Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings. Sermons I. THE DISTINCTION IN HUMAN CHARACTER DRAWN BY THE LORD AND JUDGE OF MANKIND. Men discriminate often upon unsound principles, always with insufficient data. They are guided very much in their estimate of their fellow-men by such considerations as social position and social acceptableness. They cannot take into their deliberation the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hence the inadequacy of all human attempts to create a moral distinction among men. Now, according to St. Peter, our Divine Ruler distinguishes men into (1) the godly, or those animated by true piety, by a reverence for God's Law, and a responsive appreciation of God's love; and (2) the unjust, or those who have no respect for the law of rectitude, human or Divine. II. THE CORRESPONDING DISTINCTION OF TREATMENT ON THE PART OF THE LORD AND JUDGE OF MANKIND. 1. The godly are not exempted from temptation, but are delivered out of it. In illustration of this principle of the Divine government St. Peter refers to Noah, whose lot was cast in a generation of sinners and scoffers, but who was preserved from yielding to the evil solicitations to which he was exposed; and to Lot, who, though vexed with the lascivious life and lawless deeds of his wicked neighbours, was yet delivered from participation in their guilt and their doom. Certain it is that Divine providence allows the purest and the best to come into constant contact with the bond - slaves of sin, doubtless in order that their virtue may be tested and their character strengthened. But never does God abandon those who confide in his care, and who comply with his conditions of safety. The means by which he protects and delivers his own are known to himself, and he makes use of them in his own time. Thus, however formidable may be the temptations to which the godly are exposed, a way of escape is made for them, and they are delivered from the hand of the enemy. 2. The unrighteous cannot escape just retribution. It does not matter how high is their station, in what esteem they are held by their fellow-creatures, what is their power and their skill. All who defy and all who forget God must surely learn that they are subject to the control of infinite justice, administered by omnipotence. The apostle, in the context, adduces illustrations of retributive righteousness, and reminds his readers that the rebel angels were cast into Tartarus, that a flood was brought upon the ancient world of the ungodly, and that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were turned into ashes. For all impenitent sinners there is punishment, even here and now; and the Scriptures reveal the approach of a day of judgment in which God shall render to every man according to his works, and in which those who have exalted themselves against the holy Supreme shall awake to "shame and everlasting contempt." - J.R.T.
Them that walk after the flesh,... and despise government. Now from the thesis he accommodates the general doctrine to his own purpose. If God will take vengeance on all the wicked, let not these pernicious seducers think to escape.1. They follow "the flesh," not reason, much less the Spirit. 2. They "walk after" the flesh: the flesh is not like some stranger, whom they meet rarely; or some friend, whom they see but now and then; or a domestic companion, with whom they eat, drink, play, sleep. But it is their commander, whose colours they march under. It is the weight that sets all their wheels a-going; the horses that draw their chariot, the very life of their corruption, and corruption of their life, without which they do nothing. 3. "In the lust of uncleanness" — a sordid, irrational, stinking turpitude. After this the reprobate walks; his whole self, all the parts of him: his eyes walk after to look upon it; his ears walk after to hearken to it; his mouth walks after to talk of it; his feet walk after to pursue it; his hands stay not behind to act it; his heart is foremost of all to desire it. 4. Finally, whatsoever may cross their lusts, they set themselves to contemn. "Despise government." Not that Almighty Word which rules heaven and earth, but all the beams of God's omnipotent royalty, in His deputed magistracy. As if they resolved to disgrace that wherein God had imprinted the most immediate characters of His own supreme majesty. (Thos. Adams.) Presumptuous Presumption is a deliberate and wilful sinning against conscience, example, or warning.1. There be some that presume of safety in sin, not doubting to fare well, while they fear not to do ill: as if this world were to last for ever, and the corn and tares were never to be parted. 2. There be some that attempt things without warrant, or expect things without promise; this is the common presumption of the world. And they that know they cannot live without feeding, or change placer without moving, yet will hope to be saved without practical obedience. 3. There be some that take their salvation without all question, and are so sure of heaven that they never doubt the contrary; and this is presumption. Every good grace hath its counterfeit: if in the faithful there be a modest assurance of their blessedness in Christ, the carnal will be blown up with an impudent arrogance, as if their footing was as sure in heaven as any man's. That we may not be thus cozened, observe some differences between presumption and assurance.(1) Presumption is natural, assurance supernatural: we were born with that, we are new-born to this: that was the legacy of Adam, this of Christ.(2) Presumption submits not itself to ordinary means, assurance refuses no means of being made better.(3) Presumption is without all doubting, assurance feels many perplexities: he that doubts not of his estate, his estate is much to be doubted of.(4) Presumption is joined with looseness of life, persuasion with a tender conscience: that dares sin because it is sure, this dares not for fear of losing assurance. (Thos. Adams.) is a firework, made up of pride and foolhardiness. It is indeed like a heavy house built upon slender crutches; like dust, which men throw against the wind, it flies back in their face, and makes them blind. Wise men presume nothing, but hope the best; presumption is hope out of her wits.(Thos. Adams.) I heard the Hon. Thomas Marshall, of Kentucky, make a ten minutes' speech in Broadway Tabernacle, in which he said, "Were this great globe one chrysolite, and I offered the possession if I would drink one glass of brandy, I would refuse it with scorn; and ] want no religion, I want the temperance pledge." With that wonderful voice of his he thundered out, "We want no religion in this movement; let it be purely secular, and keep religion where it belongs." Poor Tom Marshall, with all his self-confidence, fell, and died at Poughkeepsie in clothes given him by Christian charity.(J. B. Gough.) The natural and unsanctified will of man is hard to tame. No prince can tame the will: he may load the body with irons, vex the sense with pains, yea, surcharge the affections with sorrows; yet still a man's will is his own: in his will he is a king, even while his body is below a slave. The will can make a man's life happy or wretched, when fortune cannot do it. The self-willed man needs no greater enemy than he is to himself.1. The malicious and spiteful (Numbers 16:3). 2. They that despair of proffered grace, and with both hands put back the proffered goodness of God. 3. Contemners of the Word (Hosea 8:12). 4. Blasphemers. (T. Adams.) The self-willed is a slave to the worst part of himself; that which is beast in him governs that which is man: appetite is his lord, reason his servant, religion his drudge, tits five senses are all the articles of his faith; and he had rather be a famous man upon earth than saint in heaven, lie likes nothing for any goodness, but because he will like it; and he will like it because others do not. If an unseasonable shower cross his recreation, he is ready to fall out with heaven, and to quarrel with God Himself, as if he were wronged because God did not take his time when to rain and when to shine. He is a querulous cur that barks at every horse; and in the silent night the very moonshine opens his clamorous throat. All his proceedings are so many precipices, and his attempts peremptory. He hath not the patience to consult with reason, but determines all merely by affection and fancy. There is no part about him but often smarts for his will. His sides be sore with stripes, and thank his will for it. His bowels are empty, and complain that his will robs them of sustenance. Yea, not seldom, his will breaks the covenant, and his neck pays the forfeit. He is the lawyer's best client, his own sycophant, and the devil's wax, to take what impression he will give him.(T. Adams.) Not afraid to speak evil of dignities In the discharging of this artillery of hell against the glories and powers which God has ordained, we may consider four particulars: the bullet, the musket, the powder, and the mark. The musket is the malice of the heart; the powder the spitefulness of the tongue; the bullet is blasphemy, disgracing of magistrates; the mark, or butt, is dignities,1. This piece is charged with three deadly bullets, libelling, murmuring, mutinying.(1) Libellers think it a point of wit to traduce magistracy. Scandals of great men have seldom any fathers; they kill, and make no report.(2) Murmurers, though they disperse not written scandals of the magistracy, yet mutter out repining exceptions against their actions.(3) Mutineers so speak evil of dignities that they raise up evil against dignities. He that poisons the people with a mal-opinion of their prince, is the most dangerous traitor. 2. The engine that carries this mischievous burden is the tongue. It flies lightly, but injures heavily. It is but a little member, but the nimblest about a man, able to do both body and soul a mischief. 3. The powder that chargeth the tongue, and carries this shot of blasphemy, must needs he malice, the saltpetre of a rancorous hatred. 4. The butts at which this pestilent artillery lets fly the apostle calls dignities, glories. God hath not only set them as vicegerents in His own room, but also enabled them with gifts for so great a design-ment. Good kings are no ordinary blessings: a worthy general is worth half an army; such as Moses and Joshua were, whose faith fought more for the camp than the camp fought for them. Inferences:(1) Glories they are, why then should they not be glorious? Let their pomp, apparel, diet, dwelling, all be magnificent; let nothing be wanting to their state upon whom depends the state of all.(2) Dignities they are, therefore should be worthy — (a) (b) (T. Adams.) People Balaam, Beor, Bosor, Noah, Noe, PeterPlaces Asia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, Galatia, Gomorrah, Pontus, SodomTopics TRUE, Afraid, Angelic, Arrogant, Authority, Behind, Beings, Bold, Celestial, Chances, Chiefly, Control, Corrupt, Craving, Daring, Defilement, Defiling, Desire, Desires, Despise, Despising, Dignitaries, Dignities, Dominion, Especially, Evil, Fear, Flesh, Follow, Fool-hardy, Glorious, Government, Indulge, Injuriously, Lordship, Lust, Majesties, Nature, Ones, Passion, Places, Polluted, Presumptuous, Rail, Ready, Revile, Saying, Scorning, Self-complacent, Selfwilled, Self-willed, Sensuality, Sinful, Slander, Speak, Speaking, Specially, Sport, Tremble, Unclean, Uncleanness, Uncontrolled, Walk, WilfulOutline 1. Peter warns of false teachers, showing the impiety and punishment both of them and their followers;7. from which the godly shall be delivered, as Lot was out of Sodom; 10. and more fully describes the manners of those profane and blasphemous seducers. Dictionary of Bible Themes 2 Peter 2:10 5818 contempt Library The Owner and his Slaves'Denying the Lord that bought them.'--2 Peter ii. 1. The institution of slavery was one of the greatest blots on ancient civilisation. It was twice cursed, cursing both parties, degrading each, turning the slave into a chattel, and the master, in many cases, into a brute. Christianity, as represented in the New Testament, never says a word to condemn it, but Christianity has killed it. 'Make the tree good and its fruit good.' Do not aim at institutions, change the people that live under them and … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John Exhortations to Christians as they are Children of God How those are to be Admonished who Abstain not from the Sins which they Bewail, and those Who, Abstaining from Them, Bewail them Not. What is to be Said of the Sea of Apamia. Perseverance of Saints. Of Councils and their Authority. As Many as were Called by Grace, and Displayed the First Zeal... Meditations on the Hindrances which Keep Back a Sinner from the Practice of Piety. The Christian Convert Warned Of, and Animated against those Discouragements which He must Expect to Meet when Entering on a Religious Course. Believe and be Saved A Preliminary Discourse to Catechising The Catholic Epistles. Authenticity and Credibility of the Pentateuch. The Barren Fig-Tree; Testimonies. How those are to be Admonished who do not Even Begin Good Things, and those who do not Finish them when Begun. The First Wall. They Shall be Called the Children of God Under the Shepherd's Care. Of the Matters to be Considered in the Councils. Education of Jesus. The Tests of Love to God Epistle Xlv. To Theoctista, Patrician . Links 2 Peter 2:10 NIV2 Peter 2:10 NLT 2 Peter 2:10 ESV 2 Peter 2:10 NASB 2 Peter 2:10 KJV 2 Peter 2:10 Bible Apps 2 Peter 2:10 Parallel 2 Peter 2:10 Biblia Paralela 2 Peter 2:10 Chinese Bible 2 Peter 2:10 French Bible 2 Peter 2:10 German Bible 2 Peter 2:10 Commentaries Bible Hub |