Free Bible Commentary
“Second Peter 2:17-19”
Categories: Second Peter“These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.”
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False teachers are like “springs without water and mists driven by a storm” (verse 17): they promise what they cannot deliver. To people who live in arid climates where drinking water is often scarce, these figures of speech would be very emotionally impactful. Imagine hiking through the woods at the end of a hot summer day with an empty canteen, a parched throat and an exhausted body. All of a sudden you see a column of trees outlining the fringe of a creek in the distance, and you sprint expectantly over to it only to discover that all the water has long since dried up. Can you feel the sense of disappointment, dejection and dread creep over you because of your hopeless predicament? False teachers and the error that they propagate are like that. They promise spiritual refreshment but only produce dehydration and desiccation. Like the sinful angels who have been committed “to pits of darkness” (verse 4), these are destined for the eternal torment of the “black darkness” of Hell.
This is a stern warning for us to not be fooled by fancy facades and first impressions. A spring looks inviting until you find it is all dried up, and a misty rain looks promising until it is “driven” away by a strong wind. A fancy suit, a winning smile and a booming voice have been known to mask more than a few “ravenous wolves” (Acts 20:29-30). These are the kind of men (or women) that appeal to our “fleshly desires” and “sensuality” (verse 18) by “promising” us “freedom” from the moral restraints that God has placed upon us in His word for our own safety and sanctification. They may try to convince you that God is more interested in your happiness than your holiness, and that you should be true to yourself rather than your commitments. When a preacher speaks persuasive words that appeal to your fleshly desires, he is promising you the freedom to pursue the course that makes you feel good, but slavery will always be the end result.
“By what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved” (verse 19). Friend, the sins that you refuse to fight against and turn away from will ultimately overpower and enslave you. This is true for the horrible addictions that can ravage our bodies, deteriorate our minds and ruin our relationships, but all sin is, by nature, enslaving (Romans 6:16-23). Once we have transgressed God’s law, the only way we can be freed from sin’s grip and bondage is to obey from the heart that form of doctrine that God has committed to us through His word. Then we are conveyed to the benevolent slavery that only a loving God can offer. We are only presented with two choices. We can choose to be servants of sin or servants of righteousness. Servants of God or servants of Satan. That choice is entered into through belief in Christ, repentance of sin, and submission to the command to be baptized for forgiveness and salvation (Romans 6:1-7).
Please read 2 Peter 2:20-22 for tomorrow.
Have a wonderful day!
