2 Peter 2:3
False teachers are motivated by covetousness and will ultimately face eternal damnation and destruction.
John Gill emphasizes the dangers of false teachers who, driven by covetousness, exploit their followers for personal gain. He warns that these teachers use deceptive and flattering words to introduce harmful doctrines, treating the souls of believers as merchandise. Gill reassures that God's judgment against such deceitful practices is imminent and will not be delayed, as divine justice is always vigilant. He highlights that the condemnation of these false teachers has been predetermined and will come to fruition at the appointed time, serving as a grave reminder of the consequences of leading others astray.
Text
Ver. 3. And through covetousness;.... Which is generally a prevailing vice among false teachers, they having no other end in view than themselves; either to gain popular applause and vain glory, which they are always covetous of; or to amass riches to themselves, after which they have an insatiable desire:
shall they with feigned words; made words, words of their own devising, and not which the Holy Ghost teacheth; whereby they cover themselves, and privily introduce their pernicious principles; and therefore new words and phrases are always to be suspected and guarded against, especially in articles of moment and importance: or with flattering words and fair speeches, great swelling words of vanity, having men's persons in admiration, because of worldly advantage; and in this way they gain their point:
make merchandise of you; deal with the souls of men, as merchants do with their goods, carry them to market and sell them; so false teachers deal with the souls of their followers, draw them, and sell them to Satan, and they themselves pay for it; see Zec 11:5 but in the issue, and that in a short time, they will be no gainers by such practices:
whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not: that is, their condemnation, which God in righteousness has determined, "from the creation of the world", as the Ethiopic version reads, or from all eternity, see Jude 1:4, to bring them into, for their vile principles and practices, is not retarded and delayed; it does not linger and stay behind, or slacken its pace; it will not tarry, it will come upon them at the appointed time:
and their damnation slumbereth not; an avenging God, who has appointed them to damnation for their sins, slumbers not; the justice of God is not asleep, nor careless and negligent, but is awake, and watches over them, to bring the evil upon them they have deserved, and is in reserve for them, and will hasten to perform it; the determined destruction does not lie dormant, but in a little time will be stirred up, and fall with dreadful weight on such sinners, as may be concluded from the following awful instances.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Character of False Teachers
- A. Motivated by covetousness
- B. Using feigned and flattering words
- C. Making merchandise of people's souls
- II. The Judgment of False Teachers
- A. Delayed but not forgotten
- B. God's justice is awake and watching
- III. The Consequences of False Teaching
- A. Eternal damnation
- B. Destruction will come at the appointed time
Key Quotes
“They having no other end in view than themselves; either to gain popular applause and vain glory, which they are always covetous of;” — John Gill
“Their condemnation, which God in righteousness has determined, to bring them into, for their vile principles and practices, is not retarded and delayed;” — John Gill
“An avenging God, who has appointed them to damnation for their sins, slumbers not;” — John Gill
Application Points
- Be cautious of teachers who use flattering words and feigned language to deceive you.
- Remember that God's justice is awake and watching, and will bring destruction on those who deserve it.
- Do not be motivated by a desire for popular applause or riches, but rather by a desire to serve God and others.