- 2 Peter 2:6-10
- 2 Pet 2:6 (KJB)
- And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned
them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto
those that after should live ungodly;
-
- Condemned - Passed sentence on or judgment against
- Overthrow - Destruction or catastrophe
-
- Here Peter gives an example of the reality that someday God will bring
upon the entire world.
(Jude 1:7 KJV)
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving
themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth
for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Sodom and Gomorrha were two vile cities permeated by
Sodomites. Their satanic lifestyle caused God to judge them with a
fierceness that came fast and furious. In Jude 1:7 the Scripture teaches
that these two cities suffered the vengeance of eternal fire. This term
“eternal” is used to typify the future punishment of the unsaved in eternal
hell. Sodom and Gomorrha were never to rise again from the ashes. God showed
that sometimes His judgment comes fast and sometimes he delays it but no
matter, it will come.
-
- 2 Pet 2:7 (KJB)
- And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy
conversation of the wicked:
- Just - Righteous, right, or upright
- Vexed - Distress, oppress, or harass
- Filthy - Lawless, unprincipled, or licentiousness
- Conversation - Conduct
-
- Lot was a saved man who was vexed with all the sin in Sodom and
Gomorrha. This is how a true Christian should feel if they find themselves
among the ungodly. Lot probably tried to evangelize this city but it was to
no avail because apparently there were no elect in it. Lot had made one big
mistake when he negotiated with Abraham where he could water his flocks and
that was he pitched his tent toward Sodom.
(Gen 13:12 KJV) Abram dwelled in the land of
Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his
tent toward Sodom. As Christians we must never
play with sin or even attempt to get close to it because eventually we can
become involved in the very thing we hate. We have been delivered from the
world system and we must never make an attempt to pitch our tents toward
anything sinful.
-
- 2 Pet 2:8 (KJB)
- (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing,
vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful
deeds;)
-
- Lot had not just been a shepherd outside the city walls but he
apparently moved in to the city. Maybe at first it was to do business where
he may have sold some of his flocks but eventually he moved into the city
and out of his tent. While living in the city, he was both and eye and ear
witness to the evil which permeated those cities. It looks like Lot had gone
from pitching his tent toward Sodom to actually living inside the city
walls. This is why his righteous soul was vexed. The word “vexed” also
carries with it the meaning of “wear out.” This is what sin does when it is
confronted day after day. It wears out the Saints and causes us to become
weary and weak in our Christian walk. This is why God warns us to not even
be associated with the “appearance of evil.” If we play with sin, then we
may wind up like Lot, being vexed in our soul and it will affect others.
Lot’s wife had looked back toward Sodom when God explicitly commanded them
not to and she turned into a pillar of salt. So when Lot pitched his tent
toward Sodom, I don’t think he realized that it would affect his whole
family. As we Christians go through this world, we will see many things
which will vex us and we must never desire those things nor seek to get
close to them. It will not only affect us but those around us too.
-
- 2 Pet 2:9 (KJB)
- The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,
and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be
punished:
-
- Deliver - Save or rescue
- Temptations - Testing or experience
- Reserve - Guard, hold in reserve, or keep
- Unjust - Unrighteous
-
- Sometimes when a Christian gets themselves into a situation that they do
not know how to get out of, the Lord will know how to deliver the godly out
of testing. Sometimes He will deliver us but it will not be according to our
liking. I am sure Lot had no idea that he would lose his wife as a long term
result of pitching his tent toward Sodom. The second half of this verse
teaches us that the wicked will not escape punishment. If wicked people
attempt to get a Christian to sin against God, they will not go unpunished
for this deed. God will keep in reserve those who are the unsaved and they
will stand for judgment on the last day. They will be judged for their sins
and will be cast into eternal Hell. This is why Peter brought up the example
of Sodom and Gomorrha, as they suffered by fire so will the unbeliever after
they are judged.
-
- 2 Pet 2:10 (KJB)
- But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of
uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are
they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of
dignities.
-
- Chiefly - Especially, most of all, or particularly
- Uncleanness - Pollution, corruption or defilement
- Despise - Think against
- Presumptuous - One who is bold or audacious
- Selfwilled -Arrogant or self-pleasing
- To speak evil - Blasphemies
- Dignities - Fame, renown, or honor
-
- Peter may have in view the false teachers here because he is naming sins
that are prominent among those who seek to foster rebellion among the people
to gain a following. The false teachers never have the spiritual good of the
people in their thoughts, instead they walk after the flesh because they are
unsaved. Their understanding is darkened. The word for uncleanness in the
Greek is “miasmos” where we get the English term “miasmic .” It carries with
it the meaning of “a heavy vapor or emanation” which can blot out light or
the sun. So the false teachers walk around in darkness. They are extremely
arrogant and audacious and they have no fear in speaking evil about not only
political entities but also spiritual entities like the church and its
leaders. The goal of the false teacher is to draw as many people as they can
away from the truth and bring them under their authority so they can become
their leader. Power is a craving that these false teachers have. When one is
a false teacher and pretends to be a faithful teacher of Scripture, they are
very dangerous as they pretend they have great insight into Scripture but
basically their interpretation of Scripture only tends to bring the
followers back to them for the next interpretation. This is how the cults
operate, in that all the followers have to wait for the next teaching by
their leader.
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