Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.
Summary: The characteristics of a true teacher are displayed in how they live. They “walk the talk.” The false teacher “talks the talk,” but their feet walk a different path.
In today’s meditation, Peter continues his description of what marks one who teaches about Jesus as a “false teacher.”
So far, Peter has pointed out that false teachers do the following:
- Introduce destructive heresies (v 1)
- Deny the sovereign Lord (v 1)
- Indulge in depraved conduct (v 2)
- They are greedy (v 3)
- Use fabricated stories (v 3)
- Follow desires of the flesh (v 10)
- Despise authority (v 10)
- They are bold and arrogant (v 10)
- Heap abuse on celestial beings (v 10)
- Blaspheme (v 12)
All of these characteristics share something in common: They appear in varying degrees of intensity. In other words, they can be hardly noticeable or blatantly obvious.
If a person proclaims Jesus as Lord but does not value unity in the church, are they denying the Lord? If they say that they believe in the Bible, but teach that the Bible means something different than what it says, are they introducing a destructive heresy?
Sometimes the indications are subtle.
Today’s passage says, “Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.” What is your understanding of the word, “carouse”? Is it subtle? No, not very. This is a difficult passage to translate because the Greek text can be understood to mean several things. The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition, translates this phrase this way:
“They count it a delight to revel in the daytime [living luxuriously and delicately].”
Do you see the difference? On one hand, I picture a loud, boisterous indulgence in pleasure. On the other hand, it is as subtle as living in luxury.
When I was in college I took a job selling Bibles door-to-door for a summer. It was a fascinating time, and I met hundreds of interesting people. One elderly woman, in particular, was very sweet. She lived in a small house that was neatly kept. Memories of her life filled her living room in the form of trinkets and photographs.
I had been trained to help people overcome objections to buying a Bible, but she had one that was new to me. She spent all of her disposable income on her church. This woman was devoted! I would have been happy for her except for one thing: The pastor of the church she supported was living luxuriously while she was living in near poverty.
Is driving a new and very expensive car while wearing a Brooks Brothers suit necessary for a pastor? That situation offended me then, and it offends me still today. Please do not misunderstand me. It was not that the pastor had a car and a suit, it was the emphasis on materialism that was expressed. Especially when contrasted with the poverty of his parishioner.
Carousing, reveling, living luxuriously, and living delicately are all expressions of the same thing. They each represent self-gratification. The difference is simply a matter of degree.
Application: The more you read God’s Word firsthand, the easier it is to detect a false teacher.
Food for Thought: What is wrong with carousing in broad daylight?
Typically, sins are hidden. We automatically don’t want anyone to see evidence of our wrongdoing. If it is to the point of being done in ‘broad daylight’, either they no longer see it as wrong, or they practice those things so often in the ‘dark of the night’ that they cannot stop themselves from doing the same when they can be seen. Actually, the verse says ‘their idea of pleasure’ or ‘their delight is to’ so this verse is most likely about the former.
I don’t think the statement of daytime says that it’s only wrong in the day, but how deeply entrenched one would be to do so in the day, without shame.
Is self-gratification a sin? When you bring up the alternate translation and speak of subtilty, I am curious how we Americans measure against this standard.
A,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts this morning. Like so many things what we possess and what we do with what we possess are matters of the heart as well as a matter of public perception. Some people flaunt what they have, others are careful to not provoke envy. The faithful servants in Matthew 25: 14-30 were all given great responsibility because they were faithful in how they managed what they were given. I think that is the proper response to living in this country and participating in its wealth. In fact, it is my believe that the reason this country has such wealth is because it was built by “faithful servant” types of people.
You mean it would be wrong for me to sport a Rolex watch with an Armani suit while driving my Lamborghini to my yacht to get to my own private island? What?
This is actually pretty convicting since in the US we are all in the top two percent of wealth of all people who have ever lived.
Carousing in broad daylight shows that I am not even ashamed of my sin and rebellion. It shows absolutely no fear of the Lord. Luke 12: 4 – 5.
Brother Rich,
The idea of you “sporting” all those things is pretty funny! You are a very humble man and I appreciate that about you deeply.
Personally I do not think we are called to measure our wealth by the standards of undeveloped nations, but I get the point. We are very blessed. Faith in God guides us in the godly use of the blessings he has given us. Keeping our eyes on Jesus avoids the problem of envying what our neighbor has that we might not have.
Great personal story Jeff, the picture is extremely clear and appropriate for todays topic.
11-11-2021, 2 Peter 2:13b, What is wrong with carousing in broad daylight?
As works in progress, we are sinful, imperfect beings trying to serve our perfect God. We are seeking to live Godly lives and are being refined by God within the priorities He has established for each of us. While in this process we exercise “ self control ” over portions our natural man. We seek to be obedient in all areas of our lives and do not knowingly, openly oppose God’s teachings. I always loved fast flashy ‘NEW” cars and drove some of the most sought after rigs until convicted by God to step down. To this day they are tempting, but I simply look away and stay with what I have had for years.
God’s Word associates carousing with a wide variety of sinful practices and calls for His people to always be on your guard, “walk with decency”, as in the daylight so that our minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, worries of life, sexual impurity and promiscuity. Refrain from quarreling and jealousy, envy, doing what the pagans choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.
Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. And are elements of great danger to others, looking only after themselves, they are like clouds without water, swept along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted and lifeless;
Luke 21:34, Romans 13:13, Galatians 5:21, 1 Peter 4:3, Jude 1:12
Ron,
Thank you! Great reference verses, too. (I added a link for those who want to read them.)
Thanks Jeff I appreciate the links.