MARKED MEN: Their Reviling (2 Peter 2:10–12)

God has established authority in this world, and when we resist authority, we are resisting God. Parents are to have authority over their children and employers over their employees. As citizens, we Christians should pray for those in authority, show respect to them, and seek to glorify God in our behavior. The picture here is of proud people who try to build themselves up while they try to tear down everybody else. They show no respect for authority and are not afraid to attack and defame people in high positions.

I. The reason for their reviling (v. 10).

10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,

A.One word gives the reason: flesh.

The depraved nature of man does not want to submit to any kind of authority. “Do your own thing!” is its insistent message, and many people follow it. The important thing, according to today’s culture is to take care of yourself—“number one”—and to use other people as tools for the achievement of your own selfish goals.

Man’s fallen nature encourages pride. When the ego is at stake, these apostates will stop at nothing in order to promote and protect themselves. Their attitude is completely opposite that of our Lord who willingly emptied Himself to become a servant, and then died as a sacrifice for our sins.

B. These men were also self-willed.

They lived to please only themselves.” They were arrogant and would even defy God to get what they wanted! While outwardly, they appeared to serve God and minister to the people, inwardly they fed their own egos.

They are so secure in their pride, that they even dare God to judge them.

II. The seriousness of their reviling (v. 11).

11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

A. If God judged the rebellious angels, how much more will He judge rebellious men!

The suggestion here is that the godly angels do not even speak against the fallen angels. They have left all judgment to the Lord. The angels remember the rebellion of Lucifer and know how serious it is to revolt against God’s authority.

Speaking evil of others is a great sin, and the people of God must avoid it. We may not respect the people in office, but we must respect the office, for all authority is God-given. Those who revile government officials in the name of Christ ought to read and ponder (Titus 3:1–2) Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

B. Daniel refused the king’s food.

But he did it in a gracious way that did not get his guard into trouble (Dan. 1). Even when the Apostles refused to obey the Sanhedrin’s order that they stop preaching in the name of Jesus, they acted like gentlemen. They respected the authority even though they disobeyed the order.

It is when the flesh goes to work that pride enters in, and then we use our tongues as weapons instead of tools.

III. The judgment of their reviling (v. 12).

12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,

A. Peter compared these false teachers to “brute beasts”

Animals have life, but they live purely by instinct. They lack the finer sensibilities that humans possess. Jesus warned us not to waste precious things on unappreciative brute beasts (Matt. 7:6) “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”

It is sad when the media concentrates on the “big mouths” of the false teachers instead of the “still small voice” of the Lord as He ministers through those who are true to Him. It is sadder still when innocent people become fascinated by these “great swelling words of emptiness” (2 Peter 2:18) and cannot discern between truth and propaganda. The truth of the Word of God leads to salvation, but the arrogant words of the apostates lead only to condemnation.

B. These “brute beasts” are destined for destruction.

As they seek to destroy the faith, they themselves shall be destroyed. They will be “corrupted in their own corruption.” Their very nature will drag them down into destruction, like the pig returning to the mire and the dog to its vomit.

Unfortunately, before that event takes place, these people can do a great deal of moral and spiritual damage.