2 Peter 2:14-18

2. Concluding Exhortations and Doxology, 2:14-18

2 Peter 2:14 having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unstedfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing;

Expanded Translation

having eyes that are filled with adultery (adulterous looks) who cannot stop and are unceasing in this sin; baiting, alluring, and deceiving unsettled and unstable souls, having a heart that covetousness (or the love of gain) has trained in its crafty ways; children (i.e., persons, men) worthy of a curse or execration.

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having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin

These two clauses should be taken together. This man's eyes, in the presence of women, are continually and unceasingly sinning because they are filled with lust. His heart is so filled with adulterous and immoral thoughts that his eyes express the desire. It might be added, however, that the basic sin here mentioned is not limited to men. In addition to casting a lustful look, a woman may, by her dress, walk, and conduct, strive to charm the eyes of men and so influence them to sin. The fellow here described cannot cease from sin; that is, he cannot as long as he is ruled and dominated by such passion. The immoral stares would cease if his heart was clean and pure.

Jesus explicitly condemns this sin in Matthew 5:27-29. Let every man make the covenant of Job with his eyes (Job 31:1).

enticing unstedfast souls

The word enticing (deleazo) means properly to bait, catch by bait; thus, metaphorically, to beguile by blandishments, flattery, allurements, etc. It is used again in 2 Peter 2:18, and in both instances with reference to immoral practices.

Whom do these lewd men seek out and entice? The steadfast, strong and virtuous? No. It is the unsteadfastthose who have no fixed and unmovable convictions in regard to their conduct; especially, those who are just escaping from them that live in error (2 Peter 2:18). Those Christian women whose principles are firm, settled, and stable will not be drawn away by the bait of pleasure, promises, flattery, or possessions offered by sensual men. Nor are such men long attracted to a woman of virtue. Let every Christian lady be a steadfast soul!

having a heart exercised in covetousness

Besides being lewd, they are excessively covetous. The word exercised, (gumnazo, from the same root as our word gymnasium) meant properly to train in gymnastic discipline; then, to exercise vigorously in any thing, whether the body or mind was being used, or both, The hearts and lives of these men were trainedin covetousness and its methods!

children of cursing

An expression taken from Hebrew terminology. Their condition was so vile and wicked that they were only worthy and deserving of God's curse, that is, his sentence of condemnation and doom.[70]

[70] katara (cursing) is similarly used in Galatians 3:10; Galatians 3:13. But others understand the phrase differently. If children of obedience (1 Peter 1:14) means those who are pre-eminently obedient, then why could this phrase not mean those who are pre-eminently curserspeople who are always cursing?

2 Peter 2:15-16 forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrongdoing; but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man's voice and stayed the madness of the prophet.

Expanded Translation

Abandoning the straight, true, and right course of conduct, they (the evil men just spoken of) were caused to wander away from it, having followed and imitated the conduct of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages (pay, reward) of unrighteousness (promised to him by Balak, so that he resolved to curse the Israelites whether God gave him permission to do so or not). But he received a rebuke for his own transgression (literally, violation of [God'S] law); an ass on which he rode, destitute of the power of speech, spoke in a man's (human) voice and restrained the prophet's madness, insanity, and folly.

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forsaking the right way, they went astray

The right (literally, straight) way is that which adheres to the true teachings of Christ. This was left behind, and therefore they were caused to wander and fall away by Satan. Christ is the way (John 14:6); therefore, the church, his body, is the Way (Acts 24:14). Let us not forsake it!

having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor

See also Jude 1:11. As was pointed out in 2 Peter 1:16 and 2 Peter 2:2, the word exakoloutheo (having followed), may mean to imitate another's conduct or behavior. The prophet Balaam was influenced and motivated by covetousness, and these men were treading in his steps.

But it is well to point out that in fact these wicked men resembled Balaam in other ways: (1) Both professed to be servants of God, or religious teachers. (2) Both induced others to commit sinthe same kind of sin. Balaam counselled the Moabites to entice the children of Israel to illicit practices with their women, thus introducing licentiousness into the camp of the Hebrews. See Numbers 25:1-9 where this sin is recorded, and Numbers 31:13-16 for Balaam's part in causing it.

who loved the hire of wrong-doing

That is, he loved the wages or pay he received for disobeying God. Balaam was continually sent gifts from Balak, the king of Moab, that he might curse Israel. At first the prophet refused, saying, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah my God, to do less or more (Numbers 22:18). But soon afterward he began to seek God's permission to go with Balak. He was allowed to go, but only on the condition he speak God's words.

but he was rebuked for his own transgression

In a most unusual way!

a dumb ass spake with man's voice and stayed the madness of the prophet

Numbers 22:21-35. After the rebuke from his ass (and also the angel of Jehovah), Balaam confessed, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou [the angel] stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again (Numbers 22:34). Evidently, the prophet was truly sorrowful and penitent, for he does speak precisely what God tells him to, to the utter consternation of Balak.

It might be fairly asked, how was the prophet's madness stayed, when he proceeded on with Balak? It appears from comparing Numbers 22:20 with Numbers 22:35 that the wrath of God was not kindled against him for going (for Jehovah had told him to go). But we are nowhere told when he first left that he intended to speak just what God told him to. He was evidently going with the wrong motiveto curse God's people. He would have his expensive gifts, and Israel would be cursed! This was madness. (Love of money often makes one act insanely!) God then talked to him through two mouthpieces: an ass and an angel. Afterward, his intentions changed and he was allowed to proceedhimself a mouthpiece of God. The transgression and madness was more in his reason or motive for going, than in the going itself.

The complete Scriptural account of Balaam and his deeds may be found by reading Numbers, Chap. 2225, Numbers 31:1-20. After his cursing was stayed, he later gave sinful counsel, causing thousands of Israelites to be slain by the plague, Thus the staying of his madness was not permanent.

2 Peter 2:17 These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved.

Expanded Translation

These men are like springs without water (dry), and like clouds driven by a violent attack of wind which comes in furious gusts; for whom the blackest and gloomiest darkness has been reserved, kept, and preserved.

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These are springs without water

Jude adds, clouds without water as well as autumn trees without fruit (Jude 1:12). In each case the appearance provided an expectation which was not fulfilled. From a spring (or a well fed by one, as the word is used in John 4:6; John 4:14, where it is rendered well) we expect water. The unexpected benefits are not received from these false teachers. They may build up hope by uttering great swelling words of vanity (2 Peter 2:18) and promising them liberty (2 Peter 2:19), but the thirst of the soul will never be quenched at their fountain. Jesus and his righteous teachings provide us with the real water of life. See Matthew 5:6, John 4:10-14.

and mists driven by a storm

The word mists (homichle) may signify a cloud as well as a mist. And many manuscripts have the word nephele here, which only means a cloud. These clouds (men) are urged forward by a storm (lailaps). This is not any storm, but one involving strong and erratic winds. It is never a single gust, nor a steadily blowing wind, however violent; but a storm breaking forth from black thunder-clouds in furious gusts, with floods of rain, and throwing everything topsy-turvy (Schmidt, quoted by Thayer).

Now the clouds in the figure are peoplefalse teachers! These unstable and unsettled souls were not solidly grounded or rooted in the true teachings of Christ (Colossians 2:6-7). They themselves were tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14), and yet were posing as the spiritual leaders of others! The reference here to their unsettled and unsteadfast condition seems to point to their whole way of livingmoral, spiritual and doctrinal.

for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved

Again referring to Tartarus, as in 2 Peter 2:4; 2 Peter 2:9, Jude 1:6. It will be a place of absolute and total darkness!

Hell also shall be a place of darkness (Matthew 8:12; Matthew 22:13). Matthew 25:30).

2 Peter 2:18 For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;

Expanded Translation

For these deceivers, by uttering big, overswollen, immoderate words expressive of vanity, emptiness, and folly; allure, beguile, and entice in (into) the lusts and strong cravings of the fleshly or sensuous nature, through lasciviousness (abandonment of moral restraint), those who are just escaping[71] from (unchristian people) who are living in error and perverseness.

[71] Other MSS, have who have just escaped.

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For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh

See also 2 Peter 2:14 and Jude 1:16. The great swelling words of vanity are evidently flattering and seductive words, for with these they entice their listeners into the lusts of the flesh. The word entice (deleazo) means literally, to catch by bait, and thus came to signify to beguile by blandishments or flattery. Part of their bait was their ability to use big, vain words. But in addition to this, they enticed

by lasciviousness

(aselgeia). See notes under 1 Peter 4:3, 2 Peter 2:2. It is unbridled lust, excess, wantonness, shamelessness. The one who has this trait shows little or no restraint or self-control in his moral behaviorgives free vent to his sensual and lustful appetites. And who do they entice by such means?

those who are just escaping from them that live in error

In many cases the same as the unsteadfast souls mentioned in 2 Peter 2:14. These sinister men were striving to lead others back to the ungodly life and the ungodly people from which they had escaped. It is much easier to bring about the death of a baby than a strong and full-grown man. Knowing this, the false teacher tried to snuff out the spark of spiritual life which had been ignited in the souls of these Christians, but had not long been burning.

It is hard to imagine such immoral and unprincipled men as those here described, claiming to be teachers of the truth. But upon a close scrutiny of some of our modern-day sects right here in America, one will find men (and women) carrying on in a similar fashion. And it all justified under the cloak of true religion!