the second epistle of peter november 15, 2015 bob eckel 1 2 peter 2:13-16 the conduct of false...

The Second Epistle of Peter

November 15, 2015 Bob Eckel 1

2 Peter 2:13-16 The Conduct of False Teachers - Part 2

• 2 Peter 2:13 - and will receive the wages of un-righteousness, 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, – Hard to interpret without v12 - 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,

• receive is passive and represents living a luxurious life in the day time (sporting themselves); a consequence of the money they get from those whom they lead astray into false doctrine.

– And what are the wages (reward) of unrighteousness?• Phil 3:19 - Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and

whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.• Whatever, these wages are equated with those who count it pleasure to

carouse in the daytime.




• And, are these wages paid out here and/or eternally and if eternally do they relate to the magnitude of the unrighteousness?

– Isaiah 3:11 - Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

– Luke 17:2 - It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

• And be aware, they are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you,

– spots – faults» Eph 5:27 - that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having

spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish

– blemish – disgrace, only biblical use.

– carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you• Lord’s Table?

– Can you describe what this might look like?» 1 Cor 11:27 - Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord

in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.




• 2 Peter 2:14 - 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.– having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin,

• Is there any other way we can interpret this?– These are sexual predators (full of, never ceasing), in practice and/or in mind.– But what about when our own thoughts wander (Matt 5:28)?

» Rom 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.» Confess, restore fellowship and move on.

– enticing (beguiling or laying bait for) unstable souls• Notice what type of souls are being beguiled.

– 2 Tim 3:6 - For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

• Are we susceptible here?



2 Peter 2:13-16 The Conduct of False Teachers - Part 2 • Who is ‘they’, who are enticing or those with unstable souls?

– heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children• Notice this behavior is more than just the eyes, but the heart!

– The sin nature unveiled and positioned in sin.

• 2 Peter 2:15 - Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;– have forsaken the right way – did they ever know it?

• Present active participle – can mean to abandon or not accept– Who is Balaam?

• Num 22:4,5, Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land.

– messenger or prophet?

– What is the way of Balaam ….who loved the wages of unrighteousness?




• The way of Baalam introduced licentiousness into Israel – Num 25:1-9• Num 31:16 - “Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through

the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.

– And Balaam was subtle claiming he answered to a higher power - Num 22:18, 38, with earthly reward as his profit.

» Jude 1:11 - Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah..

» The error of Balaam is not the way of Balaam!» And to the church at Pergamus, the Lord Jesus said - “But I have a few things

against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.” – Rev 2:14

– who loved the wages of unrighteousness• Love here is agapao• 1 John 2:15 - Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone

loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

• 2 Peter 2:16 - but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a




dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

– Why is was rebuked in the active, aorist, indicative tense?• Who’s doing the rebuking, Balaam himself?

– a (the) dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

• dumb – absence of speech, e.g. idols - let’s read Num 22:20-30– Why do you think God rebuked Balaam in this manner?– How does this relate to Peter’s message to the church here?

• madness – insanity; only biblical use– Suggests Balaam knew what was right.

• prophet – of God?• What a contrast, a dumb beast forbidding an inspired prophet!

– So to summarize, the way of Balaam is someone who hires himself to religious work for personal gain.

the second epistle of peter november 15, 2015 bob eckel 1 2 peter 2:13-16 the conduct of false...

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