Second Epistle of Peter
DOGS AND SWINE
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 2:21 (KJV)
This verse is an enlargement of the thought expressed in the last part of verse 20, "the latter end is worse with them than the beginning." One might be excused for not walking in the right way, when he does not know it, but when he knows it there is no excuse for not walking in it. Ignorance can be a bad thing, but disobedience is always worse.
"it had been better"
Peter is writing about those who had been raised in darkness and sin, or perhaps ceremonial Judaism. Because of hearing the Gospel, these had left their errors and had embraced Christianity as their system of religion, but now had turned aside to believe error and to live licentious lives. He said it would have been better for them never to have heard the truth at all, than to so turn away from it. In the first place, their knowing the truth made their responsibility greater and their judgment more severe. Secondly, when a person lives a sinful life no one notices or cares, but the moment one makes a profession of Christianity, be it ever so faulty, it brings reproach on the name of Christ and His people.
The Lord Jesus testifies everywhere to this same truth. He says, "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin, but now have they no cloke for their sin" (John
15:22). "And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes" (Luke 12:47, 48). In Matthew 11:20-24 the Lord pronounces woes on Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, because He had done many of His mighty works there, but they repented not. He said it would be more tolerable for the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for them. How terrible will the judgment be for those who know the way, and profess to be on the way, and yet believe in unrestrained wickedness.
"the way of righteousness"
"The way of righteousness" is the way of Christ. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). From then on Christianity is often called "the way;" nine times we have it in the book of Acts (9:2, etc.). Paul says, "I persecuted this way unto death" (Acts 22:4). Peter uses it three times in this chapter. In 2:2, Peter calls it "the way of truth," in 2:15 "the right way," and in our verse "the way of righteousness." These false teachers of our chapter were making Christianity the way of lust, revelry, and covetousness, but Peter calls it "the way of righteousness." These men knew "the way of righteousness," but they did not love it and did not walk in it. "In the way of righteousness is life" (Prov. 12:28), but not in "the way of unrighteousness."
"turn from the holy commandment"
There is something dreadfully wrong when one turns from the right way to walk in the ways of sin. When we turn away from the Lord, we thereby leave the impression that there is something wrong or weak about Christianity, and so bring reproach on the name of the Lord. This is truly a serious thing. "But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously...the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people" (Num. 15:30). "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
"holy commandment"
When Peter uses the expression "holy commandment" he is giving a terse description of Christianity. Some seem to think that every time the Scriptures speak of law or commandment, it refers to the Ten Commandments. Of course, this is not so. Paul speaks of seven different laws in the book of Romans. Anything the Lord demands of us can be spoken of as a commandment.
The "holy commandment" spoken of here speaks of trusting and obeying Christ and, as a result, living for Him. The Lord is highly displeased with those of us who show disrespect for His Gospel and refuse to walk in ways of obedience to Him. Peter calls this commandment a "holy commandment," but these false teachers acted as though Christianity was an unholy commandment. Both expressions, "the way of righteousness," and "holy commandment" condemn the unrighteous and unholy ways of these men. They were neither righteous, nor holy, nor obedient as the word "commandment" demands. May we not only trust and obey Him for salvation, but as a consequence, live righteous, clean, and obedient lives to His glory and praise.
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 2:22 (KJV)
In this verse Peter brings in a couple of Proverbs to drive home his point. He likens these sinful leaders to dogs and swine. Either of these terms would be very insulting to a Jew. He makes it even more insulting by likening them to dogs returning to their vomit and sows washed turning to wallowing in the mire.
"the true proverb"
Peter quotes two proverbs, one taken from the book of Proverbs, the other from the speech of his day. A proverb is a short pithy statement packed with truth. Both of these proverbs graphically fit this description. The first one is found in Proverbs 26:11, "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly." Peter quotes from the book of
Proverbs often showing that he was well acquainted with the Hebrew Bible (1 Pet. 1:7; 2:17; 4:8; 4:18). Both of these proverbs picture a greed for filth, which was true of these false teachers.
"the dog"
In the Orient, dogs are not often tamed or brought into the home as pets. Most run wild and are considered vile and unclean. When tamed and properly cared for, dogs prove to be friendly and loyal animals, but in the East they are mostly fierce and greedy. With them it is a fight for existence. The Israelite was not allowed to bring the price of a dog into the house of the Lord, because a dog was an abomination to the Lord (Deut. 23:18). Goliath says to David, "Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?" (1 Sam. 17:43). When one called himself a dog, he was taking the lowest of the low places. Mephibosheth took that place before David (2 Sam. 9:8) and the Syrophenician woman, before Christ (Matt. 15:27). To be called a dog by another was considered highly insulting. Both of these proverbs in our verse must have stung these false teachers to the quick.
"turned to his own vomit again"
The sight of a dog devouring his own vomit is not as prevalent here as in the Orient. In the Orient they are not well cared for and are often hungry. They live mostly on garbage. Occasionally the time comes when they can get an abundance of food. Then they are apt to be greedy and eat too much, which may incite vomiting. It is then that in their greed will devour their own vomit.
In what way does this picture the men condemned in our chapter? They had disgorged the vile things of the world, but now, under the guise of Christian liberty, they were returning to their old sinful lusts. Peter says this is as disgusting as a dog returning to his own vomit.
In the Word of God, a Christian is often likened to sheep, but never to a dog or sow. These are unclean animals, but a Christian has been cleansed by the precious blood of Christ (1 John 1:7). That is why Peter's words are so powerful and meaningful. He writes about some who apparently were cleansed for a time, but the very fact they soon returned to vile sin, demonstrates that they probably never really changed into new creatures in their hearts. Even today, some for a time seem reformed, but the fact that they soon slip back into sin does indicate that they never were truly transformed. Of course, it is possible for even a strong Christian to sin, still, a Christian who loves God and desires to walk close to Him will not stay in sin, but will repent and return to God as soon as possible.
"the sow that was washed"
The sow was an unclean animal to the Jew. He utterly detested the animal and would never eat its flesh. When the Lord would picture one who had fallen to the very basest condition, he pictures him as tending swine and thus so destitute that he eats the swine's food (Luke 15:15, 16). Hogs are not only unclean and love the mud, they are also greedy.
Did you ever see them at the feeding trough, squealing and fighting for the greatest share of food? Call someone a hog and everyone knows what you mean. How appropriate to call these covetous teachers sows. Another thing, a hog is always rooting in the ground, like a covetous man whose whole ambition is earthly.
"to her wallowing in the mire"
The washing of a hog is entirely external and in no way changes its nature. A hog is just as much a sow after washing as before. Unless its nature is changed there is nothing to keep a hog from returning to the mud just as soon as it has opportunity. It is a sinner's nature to sin and one may for a time reform, but unless a person receives a new nature by obeying the Gospel of Christ, he/she will again return to sin. Some believe that to reform a little and then "join" a church will guarantee them a place in heaven. This is a fatal mistake; one must receive a new life from the Lord and be completely washed by the blood of Christ before he is fit for heaven. Plus, it is the Lord who adds to His church (Acts 2:47), not a membership roll of some organized, man-made religion.
"For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now retuneth unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Pet. 2:25). The sow returns to the mire, but the sheep to the shepherd.
The reformed sinner often slips into sin, but those who are saved, who have been washed in the blood of Christ, return to the Savior. If these men had been faithful and followed the nature of sheep instead of sows and dogs, they never would have returned to their mire. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish" (John 10:27, 28). Sometimes the sheep may wander a bit, but if we allow Him, He will always bring us back.
