2 Peter 2:12-22 ESV

(12) But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and
destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be
destroyed in their destruction,
(13) suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in
the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they
feast with you.
(14) They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They
have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!
(15) Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of
Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing,
(16) but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with
human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.
(17) These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of
utter darkness has been reserved.
(18) For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh
those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.
(19) They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For
whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
(20) For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and
overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
(21) For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of
righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment
delivered to them.
(22) What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The dog returns to its own
vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire."

Peter now let’s us know what he really thinks about false teachers! He speaks in vs 12 of
“brute beasts” or as the ESV has it “irrational animals” and then later uses the example of
Balaam’s donkey who at least had the sense to let God speak through him.

In verse 13, he says they are so blatant that they sin in the daytime, when most sinners at
least wait until dark. The word riot (KJV) or revel(ESV) is:

G5172 – riot, revel

Τρυφη truphē
Thayer Definition:
1) softness, effeminate, luxurious living

As opposed to men who have strong muscles and callused hands from work, these are
soft men, who don’t work but rather live off of others.

G539 - deceivings
απατη
apatē ; of unc. or.; deceit: - deceit (1), deceitfulness (3), deception (2), deceptions (1).
Peter chooses an interesting word here – apate before the feast while Paul in 1
Corinthians refers to a love feast (agape). The implication being their love is deceitful, or
a lie. They don’t really love – it’s all just a sham.

Hearts trained in greed – they actually study how to get the most out of their followers.
They train and practice to rip people off.

G1128 - exercised
γυμναζω
gumnazō ; from G1131; to exercise naked, to train: - discipline (1), trained (3).

G4124 – covetous practices

πλεονεξια
pleonexia; from G4123; advantage, covetousness: - covetousness (1), deeds of coveting (1),
greed (7), greediness (1).

An heart they have exercised with covetous practices - Skilled in the arts which
covetous men adopt in order to cheat others out of their property. A leading purpose
which influenced these men was to obtain money. One of the most certain ways for
dishonest men to do this is to make use of the religious principle; to corrupt and control
the conscience; to make others believe that they are eminently holy, or that they are the
special favorites of heaven; and when they can do this, they have the purses of others at
command. For the religious principle is the most powerful of all principles; and he who
can control that, can control all that a man possesses. The idea here is that these
persons had made this their study, and had learned the ways in which men could be
induced to part with their money under religious pretences. We should always be on our
guard when professedly religious teachers propose to have much to do with money
matters. While we should always be ready to aid every good cause, yet we should
remember that unprincipled and indolent men often assume the mask of religion that
they may practice their arts on the credulity of others, and that their real aim is to obtain
their property, not to save their souls. Barnes

Balaam – who was willing to prophesy for money but God prevented him from speaking
against the children of Israel. After the famous incident of “not cursing what God had
blessed” he went on to encourage intercultural marriages and so weakened the children of
Israel.

2:15, 16 The false teachers resemble Balaam (Num. 22:5–24:25). Balaam loved
money and immorality and was willing to pursue these instead of obeying God. The false
teachers have left the biblical way and followed Balaam’s error. Like Balaam, who was
rebuked by the animal, the false teachers demonstrate less spiritual perception than
animals.
2:17 The analogies show that false teachers offer nothing because they have nothing
to offer.
Believer’s Study Bible
2:17 wells without water. Just as water sustains physical life, so true spiritual teaching
nourishes spiritual life (Prov. 13:14; John 4:13–15)—a vivid image in a culture where
water was a treasured resource. Like the dry well that only disappoints the thirsty (Jer.
14:3), the false teachers can only deceive and disappoint. New Geneva study Bible

Have you ever gone to a service only to leave feeling empty? There was lot’s of noise,
lot’s of shouting and lot’s of “amens” but nothing happened? There was no food offered
from the Scriptures to fill the emptiness. Only what is real can satisfy.

1. As wells, or fountains, without water. 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. Matthew Henry's
commentary

Peter’s condemnation is reserved for the false teachers not those who are beguiled by
them. “They entice unsteady souls” should be a warning to all of us to ground ourselves
in the word of God and not to be led astray by false teachers.

2:20 The false teachers, having experienced the cleansing power of Christ, are now
rejecting Him. Hence, they have returned to their former corrupt life-style and are worse
off than they were before. Believers who fall into apostasy by deliberately rejecting the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are in a more tragic position than unconverted
pagans (see Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26).
Spirit filled life study Bible

Many of the commentaries debate whether this last section implies that these false
teachers are really Christians who have fallen or whether their conversions were false to
begin with. Only God knows the inner state of man and whether or not he was “really”
saved. I do know the judgment against teachers is far greater for they are entrusted with
the gift of helping people see the truth.

Peter didn’t tiptoe around this idea of false teachers – he came right out and denounced
them strongly. Neither should we be intimidated by someone just because they are rich
or well known. Every Christian is a priest unto God and we all have a copy of the
Scriptures to read for ourselves (we in the Western world). We are not like those of the
Dark Ages who had to trust their priest to teach them correctly. We are to be like the
Bereans who were noble.

Acts 17:11 ESV

(11) Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the
word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were
so.