Sep. 06, 2026

    "WATCH OUT”

        “CHARACTERISTICS OF THE APOSTATES”

                                                          2 PETER 2:10-16

As believers in Christ our responsibility is to issue a warning

when we see others threatened by impending especially if it involves their spiritual warfare. Peter delivers just such a warning against the perils of heresy.

2 Peter 2:10-16 “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, 11whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. 12But 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, 13and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.”

In these verses Peter gives us a vivid description of their way of life and condemns the apostates for three specific sins.

Characteristics of the Apostates:

1.  Insulting Behavior. Their Reviling (To abuse verbally)-2 Peter 2:10-12

Romans 13:1 “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” 

Parents are to have authority over their children-Ephesians 6:1-4

Employers over their employees- Ephesians 6:5-8

As citizens, we Christians should pray for those in authority-1 Timothy 2:1-4

We should show respect to them- 1 Peter 2:11-17

We should pray daily for those in authority so that they might exercise that authority in the will of God.

*The Reason For Their Reviling- 2 Peter 2:10

2 Peter 2:10 “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.”

One word gives the reason: "flesh". The depraved nature of man does not want to submit to any kind of authority.

These men were also "self-willed" vs.10- which means they lived to please only themselves.

Proverbs 21:24 “A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name; He acts with arrogant pride.” 

*The Seriousness of their Reviling- 2 Peter 2:11

2 Peter 2:11 “whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.” 

Titus 3:1-2 “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”

Psalm 36:3 “The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit;
He has ceased to be wise and to do good.”

*The Judgment of Their Reviling- 2 Peter 2:12

2 Peter 2:12 “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.”

Peter compared these false teachers to “natural brute beast " whose only destiny is to be slaughtered. 

Jesus warned us not to waste precious things on unappreciative brute beasts: 

Matthew 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.”

2.  Revolting Behavior - Their Reveling-2 Pet. 2:13-14

2 Peter 2:13-14 “And will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.”

The words translated “riot" and “sporting" carry the meaning of sensual reveling.

Instead of bringing blessing to the Fellowship, these false teachers were  “spots " and “blemishes” that defile the assembly. 

It is the Word of God that helps to remove the spots and the blemishes:

Ephesians 5:27 “that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

2 Timothy 3:6 “For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts.”

The satisfying of their lusts is the false teachers main ambition

"that cannot cease from sin" vs.14. The verb suggests they are unable to stop. Why?

“Enticing and unstable souls” vs.14- presents the picture of a fisherman baiting a hook or a hunter baiting a trap. The same image is used in James. 

James 1:14 “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” 

What kind of “bait” do the apostates use to catch people? 

For one thing they offer “liberty" 2 Peter 2:19 

Along with “freedom" they also bait the trap with “fulfillment.

2 Peter 1:12 “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.”

3.   Beguiling Behavior - Their Revolting- 2 Pet. 2:14-16

2 Peter 2:14-16 “having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.”

No wonder Peter called them “natural brute beasts" (2:12) and compared them to animals. (2:22) 

Ps.32:9 “Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.”

As Peter wrote about the devious practices of these people, he could only exclaim "cursed children’s.” vs.14.

John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

Matthew 16:26 “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Covetousness is the unsatisfiable desire for more more money, more power, more prestige.

Peter knew his Old-Testament. He already used Noah and Lot to illustrate his words and in 2 Pet. 2:15-16, he now uses Balaam the prophet (Num 22-25).

Balaam was not able to curse Israel but he was able to tell Balak how to defeat Israel. All the Moabites had to do was invite the Jews to be friendly neighbors and share in the feast (Numbers 25).

Peter called his hire "the wages of unrighteousness". vs.15

Balaam was a rebel against the will of God. Like the false teachers that Peter described, Balaam knew the right way, but deliberately chose the wrong way because he wanted to make money.

Peter called this attitude madness vs.16. The word means to be deranged, out of your mind.

Peter condemned three sins of false teachers: their reviling, their reveling, and their revolting. All of these sins spring from pride and selfish desire.