2 Peter 2:10b-16
Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,
11: whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord.
12: But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed,
13: suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you,
14: having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, 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 continued his thoughts on the punishment reserved in the day of judgement, especially for those who indulge in corrupt fleshly desires and despise authority. He further described them as those who are daring, self-willed, and do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties--they are not afraid to speak against authority.
Paul used angels as an example and explained that even the ones who remained in the presence of the Lord did not bring “a reviling judgment” against the fallen angels. The fallen angels, even Satan himself, still had a trace of their former power and glory, so even the “good” angels did not criticize or insult them. Michael the archangel did not dare to pronounce a judgment on the devil when disputing about the body of Moses. Instead, he said, “The Lord rebuke you,” (Jude 8-10).
Neither should believers reject authority—the very concept of it—nor should we criticize or try to pronounce judgement where have no business doing so. These false teachers who will come in subtly to oppose the Lord with destructive teachings, will speak against things they have no knowledge about—acting more like unreasoning animals. They criticize what they don’t understand. They don’t know what they’re talking about and will end up bringing destruction on themselves. As creatures of instinct born to be captured and killed, they will also be destroyed.
Peter went on about these ones—they celebrate with the believers but are stained and blemished. They drink and get drunk looking for adulterous relationships. They entice the unstable ones. Their hearts are “trained in greed.” Even Paul rebuked the Corinthians for bringing shame to their gatherings of the Lord’s Supper—regarding those who came to just eat and drink (1 Corinthians 11:17-22). Jude called them “hidden reefs” in their love feasts. Peter called them accursed children who had forsaken the right way and followed the way of Balaam—a prophet who tried to curse Israel but couldn’t, and was even rebuked by a donkey for trying to (Numbers 22-24).
Balaam, however, realized the only way to bring a curse on Israel was to entice them with fleshly lust and idolatry so they’d bring the curse upon themselves. He taught this to Balak, the one who hired him to curse Israel (Revelation 2:14, Numbers 25).
When one is led by lust and greed, opposing God’s way in their heart, corrupting others in the process, enticing them to follow their way, they are clueless as to the destruction they are bringing on themselves. This is the same as opposing God Himself who is unseen in the physical realm but is no less real. It is an opposition to God, and the authority He has over everything. By willfully engaging in sinful behavior, one denies, or rebels against, the authority God has over them.
The authority of God is not to be denied. In fact, even the devil and the fallen angels who themselves oppose God, still, as creations of God, have enough of God’s authoritative positioning in them that we need to be careful how we address them. If we rebel against the authority of God—even if that authority has turned against Him—we are in danger of bringing destruction to ourselves. We need to be mindful and respectful of any positions of authority God has established—angelic or human. We need to learn more about the actual authority God has given us, His church and the governing authority He's given us in the earth, so we do not overstep, or fall short of, the authority we have been given in Christ.
***
Peter continued his thoughts on the punishment reserved in the day of judgement, especially for those who indulge in corrupt fleshly desires and despise authority. He further described them as those who are daring, self-willed, and do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties--they are not afraid to speak against authority.
Paul used angels as an example and explained that even the ones who remained in the presence of the Lord did not bring “a reviling judgment” against the fallen angels. The fallen angels, even Satan himself, still had a trace of their former power and glory, so even the “good” angels did not criticize or insult them. Michael the archangel did not dare to pronounce a judgment on the devil when disputing about the body of Moses. Instead, he said, “The Lord rebuke you,” (Jude 8-10).
Neither should believers reject authority—the very concept of it—nor should we criticize or try to pronounce judgement where have no business doing so. These false teachers who will come in subtly to oppose the Lord with destructive teachings, will speak against things they have no knowledge about—acting more like unreasoning animals. They criticize what they don’t understand. They don’t know what they’re talking about and will end up bringing destruction on themselves. As creatures of instinct born to be captured and killed, they will also be destroyed.
Peter went on about these ones—they celebrate with the believers but are stained and blemished. They drink and get drunk looking for adulterous relationships. They entice the unstable ones. Their hearts are “trained in greed.” Even Paul rebuked the Corinthians for bringing shame to their gatherings of the Lord’s Supper—regarding those who came to just eat and drink (1 Corinthians 11:17-22). Jude called them “hidden reefs” in their love feasts. Peter called them accursed children who had forsaken the right way and followed the way of Balaam—a prophet who tried to curse Israel but couldn’t, and was even rebuked by a donkey for trying to (Numbers 22-24).
Balaam, however, realized the only way to bring a curse on Israel was to entice them with fleshly lust and idolatry so they’d bring the curse upon themselves. He taught this to Balak, the one who hired him to curse Israel (Revelation 2:14, Numbers 25).
When one is led by lust and greed, opposing God’s way in their heart, corrupting others in the process, enticing them to follow their way, they are clueless as to the destruction they are bringing on themselves. This is the same as opposing God Himself who is unseen in the physical realm but is no less real. It is an opposition to God, and the authority He has over everything. By willfully engaging in sinful behavior, one denies, or rebels against, the authority God has over them.
The authority of God is not to be denied. In fact, even the devil and the fallen angels who themselves oppose God, still, as creations of God, have enough of God’s authoritative positioning in them that we need to be careful how we address them. If we rebel against the authority of God—even if that authority has turned against Him—we are in danger of bringing destruction to ourselves. We need to be mindful and respectful of any positions of authority God has established—angelic or human. We need to learn more about the actual authority God has given us, His church and the governing authority He's given us in the earth, so we do not overstep, or fall short of, the authority we have been given in Christ.
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