God in their lives (as the original word translated brute here is indicating). They truly are spiritually dumb, in every aspect of Holy Spirit life and liberty. Instead they corrupt themselves in whatever things they know naturally, as the Apostle Jude also states of them: "But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves." Jude 10
And so Peter using a kind of a play on a word here in the original says "they will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime"... vs 12-13
That will they perish in their own corruption is indicating their eternal judgment (consider 1 Peter 4:18). And so they will receive "the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime..." (consider Prov. 11:31; Gal 6:7). Peter then continues on after that thought by saying "....They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you"... The Apostle Peters referring to them as spots and blemishes is indicating that in the Body of Christ where moral and spiritual purity is to be highly cherished and pursued (consider Eph 5:27). These natural brute beasts who live according to their own ungodly lusts, are truly moral spots and spiritual blemishes amongst all brethren. For in whatever things they corrupt themselves, they inevitably corrupt others. The Apostle Peter further says of them "carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children." vs. 13-14
And so carousing (or reveling) in their own deceptions while they feast with true brethren, these dreamers who claim spiritual knowledge, and to be teachers anointed by God, are in reality just self serving dogs. Just consider the four reprehensible things that the Apostle Peter says of them here:
1) they carouse in their own deceptions while they feast with you
2) they have eyes full of adultery and cannot cease from sin
3) they entice unstable souls (and so as noted in 2 Peter 3:16 they make unstable disciples)
4) They have a heart trained in (lit. exercised towards) covetousness (consider 1 Tim 6:5)
Thus they are singularly defined by what is utterly base and dishonorable. For they are greedy, immoral, deceivers, who wilfully misrepresent the truth of the Gospel.
Vs. 15-16 And so Peters recalling their covetousness says them: "15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet." vs. 15-16
Now Balaam was a prophet who though knowing the Lord's will, forsook it, for his own greedy desires. And so Balaam sought to make himself rich by cursing the children of Israel (who were preparing to enter the promised land) for the then king of Moab who had sent envoy's to him. For he feared the children of Israel would over run him and his people. And so when Balaam went with the envoy's, contrary to the Lord's will, the Angel of the Lord withstood him. Yet at first only his donkey saw Him; Balaam being spiritually blinded by his own greed did not, and so Balaam's donkey fearing certain death kept trying to turn aside to save them. But Balaam in his greed kept driving her on. And so the Lord opened the mouth of his own dumb donkey to rebuke him through it. And so the irony is self-evident as a prophet is supposed to be wise and discerning, fearing the Lord in all things, not self-willed and stupid (See Numbers 22:22-35). Therefore the Apostle Peter compares the false teachers greed and covetousness to that of Balaam. Who likewise in their greediness "drive on" against the Lord's will and commandments to their own ruin and eternal destruction (consider Matt 6:24). And so the Apostle Peter sums up his condemnation of them by saying: "These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever." vs. 17
For in having no substance, these false teachers are compared with wells without water; that is they being empty of Spirit life and giftedness are utterly useless at satisfying the souls thirst. As well they are compared too clouds carried by a tempest. And so like clouds carried by a tempest to their finial destiny. So false teachers will be carried by the Tempest of God's wrath to their finial resting places,
Scripture Citations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982
Additional Resources Consulted
Walvoord, John F., Roy B. Zuck, and Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
Word Studies
brute (Str 249; GK 263; TDNT 4.141; TDNTA 505; LN 30.12; 89.19)
utterly perish (Str 2709; GK 2967; TDNT 9.93; TDNTA 1259)
corruption (Str 5351; GK 5780; TDNT 9.93; TDNTA 1259)
carouse (Str 5172; GK 5588; LN 88.253)
carousing (Str 1792; GK 1960; LN 88.253; LN 88.253)
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