Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
Summary: Peter winds up his description of false teachers with this passage on animal behavior. The difference between humans and animals is an appropriate metaphor for his topic.
Continue reading “2 Peter 2:21b — Back to the Barnyard”
… than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.
Summary: Marriage is a metaphor that is used many times in the Bible. As we work to understand Peter’s words, it helps to turn to that metaphor once again.
Continue reading “2 Peter 2:21b — The Ring”
It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness…
Summary: The way of righteousness is in knowing Jesus as Savior. Knowing about Jesus is not the same thing as knowing and following Jesus.
Continue reading “2 Peter 2:21a — The Way”
…and are again entangled in it and are overcome,
Summary: Peter shows us the heart of the false teacher and explains why they teach destructive heresies.
Continue reading “2 Peter 2:20c — Entangled”
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”
Summary: Nobody is free without Jesus.
Continue reading “2 Peter 2:19 — Trapped”
… they [false teachers] entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.
Summary: Peter shows us where the false teachers ply their trade. Between those who live in error and those who live in Truth is a wilderness where the false teacher finds his victims.
Continue reading “2 Peter 2:18c — The Wilderness Group”
…and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh …
Summary: We live in two worlds. God calls us to live in the spiritual realm. Satan temps us with the desires of the flesh.
Continue reading “2 Peter 2:18b — The Third Person”
For they [false teachers] mouth empty, boastful words …
Summary: People do not like to appear stupid. To avoid this, rather than admit that we do not know, we sometimes make up answers. Guesses that move us closer to the truth can be helpful. People who present their guesses as truth are not being helpful.
Continue reading “2 Peter 2:18a — Special Knowledge”
These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.
Summary: The Church, sadly, is not perfect. False teachers have caused confusion and division. Even so, the church is still loved by Jesus, and judgment waits patiently for those who dare mislead the Lord’s bride.
Continue reading “2 Peter 2:17 — Lost in the Fog”
But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
Summary: The story of Balaam’s donkey is an unusual reminder of things both seen and unseen.
Continue reading “2 Peter 2:16 — Donkey Talk”