Free Bible Commentary
“Second Peter 1:16-21”
Categories: Second Peter“For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased’ — and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
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Some people had been mocking the suggestion that Jesus was really going to return to judge the world and reclaim His own, as the claim is still mocked and ridiculed today (2 Peter 3:3-4). Peter’s eye-witness of the glorified Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration was all the evidence he needed to confidently proclaim that Christ will unquestionably return in glory at the end of the age. Peter had also personally witnessed the Lord’s omnipotent “power" as He healed the sick, lame and afflicted, and raised the dead, so He knew that His future “coming” was as good as done (verse 16).
Peter, James and John “did not follow cleverly devised tales when” they testified of Jesus’ power and glory (Matthew 17:1-8). Most of the religions of the ancient East were loaded with myths and fables, but the testimony of Jesus Christ was the factual, verifiable, historical account of a real-life man who was much more than merely a man. Peter’s evidence of the reality of Jesus’ present “power” and future “coming” was threefold: 1) He had seen the glorified Lord on the “holy mountain”. 2) He had not been alone in his witness and testimony as is affirmed by his use of the word “we”. 3) He had heard the voice of “the Majestic Glory” from heaven testify that Jesus was the “beloved Son” of God (verse 17). BTW—can there be any doubt that Jesus was God manifested in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16)?!
When we read the words of the Apostles and the other inspired writers of the New Testament we must “pay” very close “attention” (verse 19), because we are actually reading the revealed truth, commandments and will of God (1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 14:36-37; 1 Thessalonians 1:5). We can completely trust all Old Testament revelation as well because “no prophecy of Scripture…was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (verses 20-21). Jesus himself testified to the trustworthiness of the entirety of the Old Testament Scriptures when He said in Luke 24:44, “all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and Psalms must be fulfilled.” The Bible outshines all other works of literature because it stands alone as THE recorded and preserved message from The God of all Creation.
When the Lord Jesus does return as the Apostles and prophets have testified, it will be like “the morning star” arising in the hearts of all the obedient believers (verse 19). It will be the dawning of the day that ends all days, and we will dwell in the glorious light of the Son for all eternity. But, for the disbelieving and disobedient, Jesus will come like “a thief in the night” and overtake them with the unspeakable punishment of eternal loss and destruction (2 Peter 3:10). The only question that truly matters, friend, is will you be ready for that day? The only thing standing between you and an eternity in heaven is your belief in Jesus, and your obedience to His every biblical command (Matthew 28:18-20). One more vital question before we close for the day: What are you waiting for?!
Please read 2 Peter 2:1-3 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
-Louie Taylor
