Peter is writing to the scattered Christians. In his first letter Peter mentions who he is writing to, the scattered Christians of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. Peter is writing from a Roman prison and the Lord has told him his execution is near. He writes this last letter to these same scattered believers to remind them to remain faithful.
During the time that Peter wrote, the Roman emperor Nero, was persecuting the Christians. Nero was blaming the Christians for a fire in Rome that he himself had most likely ordered, so that he could build a palace and a statue to himself in that area.
The pictures of coliseums of people watching Christians be thrown to the lions was what sums up this particular time. It was under Nero that not only Peter was executed, but Paul was beheaded. That is two giants of important leadership of the early church snuffed out in this persecution.
Before Jesus was executed Peter pulled him aside and ask him to explain some things to him. James, John and Andrew were there too along with Peter for that private conversation. What Jesus said, in what we call the Olivet discourse before he was about to be executed has some similarities in what Peter says before his execution 30 years later. Jesus told Peter:
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. (Mark 13:22-23)
These scattered Christians to whom Peter is writing were hit with brutal persecution. In this context Peter’s letter was vital to keep them walking with Christ and staying out of the pitfalls that can shipwreck their faith. Peter knows his end is near. These are the important issues to prepare the Christians in these turbulent times. In chapter one Peter reminded them of the tools they need to walk with the Lord in turbulent times.
Now in chapter 2 Peter is warning them about false teachers. Chronologically the first book written of the New Testament is Galatians, the heart of the area where Peter is writing to now. In that letter to the Galatians Paul wrote to warn them to watch out for Judiazers and legalism in the church. Now Peter is writing to scattered Christians to watch out for false prophets found in the church who tell them lies to make money for themselves.
False teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3)
It is unthinkable that while Christians were being thrown to the lions, false teachers would set up shop to dupe the believers to make a profit from distorting the truth of the gospel. It is unthinkable but not the first time something like this has happened. Peter has examples from the Old Testament to remind Christians about how this has happened before.
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. (2 Peter 2:1-3)
There have been these lying false prophets around through the ages. This would be like in a critical war the soldiers can’t just fight the enemy who wear a different uniform, but within their ranks wearing their same uniform are those who would work to see the enemy win to make a profit. These traitors are only out for themselves.
False prophets cause division pitting the Christians against each other. There are enough mixed-up Christians to keep these liars going strong. But to their own destruction. They are not only giving the truth a bad name, but they are opposing God, and they won’t get by with it.
They are going to meet a bad end and Peter has examples ready to remind them of that also.
Fallen angels and the times of Noah. (2 Peter 2:4-5)
When angels rebelled against God, they were held accountable by God. These fallen angels are held for their judgement. The Lord will hold the false teachers accountable and for judgement. As an example, at the time of Noah God destroyed the wicked people and delivered righteous Noah and his family.
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; (2 Peter 2:4-5)
Peter is giving two examples of Judgement to underscore the fate of these false teachers that are preying on the Christians. Now he has another example of judgment and what will happen to the ungodly. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Lot at Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Peter 2:6-8)
If he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— (2 Peter 2:6-8)
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is a warning to anyone who is living the ungodly life. But righteous Lot was rescued. Peter choses examples that show the contrast. The ungodly face destruction and the righteous are delivered from the destruction.
Rescue the godly (2 Peter 2:9)
Here is the contrast between the ungodly and the righteous. He has punished the wicked and rescued the righteous.
if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. (2 Peter 2:9)
Peter gets to the point of his examples. God’s judgement is coming. The false teachers are facing a coming judgement of God. The righteous will be rescued from this, but they should be on the alert not to be deceived by the false teachers.
What false teachers are like (2 Peter 2:11-14)
This judgement is for those who lead the believers astray. They are following the way of corruption. They are active in what they were saved from, worldly pleasures greed and even causing others to stumble.
This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. 12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish. 13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! (2 Peter 2:11-14)
These false teachers are enslaved by their own corruption and sin. These false teachers are bringing the judgement of God on themselves. When Peter uses the example of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah then he is using the harshest example possible.
Balaam cursing Israel (2 Peter 2:15-16)
Now Peter has another lesson to warn us about false prophets. It is the example of Balaam. You remember that Balaam’s donkey warned him not to curse Israel. Not to do such a terrible sin, of selling out the Lord’s people for money.
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 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. (2 Peter 2:15-16)
There were false prophets among the scattered Christians who had taken the same path as Balaam. It was a sellout of their own righteousness to gain money. They are enslaved by their corruption.
False prophets are dangerous (2 Peter 2:17-19)
When you are thirsty you need a water fountain that provides refreshing clean water. These false prophets can give nothing that will quench the thirst of the soul. They only invite others to a life of bondage after promising a life of freedom.
These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” (2 Peter 2:17-19)
How can the false prophets deliver the freedom they promise when they themselves are slaves to sin? It is their lust, and greed that is their own addiction.
They are worse off (2 Peter 2:20-22)
These false prophets are worse off than they ever were. They turned their backs on following God. The false prophet has returned to his own moral filth.
If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 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.” (2 Peter 20-22)
What a condition the first century church was in. Already there were false prophets and Peter warned the scattered believers to stay clear. We need to hear the warning of Peter to this day. Peter heard the same warning from Jesus on the Mount of Olives.
There is judgment for the false prophets and a way of escape for the righteous. The only way you will have the moral compass needed in our times to avoid these false prophets is to have a righteousness. It will mean you must trust Jesus Christ as your savior.
Let Peter’s example of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah be enough to make you stand up and listen. The truth you seek, the living water you thirst for is found in Jesus Christ. Jesus died for you, the just for the unjust to bring you back to God.
This is a chapter speaking of judgement for the false prophets. It is also a chapter of grace for the righteous, those who put their faith in God, by seeking forgiveness in Jesus Christ.
