·
The pride
of life (humanism), v10b-12.
o They
despise authority, being presumptuous (presuming to know more than the church
leaders) and self-willed (not willing to submit to church leaders).
o They
speak evil of dignitaries. Jude (1:8-9)
refers to the blaspheming of the devil or demons and perhaps Peter has that in
mind here. Today we hear often of
preachers telling us to stomp on the devil and to tell him to get ou.t of our
lives. It makes for exciting preaching
but denies who Satan is in God’s creation.
Even powerful angels do not do this in dealing with wicked spiritual
forces.
o They
are like wild animals that need to be destroyed (fierce but empty).
o They
make big condemnations about things they don’t understand. They are just full of themselves.
·
The lust
of the flesh (hedonism), v13-14a.
Hedonism (living for pleasure) chokes out true faith (Lk. 8:14).
o They
carouse in the daytime. They deny the “work
first, play later” principle. They even carouse
at the love feasts, the “church potlucks” designed for the fellowship and
encouragement of the believers. Everything
is a joke to them; they can’t be serious.
Thus they are quite entertaining, fun to be with.
o Their
eyes are full of adultery. They can’t
look at a woman without lascivious (immoral) thoughts.
o They
are helpless in the war against evil and so can’t stop sinning. Remember: they look as if they have escaped
the world’s pollutions but have not.
·
The lust
of the eyes (materialism), v14b-16.
o Their
hearts “work out” at covetousness (it’s the Greek from which we get gymnasium; they exercise, study, learn
to as to be greedy.
o They
follow the way of Balaam (Num.
22-24). This is the key to understanding
the story of the false prophet Balaam.
He was driven by the money, the wealth offered by the Midianite ruler.
When people read the story they often thing of Balaam as a “somewhat” godly
prophet who would only say what God told him to say. Sounds good.
But he is like Satan, appearing to be an angel of light. It is the same with these false teachers.
The summary from Peter is quite profound. The false teachers speak great swelling words of emptiness. They are so impressive, yet empty. Like wells without water, clouds that blow around but never leave any rain. I can remember twice having men speak in churches where I was pastor that, as some point, were denied the opportunity to come back because it had become apparent they were covetousness (in it for the money) hedonistic (in it for the pleasure), or proud (full of themselves). They preached a good sermon but were slaves of corruption. It would have been better not to have known the way of truth because now their judgment was greater (consistent with Heb. 6:10). Peter graphically describes their situation as like a dog who returns to eat his own vomit and a clean pig that returns to the mud.
In
line with this description we will close with this warning from Albert Barnes:
There is a knowledge of the doctrines and duties of religion
which may lead sinners to abandon their outward vices, which has no connection
with saving grace. They may profess
religion, and may know enough of religion to understand that it requires them
to abandon their vicious habits, and still never be true Christians.
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