2 Peter 2:12
The men described in 2 Peter 2:12 are brutish in their knowledge and behavior, corrupt themselves in things they might know by the light of nature, and are appointed to be taken in the net and snare of Satan.
John Gill expounds on 2 Peter 2:12, illustrating how certain individuals have descended to a level below that of animals, acting without reason and understanding. He emphasizes their moral corruption and the blindness that leads them to call good evil and evil good, likening them to brute beasts driven by instinct. These individuals are destined for destruction, as they are ensnared by their own wickedness and ignorance, speaking ill of things they do not comprehend, including angels, civil authorities, and the Scriptures. Ultimately, their servitude to corruption leads to their eternal perdition, a fate they are righteously appointed to by God.
Text
Ver. 12. But these, as natural brute beasts,.... So far are these men from acting like the angels, that they are sunk below their own species, and are like beasts, and become brutish in their knowledge and behaviour; are like the horse and the mule, without understanding, act as if they were without reason; yea, are more stupid and senseless than the ox, or the ass, which know their owner, and their crib; and even in those things which they might, and do know by the light of nature, they corrupt themselves; and being given up to judicial blindness, and a reprobate mind, call good evil, and evil good, and do things that are not convenient, and which even brute beasts do not; and like as they are guided by an instinct in nature, to do what they do, so these men are led and influenced by the force and power of corrupt nature in them, to commit all manner of wickedness: and like them are
made to be taken and destroyed; or, as it may be rendered, "to take and destroy"; as beasts and birds of prey, such as lions, tigers, wolves, bears, vultures, hawks, &c. to which abusers of themselves with mankind, ravishers of women, extortioners, oppressors, thieves, robbers, and plunderers of men's properties, may be compared: or "to be taken and destroyed"; that is, they are made or appointed to be taken in the net and snare of Satan, are vessels of wrath fitted for destruction, and are afore ordained to condemnation and ruin: and this being their case, they
speak evil of the things they understand not; either of angels, of whose nature, office, and dignity, they are ignorant; and blaspheme them, by either ascribing too much to them, as the creation of the world, and divine worship, as were by some ancient heretics; or by speaking such things of them as were below them, and unworthy of them; or of civil magistrates, not knowing the nature and end of magistracy and civil government, and therefore spoke evil of them, when they ought to pray, and be thankful for them, and live peaceable and quiet lives under them; or of the ministers of the word, whose usefulness for the conversion of sinners and edification of saints were not known, at least not acknowledged by these men; hence they were traduced, and went through ill report among them, being as unknown by them; or of the Scriptures of truth, which heretical men do not truly know and understand, but wrest to their own destruction, or deny; and of the Gospel and the mysteries of it, which are things not seen, known, and understood by carnal men, and therefore are blasphemed, reviled, and reproached by them:
and shall utterly perish in their own corruption: of which they are servants, 2Pe 2:19, in their moral corruption, in their filthy and unnatural lusts, which are the cause of their everlasting perdition and destruction, to which they are righteously appointed of God.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Nature of the Men Described in 2 Peter 2:12
- A. They are like natural brute beasts, sunk below their own species
- B. They are brutish in their knowledge and behavior
- C. They are like the horse and the mule, without understanding
- II. The Corruption of Their Minds
- A. They corrupt themselves in things they might know by the light of nature
- B. They are given up to judicial blindness and a reprobate mind
- C. They call good evil and evil good
- III. The Consequences of Their Actions
- A. They do things that are not convenient, and which even brute beasts do not
- B. They are made to be taken and destroyed
- C. They are vessels of wrath fitted for destruction
Key Quotes
“They are like the horse and the mule, without understanding, act as if they were without reason; yea, are more stupid and senseless than the ox, or the ass, which know their owner, and their crib;” — John Gill
“They are made to be taken and destroyed; or, as it may be rendered, 'to take and destroy'; as beasts and birds of prey, such as lions, tigers, wolves, bears, vultures, hawks, &c.” — John Gill
“They are vessels of wrath fitted for destruction, and are afore ordained to condemnation and ruin:” — John Gill
Application Points
- We must be careful not to corrupt ourselves in things we might know by the light of nature.
- We must not be given up to judicial blindness and a reprobate mind.
- We must be aware of the consequences of our actions, and not do things that are not convenient.