2 Peter 2:14

2 Peter 2:14

Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

a. NLT: They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unstedfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing; [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: Having eyes full of adultery, and unable to cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having an heart exercised in covetousnesses, children of a curse, [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Classic Amplified: They have eyes full of harlotry, insatiable for sin. They beguile and bait and lure away unstable souls. Their hearts are trained in covetousness (lust, greed), [they are] children of a curse [exposed to cursing]! [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

1. “Having eyes full of adultery…”

a. Having [Strong: 2192. echo ekh'-o, including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; (used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.]

b. eyes [Strong: 3788. ophthalmos of-thal-mos' from 3700; the eye (literally or figuratively); by implication, vision; figuratively, envy (from the jealous side-glance):--eye, sight.] [Thayer:  the eye, metaphorically, the eyes of the mind, the faculty of knowing]

c. full [Strong: 3324. mestos mes-tos' of uncertain derivation:--replete (literally or figuratively):--full.] [Thayer: full, in reference to persons, whose minds are as it were filled with thoughts and emotions, either good or bad.]

c. [of] adultery [Strong: 3428. moichalis moy-khal-is' a prolonged form of the feminine of 3432; an adulteress (literally or figuratively):--adulteress(-ous, -y).] [Thayer:  an adulteress, as the intimate alliance of God with the people of Israel was likened to a marriage, those who relapse into idolatry are said to commit adultery or play the harlot, figuratively, equivalent to faithless to God, unclean, apostate.]

1). The corresponding verse is in Jude.

a). Jude 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are with water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

2). A couple of verses, one from the Old Covenant and one from the New Covenant fit here.

a). Jeremiah 5:8, 9 They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.

5:9 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

b). Matthew 5:27-29 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

3). Adam Clark’s Commentary: Of an adulteress; being ever bent on the gratification of their sensual desires, so that they are represented as having an adulteress constantly before their eyes, and that their eyes can take in no other object but her.

4 ). Albert Barnes NT Commentary: Marg., as in the Greek, an adulteress; that is, gazing with desire after such persons. The word full is designed to denote that the corrupt passion referred to had wholly seized and occupied their minds. The eye was, as it were, full of this passion; it saw nothing else but some occasion for its indulgence; it expressed nothing else but the desire. The reference here is to the sacred festival mentioned in the previous verse; and the meaning is, that they celebrated that festival with licentious feelings, giving free indulgence to their corrupt desires by gazing on the females who were assembled with them. In the passion here referred to, the eye is usually the first offender, the inlet to corrupt desires, and the medium by which they are expressed.

2. “…and that cannot cease from sin…”

a. and [Strong: 2532. kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. [that] cannot cease [from]  [Strong: 180. akatapaustos ak-at-ap'-ow-stos from 1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of 2664; unrefraining:--that cannot cease.] [a-without; katapauo-to quiet down] 

b. sin [Strong: 266. hamartia ham-ar-tee'-ah from 264; a sin (properly abstract):--offence, sin(-ful).] [Thayer: to be without a share in, to miss the mark, to err, be mistaken,  to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong, to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin, that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act, collectively, the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many.]

1). These words bring to mind a verse from 2 Timothy that basically declares the same thing. Men will become unable to control themselves. Hence today we have people addicted to everything imaginable.

a). 2 Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

b). incontinent [Strong: 193. akrates ak-rat'-ace from 1 (as a negative particle) and 2904; powerless, i.e. without self-control:--incontinent.] [akrates; a-negative; kratos-strength.] [Thayer: without self-control, intemperate.][Strong: powerless, i.e. without self-control:--incontinent.]

3. “…beguiling unstable souls…”

a. beguiling [Strong: 1185. deleazo del-eh-ad'-zo from the base of 1388; to entrap, i.e. (figuratively) delude:--allure, beguile, entice.] [Thayer: to bait, catch by a bait, metaph. to beguile by blandishments, allure, entice, deceive.]

1). This Greek word is used three times in the King James, in James 1:14, 2 Peter 2:18 and in the present text.

2). The Apostle Paul exhorted the Corinthian believers not to be beguiled as Eve was by the devil. Though it is a different Greek word, it means the same thing, to be deceived.

a). 2 Corinthians 11:1-3 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

b. unstable [Strong: 793. asteriktos as-tay'-rik-tos from 1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of 4741; unfixed, i.e. (figuratively) vacillating:--unstable.] [asteriktos; a-without; sterizo-to confirm, establish] [Thayer: unstable, unsteadfast][ Zodhiates:  Unsettled, unstable, unsteady.]

1). Peter uses this same Greek word for the English word “unstable” later in this epistle.

a). 2 Peter 3:15, 16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

2). If we are unstable in our commitment to Christ it is our own fault. What is so dangerous is that we are setting ourselves up to be deceived. As Peter writes here, those who are unstable wrest the Scriptures into a meaning that will compliment their deception. We must seek the Lord with our whole heart.

a). Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

3). This is why it is critical that we walk in faithfulness to the  light that is revealed to us.

a).  2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

4.  “…an heart they have exercised with covetous practices…”

a. [an] heart [Strong: 2588. kardia kar-dee'-ah prolonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:--(+ broken-)heart(-ed).]

b. [they] have [Strong: 2192. echo ekh'-o, including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; (used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.]

c. exercised [Strong: 1128. gumnazo goom-nad'-zo from 1131; to practise naked (in the games), i.e. train (figuratively):--exercise.] [Thayer: to exercise naked (in a palaestra or school of athletics), to exercise vigorously, in any way, either the body or the mind.]

d. [with] covetous practices [Strong: 4124. pleonexia pleh-on-ex-ee'-ah from 4123; avarice, i.e. (by implication) fraudulency, extortion:--covetous(-ness) practices, greediness.] [Thayer:  greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice.]

1). In order to get a better understanding we need to take a look at a verse in Hebrews.

a). Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

b).  use [Strong: 1838. hexis hex'-is from 2192; habit, i.e. (by implication) practice:--use.] [Zodhiates: Habit. Used usually of life or body, therefore, practice or exercise.] 

2). In this verse (Hebrews 5:14) the writer of Hebrews says that those who are of “full age” or mature are those “who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” The senses he is speaking of are not our 5 physical senses. In verse 11 the sense of hearing he was referring to was spiritual. The spiritual senses of taste, hearing, seeing, touch, and smell are mentioned in the following verses.

a). John 4:31-34 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

4:32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 

4:33 Therefore said his disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

b). Isaiah 55:1, 2 Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

55:2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

c). Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

d). 2 Peter 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

3). To understand the phrase “senses exercised” we need to look at a another verse. To exercise the heart with coveteous practices would be to think and meditate upon the flesh and then to act it out. 

a). Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

b). These individuals filled their thoughts and desires with sinful practices and they then acted them out, fulfilled them in their lives. This underscores the critical importance of not only meditating the Scriptures but also what do we allow into our minds, what are we feeding on. What music do we listen to, what movies and television do we watch? What do we feed on?

5. “...cursed children:

a. cursed [Strong: 2671. katara kat-ar'-ah from 2596 (intensive) and 685; imprecation, execration:--curse(-d, ing).]

b. children [Strong: 5043. teknon tek'-non from the base of 5098; a child (as produced):--child, daughter, son.’