2 Peter 2:10-13
The Payment for Pride
Our Lord told us, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-16). And here the Apostle Peter, continuing his discussion about the false teachers, agrees with his Lord’s words. So, what are those rotten fruits?
Today, we take up only one but it is at the head of all sin: Pride, which manifests itself in contempt of others. Pride is the first of the “seven deadly sins.” And here we have a passage that shows the arrogance of the false teachers in a very odd way. Apparently, these men had a habit of “blasphem[ing] the glorious ones.” Scholars disagree as to exactly who these glorious ones were but most are of the opinion (and I agree) that they are fallen angels. Perhaps these false teachers were warned that if they did not repent of their evil ways that they would fall into the snare of the devil (2 Timothy 2:24-26; WBC, 261-62). In hearing this, they responded with typical arrogance and, in effect, were daring the demons to harm them. Or perhaps as false teachers they simply became involved with the occult. Either way, such impudence on their part was justly condemned given the fact that even the righteous angels do not speak against them before the Lord, not from fear of them (far be it) but because they are reserved in “chains of gloomy darkness” for judgment by the One who is the Judge.
But Peter goes on saying that these are so ignorant and full of insolence that they are no better than irrational animals behaving as creatures of instinct. There comes a point where one’s pride blinds him so even to obvious matters that he renders himself utterly stupid. They are so foolish that they are unaware of their ignorance, speaking in contempt as if everything were beneath them when everything is far above. And for this they are destroyed “suffering wrong as the wage of their wrongdoing.” The penalty for sin is always sin itself, the blindness it causes, the hard-heartedness, and, yes, the ignorance. Sin only leads to more sin—a slavery that no man can break and which must lead to death (John 8:34; Romans 6:23).
Mark that teacher who exhibits such rotten fruit. Avoid him. But be sure to check that you are not judging him from a spirit of pride within yourself. There are other rotten fruits which we shall “sample” tomorrow. And if these coincide, well then, act accordingly. You do not need this kind of influence in your life or your church.
