2 Peter 2:13b-16 says...
Today's verses are 2 Peter 2:13b-16 which read,
13b, 14 - They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children;...
Peter just cannot get off this subject of warning his readers about false teachers and leaders. He goes back to some of the characteristics that he pointed out before and then adds some new ones. This is a big deal to Peter and something that he is desperate to instruct to those reading.
15 - ...forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;16 - but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.
Peter gives a human example of this from the scripture in the book of Numbers chapter 22-24. Balaam is an Old Testament prophet who had used his position for his own gain. He was up for the highest bidder when handing out his prophecies. The god of wealth and money had taken 1st place in his life over the God of "...the right way,..." God used a talking donkey to get Balaam from following through on a curse of the nation of Israel.
Maybe Peter is saying that he is the talking donkey in light of the false leaders and teachers of the day. He looks so plain compared to them and probably doesn't have a good reputation around them but he is stubborn and a beast with a burden to carry to true message of Jesus Christ. The donkey was speaking to shake up the direction that the church was going because of their leaders. Maybe we need some more talking donkeys today.
"Lord, in this world of glitz and glamor, comfort and convenience, and selfishness and sensuality, I ask for your guidance to stay on '...the right way...' and not forsake it. May all those things continue to look shallow in comparison to the beauty of You and who You are. Amen."
Pastor Adam
13b, 14 - They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children;...
Peter just cannot get off this subject of warning his readers about false teachers and leaders. He goes back to some of the characteristics that he pointed out before and then adds some new ones. This is a big deal to Peter and something that he is desperate to instruct to those reading.
Most people sin at night under the cover of darkness but these unashamedly "...revel in the daytime." They have "stains" and "blemishes"
which are just the opposite of the spotless and unblemished Lamb of
God. They use deception to call others away; they follow their lust and
use that take advantage of others; and they use learned tactics thought
out on how to satisfy their greed and their pocketbooks. Peter is
really upset about the actions of these "accursed children."
15 - ...forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;16 - but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.
Peter gives a human example of this from the scripture in the book of Numbers chapter 22-24. Balaam is an Old Testament prophet who had used his position for his own gain. He was up for the highest bidder when handing out his prophecies. The god of wealth and money had taken 1st place in his life over the God of "...the right way,..." God used a talking donkey to get Balaam from following through on a curse of the nation of Israel.
Maybe Peter is saying that he is the talking donkey in light of the false leaders and teachers of the day. He looks so plain compared to them and probably doesn't have a good reputation around them but he is stubborn and a beast with a burden to carry to true message of Jesus Christ. The donkey was speaking to shake up the direction that the church was going because of their leaders. Maybe we need some more talking donkeys today.
"Lord, in this world of glitz and glamor, comfort and convenience, and selfishness and sensuality, I ask for your guidance to stay on '...the right way...' and not forsake it. May all those things continue to look shallow in comparison to the beauty of You and who You are. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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