Free Bible Commentary
“Second Peter 2:1-3”
Categories: Second Peter“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”
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Since “false prophets…arose among the people” of Israel under God’s prior covenant, it should come as no surprise that “false teachers” also walk among the Lord’s people during this final dispensation of time (verse 1). God’s covenant has changed, but human nature has not. As long as this world continues to be populated with human beings, there will be predators looking to exploit people for personal gain; and, unfortunately, God-fearing people are sometimes an easy target. Most of us are kind-hearted souls who try to think the best of all people and give them the benefit of the doubt, and we look for ways to help people in any way that we can.
It is very important for God’s people to be as “innocent as doves” but also as “shrewd as serpents” (Matthew 10:16). We cannot afford to be foolish enough to tolerate people who “introduce destructive heresies” within our lives or assemblies. “Heresies” are departures from the truth that cause strife and divisions among brothers and sisters in Christ, and cause great harm in the body of Christ. Notice that the preferred method of introducing false doctrine is “secretly”. These wolves might do this by smooth-talking one unsuspecting sheep at a time outside the watchful eyes of the shepherds of the flock.
The type of predators that Peter refers to as “false teachers” are motivated by “greed” (verse 3), and they appeal to human “sensuality,” therefore I hesitate to place this label on everyone who teaches something false. It seems obvious that motive matters with these “brute beasts” (verse 12 – KJV) who bring “destructive heresies” and, subsequently, reap “swift destruction upon themselves.” But, make no mistake about it; anyone who teaches or embraces false doctrine can cause just as much damage, and will be just as lost and suffer the same fate of eternal destruction as these “creatures of instinct” no matter how sincere they are.
“In their greed they will exploit you with false words” (verse 3). There are a slew of false teachers who make a financial killing off of deceiving the masses by doing nothing more than telling them soothing words that they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4). It is not hard to part a fool from his money when you promise him the moral freedom to do whatever is required to make him “happy,” and dispense the soft soap in such a way that is smooth and exciting. If someone is making tens of millions of dollars from teaching about Jesus, chances are they are not teaching the truth. In fact, they are actually “denying the Master who bought them” by perverting His message, devaluing His blood and fleecing His lost sheep.
“Their judgment…is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” It may appear that the Lord has turned a blind eye to these false teachers and their exploitation, but He has not. God has been reserving eternal condemnation from “long ago,” and their destruction will be “swift” and abrupt and inescapable. Friend, please make certain that you are not swept away by their deception because you will surely share in their punishment.
Please read 2 Peter 2:4-10 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
-Louie Taylor
