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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D P E T E R.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. II.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The apostle, having in the foregoing chapter exhorted them to proceed
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and advance in the Christian race, now comes to remove, as much as in
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him lay, what he could not but apprehend would hinder their complying
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with his exhortation. He therefore gives them fair warning of false
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teachers, by whom they might be in danger of being seduced. To prevent
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this,
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I. He describes these seducers as impious in themselves, and very
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pernicious to others,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+2:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>.
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II. He assures them of the punishment that shall be inflicted on them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+2:3-6">ver. 3-6</A>.
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III. He tells us how contrary the method is which God takes with those
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who fear him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+2:7-9">ver. 7-9</A>.
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IV. He fills up the rest of the chapter with a further description of
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those seducers of whom he would have them beware.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_3a"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>False Prophets and Corrupt Leaders.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 67.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as
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there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring
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in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and
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bring upon themselves swift destruction.
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2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of
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whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
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3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make
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merchandise of you--
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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I. In the end of the former chapter there is mention made of holy men
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of God, who lived in the times of the Old Testament, and were used as
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the amanuenses of the Holy Ghost, in writing the sacred oracles; but in
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the beginning of this he tells us they had, even at that time, false
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prophets in the church as well as true. In all ages of the church, and
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under all dispensations, when God sends true prophets, the devil sends
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some to seduce and deceive, false prophets in the Old Testament, and
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false Christs, false apostles, and seducing teachers, in the New.
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Concerning these observe,
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1. Their business is to bring in destructive errors, <I>even damnable
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heresies,</I> as the business of teachers sent of God is to show the
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way of truth, even the true way to everlasting life. There are damnable
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heresies as well as damnable practices; and false teachers are
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industrious to spread pernicious errors.
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2. Damnable heresies are commonly brought in privily, under the cloak
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and colour of truth. Those who introduce destructive heresies <I>deny
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the Lord that bought them.</I> They reject and refuse to hear and learn
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of the great teacher sent from God, though he is the only Saviour and
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Redeemer of men, who paid a price sufficient to redeem as many worlds
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of sinners as there are sinners in the world.
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4. Those who bring in errors destructive to others bring swift (and
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therefore sure) <I>destruction upon themselves.</I> Self-destroyers are
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soon destroyed; and those who are so hardened as to propagate errors
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destructive to others shall surely and suddenly be destroyed, and that
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without remedy.</P>
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<P>
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II. He proceeds, in the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+2:2">second verse</A>,
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to tell us the consequence with respect to others; and here we may
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learn,
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1. Corrupt leaders seldom fail of many to follow them; though the way
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of error is a pernicious way, yet many are ready to walk therein. Men
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drink in iniquity like water, and are pleased to live in error. <I>The
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prophets prophesy falsely, and the people love to have it so.</I>
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2. The spreading of error will bring up an evil report on the way of
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truth; that is, the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, who is <I>the
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way, the truth, and the life.</I> The Christian religion is from the
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God of truth as the author, leads to true happiness in the enjoyment of
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the true God as the end, and works truth in the inward part as the
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means of acceptably serving God. And yet this way of truth is traduced
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and blasphemed by those who embrace and advance destructive errors.
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This the apostle has foretold as what should certainly come to pass.
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Let us not be offended at any thing of this in our day, but take care
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that we give no occasion to the enemy to blaspheme the holy name
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whereby we are called, or speak evil of that way whereby we hope to be
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saved.</P>
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<P>
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III. Observe, in the next place, the method seducers take to draw
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disciples after them: they use <I>feigned words;</I> they flatter, and
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by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple,
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inducing them to yield entirely to the opinions which these seducers
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endeavour to propagate, and sell and deliver themselves over to the
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instruction and government of these false teacher, who make a gain of
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those whom they make their proselytes, serving themselves and making
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some advantage of them; for all this is through covetousness, with a
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desire and design to get more wealth, or credit, or commendation, by
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increasing the number of their followers. The faithful ministers of
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Christ, who show men the way of truth, desire the profit and advantage
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of their followers, that they may be saved; but these seducing teachers
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desire and design only their own temporal advantage and worldly
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grandeur.</P>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_3b"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Divine Judgments.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 67.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>--3 Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth
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not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
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4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast <I>them</I>
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down to hell, and delivered <I>them</I> into chains of darkness, to be
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reserved unto judgment;
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5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth
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<I>person,</I> a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon
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the world of the ungodly;
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6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes
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condemned <I>them</I> with an overthrow, making <I>them</I> an ensample
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unto those that after should live ungodly;
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Men are apt to think that a reprieve is the forerunner of a pardon, and
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that if judgment be not speedily executed it is, or will be, certainly
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reversed. But the apostle tells us that how successful and prosperous
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soever false teachers may be, and that for a time, yet their
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<I>judgment lingereth not.</I> God has determined long ago how he will
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deal with them. Such unbelievers, who endeavour to turn others from the
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faith, are condemned already, and the wrath of God abideth on them. The
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righteous Judge will speedily take vengeance; the day of their calamity
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is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. To
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prove this assertion, here are several examples of the righteous
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judgment of God, in taking vengeance on sinners, proposed to our
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serious consideration.</P>
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<P>
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I. See how God dealt with the angels who sinned. Observe,
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1. No excellency will exempt a sinner from punishment. If the angels,
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who excel us vastly in strength and knowledge, violate the law of God,
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the sentence which that law awards shall be executed upon them, and
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that without mercy or mitigation, for God did not spare them. Hence
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observe,
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2. By how much the more excellent the offender, by so much the more
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severe the punishment. These angels, who had the advantage of men as to
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the dignity of their nature, are immediately punished. There is no
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sparing them for a few days, no favour at all shown them.
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3. Sin debases and degrades the persons who commit it. The angels of
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heaven are cast down from the height of their excellency, and divested
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of all their glory and dignity, upon their disobedience. Whoever sins
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against God does a manifest hurt to himself.
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4. Those who rebel against the God of heaven shall all be sent down to
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hell. There is no place nor state between the height of glory and the
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depth of misery in which they shall be allowed to rest. If creatures
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sin in heaven, they must suffer in hell.
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5. Sin is the work of darkness, and darkness is the wages of sin. The
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darkness of misery and torment follows the darkness of sin. Those who
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will not walk according to the light and direction of God's law shall
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be deprived of the light of God's countenance and the comforts of his
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presence.
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6. As sin binds men over to punishment, so misery and torment hold men
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under punishment. The darkness which is their misery keeps them so that
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they cannot get away from their torment.
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7. The last degree of torment is not till the day of judgment. The
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sinning angels, though in hell already, are yet reserved to the
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judgment of the great day.</P>
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<P>
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II. See how God dealt with the old world, even in much the same way
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that he dealt with the angels. He spared not the old world. Here
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observe,
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1. The number of offenders signifies no more to procure any favour than
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the quality. If the sin be universal, the punishment shall likewise
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extend to all. But,
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2. If there be but a few righteous, they shall be preserved. God does
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not destroy the good with the bad. In wrath he remembers mercy.
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3. Those who are <I>preachers of righteousness</I> in an age of
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universal corruption and degeneracy, <I>holding forth the word of
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life</I> in an unblamable and exemplary conversation, shall be
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preserved in a time of general destruction.
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4. God can make use of those creatures as the instruments of his
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vengeance in punishing sinners which he at first made and appointed for
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their service and benefit. He destroyed the whole world by water; but
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observe,
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5. What was the procuring cause of this: <I>it was a world of ungodly
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men.</I> Ungodliness puts men out of the divine protection, and exposes
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them to utter destruction.</P>
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<P>
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III. See how God dealt with Sodom and Gomorrah; though they were
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situated in a country like the garden of the Lord, yet, if in such a
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fruitful soil they abound in sin, God can soon turn a fruitful land
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into barrenness and a well-watered country into dust and ashes.
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Observe,
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1. No political union or confederacy can keep off judgments from a
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sinful people. Sodom and the neighbouring cities were no more secured
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by their regular government than the angels by the dignity of their
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nature or the old world by their vast number.
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2. God can make use of contrary creatures to punish incorrigible
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sinners. He destroys the <I>old world by water,</I> and Sodom by fire.
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He who keeps fire and water from hurting his people
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+43:2">Isa. xliii. 2</A>)
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can make either to destroy his enemies; therefore they are never safe.
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3. Most heinous sins bring most grievous judgments. Those who were
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abominable in their vices were remarkable for their plagues. Those who
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are sinners exceedingly before the Lord must expect the most dreadful
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vengeance.
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4. The punishment of sinners in former ages is designed for the example
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of those who come after. "Follow them, not only in the time of living,
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but in their <I>course and way of living.</I>" Men who live ungodly
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must see what they are to expect if they go on still in a course of
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impiety. Let us take warning by all the instances of God's taking
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vengeance, which are recorded for our admonition, and to prevent our
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promising ourselves impunity, though we go on in a course of sin.</P>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Divine Judgments.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 67.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of
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the wicked:
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8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and
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hearing, vexed <I>his</I> righteous soul from day to day with <I>their</I>
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unlawful deeds;)
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9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,
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and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be
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punished:
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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When God sends destruction on the ungodly, he commands deliverance for
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the righteous; and, if he rain fire and brimstone on the wicked, he
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will cover the head of the just, and they shall be hid in the day of
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his anger. This we have an instance of in his preserving Lot. Here
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observe,
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1. The character given of Lot; he is called <I>a just man;</I> this he
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was as to the generally prevailing bent of his heart and through the
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main of his conversation. God does not account men just or unjust from
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one single act, but from their general course of life. And here is a
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just man in the midst of a most corrupt and profligate generation
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universally gone off from all good. He does not follow the multitude to
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do evil, but in a city of injustice he walks uprightly.
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2. The impression the sins of others made upon this righteous man.
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Though the sinner takes pleasure in his wickedness, it is a grief and
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vexation to the soul of the righteous. In bad company we cannot escape
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either guilt or grief. Let the sins of others be a trouble to us,
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otherwise it will not be possible for us to keep ourselves pure.
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3. Here is a particular mention of the duration and continuance of
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this good man's grief and vexation: it was <I>from day to day.</I>
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Being accustomed to hear and see their wickedness did not reconcile him
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to it, nor abate of the horror that was occasioned by it. This is the
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righteous man whom God preserved from the desolating judgment that
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destroyed all round about him. From this instance we are taught to
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argue that God knows how to deliver his people and punish his enemies.
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It is here presupposed that the righteous must have their temptations
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and trials. The devil and his instruments will thrust sore at them,
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that they may fall; and, if we will get to heaven, it must be through
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many tribulations. It is therefore our duty to reckon upon and prepare
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for them. Observe here,
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(1.) <I>The Lord knows those that are his.</I> He has set apart him who
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is godly for himself; and, if there is but one in five cities, he knows
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him; and where there is a greater number he cannot be ignorant of nor
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overlook any one of them.
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(2.) The wisdom of God is never at a loss about ways and means to
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deliver his people. They are often utterly at a loss, and can see no
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way; he can deliver a great many.
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(3.) The deliverance of the godly is the work of God, that which he
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concerns himself in, both his wisdom to contrive the way and his power
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to work out the deliverance <I>out of temptation,</I> to prevent their
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falling into sin and their being ruined by their troubles. And surely,
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if he can deliver out of temptation, he could keep from falling into it
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if he did not see such trials to be necessary.
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(4.) God makes a very great difference in his dealings with the godly
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and the wicked. When he saves his people from destruction, he delivers
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over his enemies to deserved ruin. The unjust has no share in the
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salvation God works out for the righteous. The wicked are <I>reserved
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to the day of judgment.</I> Here we see,
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[1.] There is a day of judgment. <I>God has appointed a day wherein he
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will judge the world.</I>
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[2.] The preservation of impenitent sinners is only a reserving of them
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to the day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God.</P>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Pe2_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>False Teachers.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 67.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
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</TABLE>
|
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<P>
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|
<FONT SIZE=+1>10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of
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uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous <I>are they,</I>
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selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
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11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring
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not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
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12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and
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destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and
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shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
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13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, <I>as</I> they
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that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots <I>they are</I>
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and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings
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while they feast with you;
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14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from
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sin; beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with
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covetous practices; cursed children:
|
|
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray,
|
|
following the way of Balaam <I>the son</I> of Bosor, who loved the
|
|
wages of unrighteousness;
|
|
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with
|
|
man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
|
|
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with
|
|
a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
|
|
18 For when they speak great swelling <I>words</I> of vanity, they
|
|
allure through the lusts of the flesh, <I>through much</I> wantonness,
|
|
those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
|
|
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the
|
|
servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the
|
|
same is he brought in bondage.
|
|
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world
|
|
through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they
|
|
are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is
|
|
worse with them than the beginning.
|
|
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of
|
|
righteousness, than, after they have known <I>it,</I> to turn from the
|
|
holy commandment delivered unto them.
|
|
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb,
|
|
The dog <I>is</I> turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was
|
|
washed to her wallowing in the mire.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The apostle's design being to warn us of, and arm us against, seducers,
|
|
he now returns to discourse more particularly of them, and give us an
|
|
account of their character and conduct, which abundantly justifies the
|
|
righteous Judge of the world in reserving them in an especial manner
|
|
for the most severe and heavy doom, as Cain is taken under special
|
|
protection that he might be kept for uncommon vengeance. But why will
|
|
God thus deal with these false teachers? This he shows in what
|
|
follows.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. <I>These walk after the flesh;</I> they follow the devices and
|
|
desires of their own hearts, they give up themselves to the conduct of
|
|
their own fleshly mind, refusing to make their reason stoop to divine
|
|
revelation, and to <I>bring every thought to the obedience of
|
|
Christ;</I> they, in their lives, act directly contrary to God's
|
|
righteous precepts, and comply with the demands of corrupt nature. Evil
|
|
opinions are often accompanied with evil practices; and those who are
|
|
for propagating error are for improving in wickedness. They will not
|
|
sit down contented in the measure of iniquity to which they have
|
|
attained, nor is it enough for them to stand up, and maintain, and
|
|
defend, what wickedness they have already committed, but they <I>walk
|
|
after the flesh,</I> they go on in their sinful course, and increase
|
|
unto more ungodliness and greater degrees of impurity and uncleanness
|
|
too; they also pour contempt on those whom God has set in authority
|
|
over them and requires them to honour. These therefore despise <I>the
|
|
ordinance of God,</I> and we need not wonder at it, for they are bold
|
|
and daring, obstinate and refractory, and will not only cherish
|
|
contempt in their hearts, but with their tongues will utter slanderous
|
|
and reproachful words of those who are set over them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. This he aggravates, by setting forth the very different conduct of
|
|
more excellent creatures, even the <I>angels,</I> of whom observe,
|
|
|
|
1. They <I>are greater in power and might,</I> and that even than
|
|
those who are clothed with authority and power among the sons of men,
|
|
and much more than those false teachers who are slanderous revilers of
|
|
magistrates and governors; the good angels vastly exceed us in all
|
|
natural and moral excellences, in strength, understanding, and holiness
|
|
too.
|
|
|
|
2. Good angels are accusers of sinful creatures, either of their own
|
|
kind, or ours, or both. Those who are allowed to behold the face of
|
|
God, and stand before his throne, cannot but have a zeal for his
|
|
honour, and accuse and blame those who dishonour him.
|
|
|
|
3. <I>Angels bring</I> their <I>accusations</I> of sinful creatures
|
|
<I>before the Lord;</I> they do not publish their faults, and tell
|
|
their crimes to their fellow-creatures, in a way of calumny and
|
|
slander; but it is before the Lord, who is the Judge, and will be the
|
|
avenger, of all impiety and injustice.
|
|
|
|
4. Good angels mingle no bitter revilings nor base reproaches with any
|
|
of the accusations or charges they bring against the wickedest and
|
|
worst of criminals. Let us, who pray that God's <I>will may be done on
|
|
earth as it is in heaven,</I> imitate the angels in this particular; if
|
|
we complain of wicked men, let it be to God, and that not with rage and
|
|
reviling, but with compassion and composedness of mind, that may
|
|
evidence that we belong to him who is meek and merciful.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The apostle, having shown
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+2:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>)
|
|
|
|
how unlike seducing teachers are to the most excellent creatures,
|
|
proceeds
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+2:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>)
|
|
|
|
to show how like they are to the most inferior: they are <I>like the
|
|
horse and mule, which have no understanding;</I> they are <I>as natural
|
|
brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed.</I> Men, under the power
|
|
of sin, are so far from observing divine revelation that they do not
|
|
exercise reason, nor act according to the direction thereof. They
|
|
<I>walk by sight, and not by faith,</I> and judge of things according
|
|
to their senses; as these represent things pleasant and agreeable, so
|
|
they must be approved and esteemed. Brute-creatures follow the
|
|
instinct of their sensitive appetite, and sinful man follows the
|
|
inclination of his carnal mind; these refuse to employ the
|
|
understanding and reason God has given them, and so are ignorant of
|
|
what they might and ought to know; and therefore observe,
|
|
|
|
1. Ignorance is the cause of evil-speaking; and,
|
|
|
|
2. Destruction will be the effect of it. These persons shall be
|
|
utterly destroyed in their own corruption. Their vices not only expose
|
|
them to the wrath of God in another world, but often bring them to
|
|
misery and ruin in this life; and surely such impudent offenders, who
|
|
<I>glory in their shame,</I> and to whom openness in sin is an
|
|
improvement of the pleasure of sinning, most justly deserve all the
|
|
plagues of this life and the pains of the next in the greatest
|
|
extremity. Therefore whatever they meet with is the just <I>reward of
|
|
their unrighteousness.</I> Such sinners as sport themselves in mischief
|
|
deceive themselves and disgrace all they belong to, for by one sort of
|
|
sins they prepare themselves for another; their extravagant feastings,
|
|
their intemperance in eating and drinking, bring them to commit all
|
|
manner of lewdness, so that their <I>eyes are full of adultery,</I>
|
|
their wanton looks show their own impure lusts and are designed and
|
|
directed to kindle the like in others; and this is what they <I>cannot
|
|
cease</I> from--the heart is insatiate in lusting and the eye incessant
|
|
in looking after what may gratify their unclean desires, and those who
|
|
are themselves impudent and incessant in sin are very diligent and
|
|
often successful in deceiving others and drawing others into the same
|
|
excess of riot. But here observe who those are who are in the greatest
|
|
danger of being led away into error and impiety, even the
|
|
<I>unstable.</I> Those whose hearts are not established with grace are
|
|
easily turned into the way of sin, or else such sensual wretches would
|
|
not be able to prevail upon them, for these are not only riotous and
|
|
lascivious, but <I>covetous</I> also, and these practices their hearts
|
|
are exercised with; they pant after riches, and the desire of their
|
|
souls is to the wealth of this world: it is a considerable part of
|
|
their work to contrive to get wealth; in this their hearts are
|
|
exercised, and then they execute their projects; and, if men abandon
|
|
themselves to all sorts of lusts, we cannot wonder that the apostle
|
|
should call them <I>cursed children,</I> for they are liable to the
|
|
curse of God denounced against such <I>ungodly and unrighteous men,</I>
|
|
and they bring a curse upon all who hearken and adhere to them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The apostle
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+2:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>)
|
|
|
|
proves that they are <I>cursed children,</I> even such covetous persons
|
|
as <I>the Lord abhors,</I> by showing,
|
|
|
|
1. They <I>have forsaken the right way;</I> and it cannot be but such
|
|
self-seekers must be out of the right way, which is a self-denying way.
|
|
|
|
2. They have gone into a wrong way: they have erred and strayed from
|
|
the way of life, and gone over into the path which leads to death, and
|
|
takes hold of hell; and this he makes out by showing it to be <I>the
|
|
way of Balaam, the son of Bosor.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) That is a way of unrighteousness into which men are led by the
|
|
wages of unrighteousness.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Outward temporal good things are the wages sinners expect and
|
|
promise themselves, though they are often disappointed.
|
|
|
|
(3.) The inordinate love of the good things of this world turns men out
|
|
of the way which leads to the unspeakably better things of another
|
|
life; the love of riches and honour turned Balaam out of the way of his
|
|
duty, although he knew that the way he took displeased the Lord.
|
|
|
|
(4.) Those who from the same principle are guilty of the same practices
|
|
with notorious sinners are, in the judgment of God, the followers of
|
|
such vile offenders, and therefore must reckon upon being at last where
|
|
they are: <I>they shall have their portion</I> with those in another
|
|
world whom they imitated in this.
|
|
|
|
(5.) Heinous and hardened sinners sometimes meet with rebukes for their
|
|
iniquity. God stops them in their way, and opens the mouth of
|
|
conscience, or by some startling providence startles and affrights
|
|
them.
|
|
|
|
(6.) Though some more uncommon and extraordinary rebuke may for a
|
|
little while cool men's courage, and hinder their violent progress in
|
|
the way of sin, it will not make them forsake the way of iniquity and
|
|
go over into the way of holiness. If rebuking a sinner for his
|
|
iniquity could have made a man return to his duty, surely the rebuke of
|
|
Balaam must have produced this effect; for here is a surprising miracle
|
|
wrought: <I>the dumb ass,</I> in whose mouth no man can expect to meet
|
|
with reproof, is enabled to speak, and that with a human voice, and to
|
|
her owner and master (who is here called a <I>prophet,</I> for the Lord
|
|
appeared and spoke sometimes to him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+22:23,24">Num. xxii. 23, 24</A>,
|
|
|
|
but indeed he was among the prophets of the Lord as Judas among the
|
|
apostles of Jesus Christ), and she exposes <I>the madness</I> of his
|
|
conduct and opposes his going on in this evil way, and yet all in vain.
|
|
Those who will not yield to usual methods of reproof will be but little
|
|
influenced by miraculous appearances to turn them from their sinful
|
|
courses. Balaam was indeed restrained from actually <I>cursing the
|
|
people,</I> but he had so strong a desire after the honours and riches
|
|
that were promised him that he went as far as he could, and did his
|
|
utmost to get from under the restraint that was upon him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. The apostle proceeds
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+2:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>)
|
|
|
|
to a further description of seducing teachers, whom he sets forth,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. As <I>wells,</I> or fountains, <I>without water.</I> Observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Ministers should be as wells or fountains, where the people may
|
|
find instruction, direction, and comfort; but
|
|
|
|
(2.) False teachers have nothing of this to impart to those who consult
|
|
them: the word of truth is the water of life, which refreshes the souls
|
|
that receive it; but these deceivers are set upon spreading and
|
|
promoting error, and therefore are set forth as empty, because there is
|
|
no truth in them. In vain then are all our expectations of being fed
|
|
and filled with knowledge and understanding by those who are themselves
|
|
ignorant and empty.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. As <I>clouds carried with a tempest.</I> When we see a cloud we
|
|
expect a refreshing shower from it; but these are clouds which yield no
|
|
rain, for they are driven with the wind, but not of the Spirit, but the
|
|
stormy wind or tempest of their own ambition and covetousness. They
|
|
espouse and spread those opinions that will procure most applause and
|
|
advantage to themselves; and as clouds obstruct the light of the sun,
|
|
and darken the air, so do these <I>darken counsel by words without
|
|
knowledge</I> and wherein there is no truth; and, seeing these men are
|
|
for promoting darkness in this world, it is very just that the mist of
|
|
darkness should be their portion in the next. Utter darkness was
|
|
prepared for the devil, the great deceiver, and his angels, those
|
|
instruments that he uses to turn men from the truth, and therefore for
|
|
them it is reserved, and that for ever; the fire of hell is
|
|
everlasting, and the smoke of the bottomless pit rises up for ever and
|
|
ever. And it is just with God to deal thus with them, because
|
|
|
|
(1.) They allure those they deal with, and draw them into a net, or
|
|
catch them as men do fish; and,
|
|
|
|
(2.) It is <I>with great swelling words of vanity,</I> lofty
|
|
expressions, which have a great sound, but little sense.
|
|
|
|
(3.) They work upon <I>the corrupt affections</I> and <I>carnal fleshly
|
|
lusts of men,</I> proposing what is grateful to them. And,
|
|
|
|
(4.) They seduce persons who in reality avoided and kept at a distance
|
|
from those who spread and those who embraced hurtful and destructive
|
|
errors. Observe,
|
|
|
|
[1.] By application and industry men attain a skilfulness and dexterity
|
|
in promoting error. They are as artful and as successful as the fisher,
|
|
who makes angling his daily employment. The business of these men is to
|
|
draw disciples after them, and in their methods and management there
|
|
are some things worth observing, how they suit their bait to those they
|
|
desire to catch.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Erroneous teachers have a peculiar advantage to win men over to
|
|
them, because they have sensual pleasure to take them with; where as
|
|
the ministers of Christ put men upon self-denial, and the mortifying of
|
|
those lusts that others gratify and please: wonder not therefore that
|
|
truth prevails no more, or that errors spread so much.
|
|
|
|
[3.] Persons who have for a while adhered to the truth, and kept clear
|
|
of errors, may by the subtlety and industry of seducers be so far
|
|
deceived as to fall into those errors they had for a while <I>clean
|
|
escaped.</I> "Be therefore always upon your guard, maintain a godly
|
|
jealousy of yourselves, search the scriptures, pray for the Spirit to
|
|
instruct and establish you in the truth, walk humbly with God, and
|
|
watch against every thing that may provoke him to give you up to a
|
|
reprobate mind, that you may not be taken with the fair and specious
|
|
pretences of these false teachers, who promise liberty to all who will
|
|
hearken to them, not true Christian liberty for the service of God, but
|
|
a licentiousness in sin, to follow the devices and desires of their own
|
|
hearts." To prevent these men's gaining proselytes, he tells us that,
|
|
in the midst of all their talk of liberty, they themselves are the
|
|
vilest slaves, for they are the servants of corruption; their own lusts
|
|
have gotten a complete victory over them, and they are actually in
|
|
bondage to them, making <I>provision for the flesh,</I> to satisfy its
|
|
cravings, comply with its directions, and obey its commands. Their
|
|
minds and hearts are so far corrupted and depraved that they have
|
|
neither power nor will to refuse the task that is imposed on them. They
|
|
are conquered and captivated by their spiritual enemies, and yield
|
|
their members servants of unrighteousness: and what a shame it is to be
|
|
overcome and commanded by those who are themselves <I>the servants of
|
|
corruption, and slaves to their own lusts!</I> This consideration
|
|
should prevent our being led away by these seducers; and to this he
|
|
adds another
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+2:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
it is not only a shame and disgrace to be seduced by those who are
|
|
themselves the slaves of sin, and led captive by the devil at his
|
|
pleasure, but it is a real detriment to those who have clean escaped
|
|
from those who live in error, for hereby their latter end is made worse
|
|
than their beginning. Here we see, <I>First,</I> It is an advantage to
|
|
escape the pollutions of the world, to be kept from gross and
|
|
scandalous sins, though men are not thoroughly converted and savingly
|
|
changed; for hereby we are kept from grieving those who are truly
|
|
serious and emboldening those who are openly profane; whereas, if we
|
|
run with others to the same excess of riot and abandon ourselves to the
|
|
sins of the age, we afflict and dishearten those who endeavour to walk
|
|
as becomes the gospel, and strengthen the hands of those who are
|
|
already engaged in open rebellion against the Most High, as well as
|
|
alienate ourselves more from God, and harden our hearts against him.
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> Some men are, for a time, <I>kept from the pollutions
|
|
of the world, by the knowledge of Christ,</I> who are not savingly
|
|
renewed in the spirit of their mind. A religious education has
|
|
restrained many whom the grace of God has not renewed: if we receive
|
|
the light of the truth, and have a notional knowledge of Christ in our
|
|
heads, it may be of some present service to us; but we must receive the
|
|
love of the truth, and hide God's word in our heart, or it will not
|
|
sanctify and save us. <I>Thirdly,</I> Those who have, for a time,
|
|
escaped the pollutions of the world, are at first ensnared and
|
|
entangled by false teachers, who first perplex men with some plausible
|
|
and specious objections against the truths of the gospel; and the more
|
|
ignorant and unstable are hereby made to stagger, and brought to
|
|
question the truth of doctrines they have received, because they cannot
|
|
solve all the difficulties, nor answer all the objections, that are
|
|
urged by these seducers. <I>Fourthly,</I> When men are once entangled,
|
|
they are easily overcome; therefore should Christians keep close to the
|
|
word of God, and watch against those who seek to perplex and bewilder
|
|
them, and that because, if men who have once <I>escaped are again
|
|
entangled, the latter end is worse with them than the
|
|
beginning.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. The apostle, in the
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+2:21,22">last two verses of the chapter</A>,
|
|
|
|
sets himself to prove that a state of apostasy is worse
|
|
than a state of ignorance; for it is a <I>condemning of the way of
|
|
righteousness,</I> after they have had some knowledge of it, and
|
|
expressed some liking to it; it carries in it a declaring that they
|
|
have found some iniquity in the way of righteousness and some falsehood
|
|
in the word of truth. Now to bring up such an evil report upon the good
|
|
way of God, and such a false charge against the way of truth, must
|
|
necessarily expose to the heaviest condemnation; the misery of such
|
|
deserters of Christ and his gospel is more unavoidable and more
|
|
intolerable than that of other offenders; for,
|
|
|
|
1. God is more highly provoked by those who by their conduct despise
|
|
the gospel, as well as disobey the law, and who reproach and pour
|
|
contempt upon God and his grace.
|
|
|
|
2. The devil more narrowly watches and more closely confines those whom
|
|
he has recovered, after they had once gone off from him and professed
|
|
to be the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+12:45">Matt. xii. 45</A>);
|
|
|
|
they are kept under a stronger guard, and no wonder it should be so
|
|
when they have licked up their own vomit again, returning to the same
|
|
errors and impieties that they had once cast off and seemed to detest
|
|
and loathe, and wallowing in that filthiness from which they appeared
|
|
once to be really cleansed. Well, if the scripture gives such an
|
|
account of Christianity on the one hand, and of sin on the other, as we
|
|
have here in
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+2:21,22">these two verses</A>,
|
|
|
|
we certainly ought highly to approve of the former and persevere
|
|
therein, because it is a way of righteousness, and a holy commandment,
|
|
and to loathe and keep at the greatest distance from the latter because
|
|
it is set forth as most offensive and abominable.</P>
|
|
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
|
|
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<HR>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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<TR>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC61001.HTM">Previous</A>]
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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