True freedom leads to godly living
For if, having escaped the world’s impurity through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb: A dog returns to its own vomit, and, “A washed sow returns to wallowing in the mud.” 2 Peter 2:20-22 CSB
Finally closing the chapter on the topic of the false teachers, Peter writes on how these individuals have a knowledge of Christ, and yet, still choose to follow their own desires, leading to their downfall. In verse 20, the false teachers have “escaped the world’s impurity through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” What Peter is saying is that because of the knowledge of Christ’s teachings, the false teachers avoided doing some sins, since many believers do their best to follow God’s commands. Although they had this head knowledge, because they did not truly submit to the Lord, their hearts were still sinful, and they pursued their sexual desires and became slaves to them, seen in the second half of verse 20, saying “they are again entangled in these things and defeated.” Their knowledge about God did not lead them to have intimate relationship with Christ. In the end, “the last state is worse for them than the first,” meaning that because of how sin corrupted their bodies, they have lost the ability to enjoy their desires, being worst off than how they were initially. Verse 21 shows how they deliberately chose to reject “the way of righteousness,” having previous knowledge, and yet “turn back from the holy command delivered to them.” They knew of Christ’s teachings, saw how it had the power to save and change people’s lives for the better, and chose to reject it. They rejected the gift of salvation willingly. In verse 22, Peter references back to the book of Proverbs, a book dedicated to wisdom which is found only in the Lord. Proverbs 26:11 says “As a dog returns to its vomit, so also a fool repeats his foolishness.” These false teachers, like sick dogs, wallowed in their sin, choosing hell, fully knowing what is in store. They are fools bent on destruction, and were doing their best to bring down anyone around them. Instead of death, Peter wants everyone to experience life in Christ, starting off his letter with this message in 2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” These false teachers are in direct defiance of life and will bring only pain, misery, and destruction. But to follow Christ is to experience true freedom, satisfaction, and life eternal.
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
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