Second Epistle of Peter
WELLS WITHOUT WATER
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 2:17 (KJV)
In this verse, Peter likens false teachers to wells without water, and clouds driven with a tempest bringing no rain. They are as empty and useless to humanity as a dry pit in a hot barren desert. He also pronounces their eternal doom in the blackness of darkness.
"wells without water"
"Wells" would be better translated "springs" (R.V.), or "fountains." Wells were dug by man, but fountains and springs were natural sources of water; a great blessing to the land of Palestine. For the most part, the climate was hot and dry and the people depended on springs for their water supply. Picture a tired traveler, thirsty and hot, coming to a well or spring only to find it dry. Instead of helping him, it would aggravate his troubles.
Wells and springs of water in the Bible are always emblematic of blessing and refreshment. In Isaiah 55:1 we read, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters."
"With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation" (Is. 12:3). "The well-spring of wisdom as a flowing brook" (Prov. 18:4). The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life" (Prov. 10:11). At Jacob's well the Lord Jesus says to the Samaritan woman "whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst" (John 4:13, 14).
Spiritually this world is a desert place. There is nothing in it to satisfy the human heart. Wealth, fame, pleasure – all turn out to be wells without water. Many slave for a lifetime to fulfill an aim or ambition only to find upon realization that it does not satisfy the cravings of the human heart.
What a sad thing to find one turning to religion for satisfaction, only to find that those who dispense it are also wells without water. Some today, like those whom Peter condemns in our chapter, profess to have what a thirsty soul needs, but dispense only things which leave one empty and dry. Instead of dispensing the Word of God, with Christ as their main theme, they spread man's notions and even plain falsehoods.
There are a growing number of cults in the world which teach unscriptural and in some cases unholy theories, which bring only sorrow and disappointment to those who are enmeshed in their ways. Nothing short of Christ in the soul can give peace and victory over sin. How sad to think that many will find themselves outside at last, dupes of wicked men, fit only for the judgment of God. How severe will be the judgment of those who profess to be guides and teachers, who should dispense blessing and refreshment, but who belie their character and bring only disappointment and death. How thankful we should be, who have been led to know that Christ is the dispenser of the water of life and have come to Him for salvation and blessing. Let those who seek to serve Him in any capacity be sure to be wells well-fitted with pure water of life.
"clouds...carried with a tempest"
"Clouds that are carried with a tempest" reflects the utter emptiness and uselessness of these false teachers. These Eastern lands often need rain badly. Clouds on the horizon fill hearts with hope. How sad when a strong wind arises and blows these clouds away and the land remains dry and parched. Sometimes these tempests not only drive away the clouds, but damage the crops and occasionally blow down buildings. How sad when those who should dispense salvation and blessing, bring nothing but dearth and damage. May those who profess to be the servants of the Lord, spread the blessed Gospel into dry places.
These men were as clouds driven before a storm. They had no settled position or principles; driven first this way and then that according to their own lust and covetousness. Sorry to say, there were those ready to be driven by them. "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Eph. 4:14).
"midst of darkness"
"Mist of darkness" is literally, "thick gloom of darkness." Jude calls it "the blackness of darkness" (Jude 13). No doubt, these false teachers will at last find themselves in the same pit of darkness reserved for fallen angels (2 Pet. 2:4). The word "reserved" tells us that this place of outer darkness is held in readiness to receive these wicked men. This great and terrible prison house was originally built for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41), but will eventually house all who in disobedience refuse the Lord's mercy through Christ. This blackness of darkness is surely a place to be avoided at all costs.
"for ever"
The words "for ever" at the end of the verse put the clinching argument to the awfulness of this place. Those who find themselves there will be utterly hopeless in the awfulness of their position. The sinner in this scene may yet find mercy by fleeing to Christ. Only those who persist in their rebellion and rejection of Christ will find themselves in this awful place. Just as surely as there is an eternal heaven for those who trust and obey Christ, there is an eternal hell for those who persist in their sin and refusal of Him.
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 2:18 (KJV)
Here we are told of some poor souls who have been led out of the evil practices and idolatry of heathenism or the errors of ceremonial Judaism, only to be ensnared by the false teaching of a perverted Christianity. False teachers misled them by wonderful oratory and a promise of unrestrained liberty in immoral living.
"great swelling words of vanity"
These false teachers used "great swelling words of vanity", like a balloon filled only with hot air. They probably had wonderful diction and positively spoke and no doubt presented themselves as having great learning and wisdom, making great claims like Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9). Like Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4:30), boasting of their superior knowledge and great accomplishments. They could talk of their perverted beliefs as though they were the only things of importance. Truth does not need long sermons to substantiate it; but in order to deceive, error must have many and noisy words. At Ephesus the idolatrous people cried out for about two hours, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians" (Acts 19:34).
"words of vanity"
Error is like a rotten house which needs many props to hold it up. The false teachers made plenty of noise, but their words were empty and lacked sense.
"they allure"
If it were only a matter of empty or vain words it would be bad enough, but these were words designed to allure the weak and unlearned into sin. These men were like hunters setting definite traps to catch the unwary. Their words were not words of ignorance, but deliberately deceitful in order to bring advantage to self at the expense of others. Some men develop great skill in promoting error and are unspeakably dangerous to young and not firmly grounded Christians. False cults are constantly on the lookout for those whom they may lead astray, those who only make a profession to Christianity. It should be pointed out that many who preach false doctrine have been raised from their youth to follow a certain religious concept and once the decision is made to preach, usually it is for the religious persuasion of youth, thus leading the young man to religious colleges known for teaching that particular form of religious doctrine. Over the years, such colleges become more and more accepted by the world as places of higher learning and if a young man comes from one of them, he is usually accepted by the world as a trained preacher and thus, after years and years of this procedure, we have hundreds of false doctrines being preached. We simply need to return to the Word of God and make sure everything we do and say is backed up with a "Thus saith the Lord."
"through the lusts of the flesh"
The appeal of these false teachers to the weak and unstable was this: it was consistent with Christian liberty to sin to their heart's content. This license suits the natural man and so they had great success, especially with those who knew nothing of the new life in Christ. The natural man of every generation likes an easy religion which puts no check on morals.
"wantonness"
These men not only taught that it was not wrong to live in lust, they practiced it themselves. No doubt with fair speeches and perverted religious arguments they betrayed and seduced some fine young women. This they did to satisfy their own corrupt passions and at the same time to gain money and followers (See v. 14).
True Christianity does not give license to immoral living, but rather brings the animal nature into subjection. Paul says, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection" (1
Cor. 9:27). Again, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation bath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11, 12). "Let us walk honestly, as is the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Rom. 13:13, 14). Let us always be on guard against any professed teacher who makes light of sin. A true servant of Christ will surely preach self-denial and the restraining of lust.
"clean escaped"
"Clean escaped" has been variously translated. The Revised Version gives it, "just escaping." Some make it "about escaped." "Really escaped," is perhaps the most exact translation. What had these ensnared ones previously escaped? As we noticed, in connection with 1 Peter 1:1, etc., many of those to whom Peter was writing were brought out of sin and darkness. Perhaps some had also escaped from Jewish ritualism. They heard the Gospel and saw that their idolatry was wrong. Before they were really brought to know Christ as Savior, or at least before they were firmly established in the truth, wicked perverts got hold of them and led them into corruption almost equally serious as that from which they had escaped; perhaps even into worse sin than they had ever indulged. They fled into a home from a lion in the streets, where they thought they were safe, only there to be bitten by a serpent lurking in the shadows.
Some become concerned about their sinful condition. They look for help from some religious system or cult. They are ready to do any manner of penance, or go through any required ceremony. As time goes on, they discover that there is no power in their religion and perhaps the leaders do not live clean lives themselves. Soon they are back into a life of sin.
It is one thing to accept Christianity as a system and quite another to really trust and obey Christ as Savior. Those who only have a form of Christianity are quickly and easily led astray into some other system, or even back into sin. How sad to think that there were and are religious leaders who not only deceive people with false doctrine, but actually encourage by lip and practice a life of sin. Such deserve the severe punishment our chapter indicates will be their lot.
