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  2 PETER 2:15
  by John Gill
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Summary: This sermon explores the dangers of forsaking the right way of
the Lord, using Balaam's story as a warning against covetousness and
unrighteousness.

Topics: "Faithfulness", "Deception"
Scripture References: Numbers 22:5, Matthew 7:13, John 14:6, 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11, Revelation 2:14

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DESCRIPTION
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John Gill emphasizes the dangers of forsaking the right way of the Lord,
which is the path of truth and salvation through Christ. He warns
against following the example of Balaam, who strayed into error and
profaneness for the sake of unrighteous gain. Gill highlights that those
who abandon their faith may be seduced by covetousness and idolatry,
leading them away from the true doctrine they once professed. The sermon
serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of deviating from the
Christian faith and the importance of remaining steadfast in the truth.

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CONTENT
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Ver. 15. Which have forsaken the right way,.... The right way of the
Lord, the way of truth, the Gospel of truth; or Christ, who is the way,
the truth, and the life; the true way to eternal life, and which is the
right way to eternal happiness; the way of life, righteousness, and
salvation by Christ, the Christian faith, and the doctrine of it, which
they once professed, but now relinquished:

and are gone astray; from the right way, the way of truth and holiness,
into the paths of error and profaneness:

following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor; which Jude calls his
error, Jude 1:11, and is the path of covetousness, uncleanness, and
idolatry, sins which he was either guilty of himself, or taught,
advised, and seduced others to; see Re 2:14. The Vulgate Latin version
reads "Balaam [out of] Bosor", taking "Bosor" for the name of a place,
of which "Balaam" was; but not "Bosor", but "Pethor", was the place of
Balaam's residence, Nu 22:5. The Arabic and Ethiopic versions supply, as
we do, "the son of Bosor"; and the Syriac version reads, "the son of
Beor", as in Nu 22:5; for Beor and "Bosor" are the same names; the
"sheva" being pronounced by "o", as it is by "oa" in "Boanerges", and
the "ain" by "s". Moreover, the letters u and e are sometimes used for
one another, as in Nau and Nae, Ura and era, and so e and v, especially
in the Chaldean dialect; and Peter now being at Babylon in Chaldea, see
1Pe 5:13; it is no wonder that he so pronounced.

Who loved the wages of unrighteousness: which were the rewards of
divination, Nu 22:7; which were brought him for his divining or
soothsaying, and may well be called unrighteous wages, since it was for
doing unrighteous things, or things in an unrighteous manner; and these
he loved, desired, and greedily coveted, and fain would he have taken
Balak's gold and silver, and have cursed Israel, but was restrained by
the Lord: he showed a good will to it, in going along with the
messengers, and in building altars, and offering sacrifice in one place
after another, in which there was a great resemblance between him and
the men here spoken of.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/john-gill/2-peter-215/
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