2 Peter 2
Today's Passage: 2 Peter 2
There are some sections of scripture that are just heavy. Do you ever feel that weight as you read? It’s not that we don’t want to read the words inspired by the Spirit, but some of them make the heart ache more than others. 2 Peter chapter 2 is that for me. It reveals the true nature of mankind. It shows how decrepit our hearts are. It shows how hard things are going to get as the end continues to approach.
This truth we need to adopt, and not only adopt, but prepare to defend ourselves against is this: false prophets and teachers will come. So many biblical authors and characters warn us of this, including Jesus himself. In this chapter, Peter lays out some characteristics of these untrue preachers so that we may discern and know that they are false and cannot be trusted.
They are greedy (v. 3)
They blaspheme (v. 10-12)
They crave sin (v. 14-15)
They are hypocrites (v. 17-20)
This feels heavy. It makes my heart hurt. It turns my stomach to think of generations to come who will live under this sort of growing deception. All the while as Peter is explaining that false prophets and teachers will come, there is a hopeful promise tucked away in the middle of this warning that feels like light breaking through the darkness.
v. 9: “the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment…â€
No matter what is still to come, no matter who rises to power, who falsely speaks, or how dark things get, Peter reminds his readers of two very important hopes:
Even though the scriptures can be heavy, God always seems to find a way to lift the burden. Look to Him in times of trouble. See His power and sovereignty in all circumstances and rest in the hope that as a good Father and righteous Judge, He will do what is best and right for both the righteous and the unrighteous.
Our job is to know the difference between what is true and what is false.
Written By: Drew Dukes
There are some sections of scripture that are just heavy. Do you ever feel that weight as you read? It’s not that we don’t want to read the words inspired by the Spirit, but some of them make the heart ache more than others. 2 Peter chapter 2 is that for me. It reveals the true nature of mankind. It shows how decrepit our hearts are. It shows how hard things are going to get as the end continues to approach.
This truth we need to adopt, and not only adopt, but prepare to defend ourselves against is this: false prophets and teachers will come. So many biblical authors and characters warn us of this, including Jesus himself. In this chapter, Peter lays out some characteristics of these untrue preachers so that we may discern and know that they are false and cannot be trusted.
They are greedy (v. 3)
They blaspheme (v. 10-12)
They crave sin (v. 14-15)
They are hypocrites (v. 17-20)
This feels heavy. It makes my heart hurt. It turns my stomach to think of generations to come who will live under this sort of growing deception. All the while as Peter is explaining that false prophets and teachers will come, there is a hopeful promise tucked away in the middle of this warning that feels like light breaking through the darkness.
v. 9: “the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment…â€
No matter what is still to come, no matter who rises to power, who falsely speaks, or how dark things get, Peter reminds his readers of two very important hopes:
- God delivers his own. He will not forsake or abandon. We are not left to a “fingers crossed†hoping that things will turn out. I won’t dive into the eschatological implications here (end times stufffff) because that isn’t Peter’s point in saying this. His point is: God has a strong arm and is able to save his own from peril. That is hope!
- God is just. As the world continues to fall apart and the wicked seemingly prosper, Peter knows the truth. The unrighteous are kept under judgment because God is a just judge who sees all and knows all. We can rest in what feels like spiraling turmoil because to God, nothing is spiraling. It’s all working out according to His plans. No false prophet/teacher will be exempt from judgment. The day of reckoning will come because our Heavenly Father is an Almighty Judge too.
Even though the scriptures can be heavy, God always seems to find a way to lift the burden. Look to Him in times of trouble. See His power and sovereignty in all circumstances and rest in the hope that as a good Father and righteous Judge, He will do what is best and right for both the righteous and the unrighteous.
Our job is to know the difference between what is true and what is false.
Written By: Drew Dukes
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