2 Peter 2:12-22 - Depravity and Deception of False Teachers

2 Peter 2:12-22

Depravity of False Teachers

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.

Deceptions of False Teachers

18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

False teachers ultimately are so corrupt in their souls that they only speak evil to slander those who hold to the truth of God according to scripture.  They are described as brutish beasts that attack and tear open their prey and are deigned to be captured and destroyed like wild animals that cause harm, but it is vital that we do not think that we are their judges or the ones to pass this sentence of condemnation on them.  God’s word has already done that as John 12:48 has told us.  They earn the wages of sin as everyone else will who rejects the gospel of grace by believing in and receiving Jesus Christ as the Son of God (John 3:18, 6:40, 1 John 5:5).  These false teachers mislead and malign this gospel of grace by adding conditions, taking away requirements and responsibilities, and even forming entirely new teachings that contradict the scriptures.  These can sometimes be recognized by their immorality and self-seeking of pleasure and personal gain at the expense of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24) as they flaunt their quest for pleasure in broad daylight to mock God and His call to accountability to listen and heed His word to be living to honor Him instead.  These deceive themselves and try to deceive others as they join in our worship celebrations while looking for the weak and spiritually unstable and immature among the flock to drag into adultery and immortality.  This is why discipleship and sound tea is crucial to protecting the flock that God entrusts to us and that we are part of; we are our brother’s keeper (Genesis 4:9) and are responsible to warn and guide one another into the necessary truth of sound doctrine.  The covetous seek their own pleasure and gain; we who are in Christ and follow Him know better and seek the good of our brothers and sisters in Him and not focused on pleasing (Romans 15:1) ourselves.  Those who continue to actively pursue misleading others will face a harsh sentence in eternity as they speak proud magnanimous words to lure the sheep away if possible Mark 13:22-23) those who belong to the Lord Christ.  These empty promises and deceitful words appear to offer everything we desire but miss the mark of being spiritually beneficial to us.  Their promises echo hollow and promise freedom to do whatever while enslaving to sin whose bondage the gospel has set us free as they encourage or excuse away sinful practices and destructive beliefs.  It is worse to continue to believe false doctrine than to have ever come to follow Christ is the stark comparison made here.  For those who have come to hear the gospel but not respond by faith in repentance for conversion, these are misled and pulled away from believing to eternal salvation.  This is why we teach and preach truth to protect those who hear sound doctrine, both for those already in Christ and those being drawn to Him.  Those who hear false teachers are doomed with them if they continue to follow them instead of turning to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  The depravity and deception of false teachers is to be answered with the true love and compassion in commitment to the truth without wavering or allowing lies or misleading words to diverge the hearers from the narrow way (Matthew 7:13-14) to Christ and eternal life.