2 Peter 2:13-16 continues to describe the immoral character of the false teachers. They are so self—indulgent they enjoy deceiving and seducing vulnerable married women even during the day. Their souls are so stained and blemished by their continual sin that they are called ‘accursed children.’ Their hearts are so enslaved by greed, they followed the way of Balaam, who made money advising enemies of the Jews to commit immorality with Moabite women. But like Balaam, they will not escape God’s punishment.
In 2 Peter 2:13-16, Peter continues to describe the adverse attributes of the false teachers, including accusing them of being like Balaam, a prophet of God who abused his position of authority for financial gain.
Peter is clear on the point that ruin will come upon these false teachers. These teachers will eventually be suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong (v. 13). They will undergo injury (suffering wrong), as the wages (payment for action) for doing wrong, referring to that which is the opposite of right (2 Thessalonians 2:12,Titus 2:19). Just like a baker is paid for baking bread, those who are doing wrong will be paid the appropriate wages, which is to suffer. As the Apostle Paul asserts, God “will render to each person according to his deeds” (Romans 2:6). His just reward (wages) will be rendered upon each person’s deeds.
It is encouraging that these reprobate false teachers are still described as being “bought” by their “Master” (2 Peter 2:1). This tells us that we cannot out—sin God’s grace (Romans 5:20-21). Jesus bore all the sins of the world on the cross, and whoever believes on Him has the gift of eternal life (John 3:16,Colossians 2:14). However, just as Israel, as God’s people, were judged for their deeds, so will the New Testament church be judged. God will never reject His people, as His gifts are irrevocable (Romans 11:29,2 Timothy 2:13).
God will chastise those whom He loves (Hebrews 12:5-6). Peter desires that his students understand this cosmic cause—effect and determine to live faithfully, as unto the Lord.
Peter now goes into great detail to explain to his readers what actions these teachers are doing that are wrong, i.e. the things which his readers should not do. He asserts that the false teachers are so immoral that They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime (v. 13b). The indication is that rather than working, these teachers are partying all day.
The inference is that they are using their spiritual position for financial gain so they can live an indulgent lifestyle. Peter continues to describe their behavior of being addicted to their own passions, saying: They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you,having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children (v.13b—14).
These false teachers have multiple addictions. They apparently indulge in alcohol, partying during the day, as they revel, meaning engagement in a fast, self—indulgent lifestyle, in the daytime. They also are in bondage to their sexual appetites, having eyes full of adultery. Their apparent intent is to use their position of spiritual authority to seduce and exploit women. They are reveling in their deceptions, possibly making up spiritual rationalizations that their adulterous relationships are “okay.”
Their appetites are in full control of them, as they never cease from sin. And they are exploiters, taking advantage of unstable souls by enticing them. Debauchery is not enough, they also have a heart trained in greed. Not only do they want to exploit people sexually, they also want to extract financial gain.
Because of the immoral lifestyle of these false teachers, they are stains, like those of a soiled garment (Jude 23), and blemishes, like those on the surface of the skin. This might refer to an analogy of the church as a garment. If the church is a garment, and each member a thread, these false teachers are the stains and blemishes.
These false teachers enjoy reveling, meaning to take enthusiastic delight, in their deceptions, referring to their deceptive pleasures of sin (Hebrews 3:13), as they carouse with you. The idea behind the word carouse is to feast together (Jude 12). This may suggest that they had turned the love feast of the celebration of the Lord’s Supper into an orgy (1 Corinthians 11:21).
The immoral teachers are further described as having eyes full of adultery, meaning they were constantly on the look out for a woman with whom they could commit adultery. They were so enslaved by their sexual addiction that they never cease from sin, implying they could not stop.
The usual seduction method of these false teachers involved enticing unstable souls: enticing, meaning to arouse an interest by appealing to a desire (James 1:14,2 Peter 2:18), unstable¸ refers to someone who is weak because they have not been taught the Word (2 Peter 3:16) souls, a translation of the Greek word “Psychas” which may refer to their inner mind, will, and emotion, but most likely refers to the person as a whole (1 Peter 3:20).
Not only did these false teachers have eyes full of adultery, they also had a heart trained in greed. In the Greek language, a heart was the center and source of the whole inner life (1 Peter 1:22, 3:4, 15, 2 Peter 1:19). The action pictured in the verb trained implied a disciplined effort to gain something (1 Timothy 4:7). The heart attitude of the false teachers was greed, meaning the state of desiring to have “more.” It could be “more” money or pleasure, but it will never be enough (1 Peter 2:3,Ephesians 4:19, 5:3). The point is the hearts of these false teachers were trained in an unsatisfied lustful desire that was insatiable.
Because of the sinful actions and attitudes of these false teachers, Peter finally described them as accursed children, meaning they were under the curse of God’s judgment (Galatians 3:10, 13). In God’s covenant treaty with Israel, the contract provision for breaking their vow to follow God’s ways was the “cursings” (Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
Peter also views these false teachers as forsaking the right way (v. 15). The idea of forsaking implies to depart from a place with the sense of finality (Matthew 4:13,Hebrews 11:27). The place from which they are departing is described as the right way, which refers to a way of life or conduct which is straight in line with what God says is proper (Acts 13:10). In other words, the false teachers had left the straight and right teaching of God’s Word.
We saw in 2 Peter 2:1 that these false teachers are actual believers, described as having been “bought” by “the Master.” This is a key reason they are so dangerous. They apparently began well, and learned God’s word. It is precisely because these false teachers had departed from the correct teaching of God’s Word that Peter continues to tell us that they have gone astray, which gives the picture of people who have wandered from the right way (1 Peter 2:25).
Peter gives a specific illustration of how these false teachers have wandered off the right path. Peter pictures them as having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor (v. 15). Balaam was a prophet of God hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse Israel so he could defeat Israel (Numbers 22.4-7). Three times Balaam tried to curse Israel but blessed them instead, so Balak sent Balaam away empty—handed (Numbers 24:10-11).
However, there is more to the story of the error of Balaam. Because Balaam was a man who loved the wages of unrighteousness, he sold advice to King Balak of Moab for how to get God to judge Israel—have the women of Moab seduce the men of Israel so that they will worship Baal, and then God will destroy Israel (Numbers 25:1-4, 31:16). Thus, he abused his spiritual authority for financial gain.
Peter is quick to remind his readers, But he, Balaam, received a rebuke for his own transgression (v. 17). The transgression Peter has in mind is that Balaam allowed himself to be hired by Balak to curse Israel (Numbers 22:12). Peter goes on to explain the details of God’s rebuke, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man (Numbers 22:21, 12, 28) restrained the madnessof the prophet and spared his life (Numbers 22:30-33) (v. 16). An angel waited for Balaam to strike him dead, but Balaam’s donkey saw the angel and turned around. Balaam began to abuse the donkey, angered that the donkey refused to go forward. God then gave the mute donkey the ability to begin speaking with a voice of a man to rebuke Balaam for striking it. God then allowed Balaam the ability to see what the donkey saw: an angel standing in the road waiting to strike him dead. The angel then spares Balaam’s life and commands him to only speak what God tells him to speak.
God was graceful to Balaam and spared him initially. But when Balaam persisted, God allowed him to advise Balak to encourage the Moabite women to seduce the Israelite men, resulting in Balaam’s death at the hands of the Israelites (Numbers 31:8). So it is with believers, God is gracious to provide a window to repent and be restored. However, just as the opportunity closed for the first generation of Israel coming out of Egypt to enter the Promised Land, so the window of repentance can close for believers who walk in sin, and they also can lose the reward of their inheritance (Hebrews 3:7-11).
2 Peter 2:13-16
13 suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you,
14 having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children;
15 forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.
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2 Peter 2:13-16 meaning
In 2 Peter 2:13-16, Peter continues to describe the adverse attributes of the false teachers, including accusing them of being like Balaam, a prophet of God who abused his position of authority for financial gain.
Peter is clear on the point that ruin will come upon these false teachers. These teachers will eventually be suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong (v. 13). They will undergo injury (suffering wrong), as the wages (payment for action) for doing wrong, referring to that which is the opposite of right (2 Thessalonians 2:12, Titus 2:19). Just like a baker is paid for baking bread, those who are doing wrong will be paid the appropriate wages, which is to suffer. As the Apostle Paul asserts, God “will render to each person according to his deeds” (Romans 2:6). His just reward (wages) will be rendered upon each person’s deeds.
It is encouraging that these reprobate false teachers are still described as being “bought” by their “Master” (2 Peter 2:1). This tells us that we cannot out—sin God’s grace (Romans 5:20-21). Jesus bore all the sins of the world on the cross, and whoever believes on Him has the gift of eternal life (John 3:16, Colossians 2:14). However, just as Israel, as God’s people, were judged for their deeds, so will the New Testament church be judged. God will never reject His people, as His gifts are irrevocable (Romans 11:29, 2 Timothy 2:13).
God will chastise those whom He loves (Hebrews 12:5-6). Peter desires that his students understand this cosmic cause—effect and determine to live faithfully, as unto the Lord.
Peter now goes into great detail to explain to his readers what actions these teachers are doing that are wrong, i.e. the things which his readers should not do. He asserts that the false teachers are so immoral that They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime (v. 13b). The indication is that rather than working, these teachers are partying all day.
The inference is that they are using their spiritual position for financial gain so they can live an indulgent lifestyle. Peter continues to describe their behavior of being addicted to their own passions, saying: They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children (v.13b—14).
These false teachers have multiple addictions. They apparently indulge in alcohol, partying during the day, as they revel, meaning engagement in a fast, self—indulgent lifestyle, in the daytime. They also are in bondage to their sexual appetites, having eyes full of adultery. Their apparent intent is to use their position of spiritual authority to seduce and exploit women. They are reveling in their deceptions, possibly making up spiritual rationalizations that their adulterous relationships are “okay.”
Their appetites are in full control of them, as they never cease from sin. And they are exploiters, taking advantage of unstable souls by enticing them. Debauchery is not enough, they also have a heart trained in greed. Not only do they want to exploit people sexually, they also want to extract financial gain.
Because of the immoral lifestyle of these false teachers, they are stains, like those of a soiled garment (Jude 23), and blemishes, like those on the surface of the skin. This might refer to an analogy of the church as a garment. If the church is a garment, and each member a thread, these false teachers are the stains and blemishes.
These false teachers enjoy reveling, meaning to take enthusiastic delight, in their deceptions, referring to their deceptive pleasures of sin (Hebrews 3:13), as they carouse with you. The idea behind the word carouse is to feast together (Jude 12). This may suggest that they had turned the love feast of the celebration of the Lord’s Supper into an orgy (1 Corinthians 11:21).
The immoral teachers are further described as having eyes full of adultery, meaning they were constantly on the look out for a woman with whom they could commit adultery. They were so enslaved by their sexual addiction that they never cease from sin, implying they could not stop.
The usual seduction method of these false teachers involved enticing unstable souls: enticing, meaning to arouse an interest by appealing to a desire (James 1:14, 2 Peter 2:18), unstable¸ refers to someone who is weak because they have not been taught the Word (2 Peter 3:16) souls, a translation of the Greek word “Psychas” which may refer to their inner mind, will, and emotion, but most likely refers to the person as a whole (1 Peter 3:20).
Not only did these false teachers have eyes full of adultery, they also had a heart trained in greed. In the Greek language, a heart was the center and source of the whole inner life (1 Peter 1:22, 3:4, 15, 2 Peter 1:19). The action pictured in the verb trained implied a disciplined effort to gain something (1 Timothy 4:7). The heart attitude of the false teachers was greed, meaning the state of desiring to have “more.” It could be “more” money or pleasure, but it will never be enough (1 Peter 2:3, Ephesians 4:19, 5:3). The point is the hearts of these false teachers were trained in an unsatisfied lustful desire that was insatiable.
Because of the sinful actions and attitudes of these false teachers, Peter finally described them as accursed children, meaning they were under the curse of God’s judgment (Galatians 3:10, 13). In God’s covenant treaty with Israel, the contract provision for breaking their vow to follow God’s ways was the “cursings” (Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
Peter also views these false teachers as forsaking the right way (v. 15). The idea of forsaking implies to depart from a place with the sense of finality (Matthew 4:13, Hebrews 11:27). The place from which they are departing is described as the right way, which refers to a way of life or conduct which is straight in line with what God says is proper (Acts 13:10). In other words, the false teachers had left the straight and right teaching of God’s Word.
We saw in 2 Peter 2:1 that these false teachers are actual believers, described as having been “bought” by “the Master.” This is a key reason they are so dangerous. They apparently began well, and learned God’s word. It is precisely because these false teachers had departed from the correct teaching of God’s Word that Peter continues to tell us that they have gone astray, which gives the picture of people who have wandered from the right way (1 Peter 2:25).
Peter gives a specific illustration of how these false teachers have wandered off the right path. Peter pictures them as having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor (v. 15). Balaam was a prophet of God hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse Israel so he could defeat Israel (Numbers 22.4-7). Three times Balaam tried to curse Israel but blessed them instead, so Balak sent Balaam away empty—handed (Numbers 24:10-11).
However, there is more to the story of the error of Balaam. Because Balaam was a man who loved the wages of unrighteousness, he sold advice to King Balak of Moab for how to get God to judge Israel—have the women of Moab seduce the men of Israel so that they will worship Baal, and then God will destroy Israel (Numbers 25:1-4, 31:16). Thus, he abused his spiritual authority for financial gain.
Peter is quick to remind his readers, But he, Balaam, received a rebuke for his own transgression (v. 17). The transgression Peter has in mind is that Balaam allowed himself to be hired by Balak to curse Israel (Numbers 22:12). Peter goes on to explain the details of God’s rebuke, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man (Numbers 22:21, 12, 28) restrained the madness of the prophet and spared his life (Numbers 22:30-33) (v. 16). An angel waited for Balaam to strike him dead, but Balaam’s donkey saw the angel and turned around. Balaam began to abuse the donkey, angered that the donkey refused to go forward. God then gave the mute donkey the ability to begin speaking with a voice of a man to rebuke Balaam for striking it. God then allowed Balaam the ability to see what the donkey saw: an angel standing in the road waiting to strike him dead. The angel then spares Balaam’s life and commands him to only speak what God tells him to speak.
God was graceful to Balaam and spared him initially. But when Balaam persisted, God allowed him to advise Balak to encourage the Moabite women to seduce the Israelite men, resulting in Balaam’s death at the hands of the Israelites (Numbers 31:8). So it is with believers, God is gracious to provide a window to repent and be restored. However, just as the opportunity closed for the first generation of Israel coming out of Egypt to enter the Promised Land, so the window of repentance can close for believers who walk in sin, and they also can lose the reward of their inheritance (Hebrews 3:7-11).