2 Peter 2:10, commentary and pictures

The verse describes the unjust as flesh-driven and impure in desire, contemptuous of authority and rule, boldly stubborn in self-will and unafraid to insult those in honor. God keeps such wrongdoers in reserve for punishment at the judgment as the due reward of their unrighteousness. It marks the character of a class to appear in the last days, exposing spiritualists so the godly are not deceived, and it is fulfilled when professed believers claim truth while living sensual, adulterous and law-breaking lives impatient of reproof, which signals the nearness of Jesus' coming. It portrays a corrupt, defiant generation that rebels against God's law and authority, denies God and Jesus, rejects the atonement and tramples Christ's blood, who at His appearing will be separated from the Lord and consumed while the righteous receive glory. In contrast, even angels greater in power bring no insulting charge before the Lord, and Jesus Himself, though the greatest Teacher, did not exalt self but was meek and lowly, calling all in God's work to honor His appointed servants and to learn meekness from Him.

Meaning of the Rebuke

The unjust are those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, who despise authority and government and control, and who are presumptuous and self-willed and stubborn, not afraid to speak evil of dignities and those in positions of honor. This is the character of a class to be manifested in the last days, and it identifies the spiritualists, exposing their character in Scripture so that the godly need not be deceived. That last-days manifestation appears at the same time as the wonders when fire is called down from heaven and demonic spirits work miracles to gather the world to battle.

God reserves such unjust persons for punishment at the judgment, as the wages of unrighteousness. The warning reaches professed believers who claim the truth yet live low, vile, sensual lives, committing adultery and practicing iniquity in wantonness, impatient under reproof while claiming to teach God's law yet breaking it. It applies to those who seek worldly gain by disobeying God, including working on the Sabbath for wealth.

Last-Days Fulfillment Foretold

The verse identifies the character of a class to be manifested in the last days, applied to spiritualists, so that Scripture exposes them and the godly need not be deceived. It describes them as those who walk after fleshly desire in impurity, despise authority and government, and are presumptuous, arrogant and self-willed, not afraid to speak evil of dignities and those in positions of honor. That last-days manifestation appears at the same time as the wonders in which fire is called down from heaven and demonic spirits work miracles to gather the world to battle.

The verse is fulfilled when professed believers claim the truth yet live low, vile, sensual lives in adultery and wanton iniquity, are presumptuous and self-willed and impatient under reproof, and despise control and government. It is fulfilled when men and women claiming to teach the law of God break that law, when watchmen are charged with adultery, holding profession of truth apart from life without living principle controlling conduct and character. This state of things is a picture of the condition before the coming of the Lord and a sign of the soon coming of Jesus Christ. The verse describes a corrupt, presumptuous, self-willed generation in rebellion against God's law and authority that denies God and Jesus, rejects and despises Christ's atonement and tramples on His blood. When Christ appears the righteous receive glory while the wicked who despise divine authority and speak against the Lord are separated from the Lord and consumed by fire.

This conduct is presented as the world's true condition at this time. The same self-willed men who despise government and speak evil of dignities caused much trouble in the early church by treating their own opinions and judgment as infallible and never to be given up. They receive pleasing sophistries and immortalize theories that injure the Lord's work, and the same men and conditions must be met today so all must be on guard.

Reverence and Duty Required

Abandoned sinners are presumptuous and self-willed and unafraid to speak evil of dignities, in contrast to angels who though greater in power and might bring no railing accusation before the Lord. Lightly bringing accusation against those called to act as ambassadors, leaders and teachers is forbidden, and people will be held accountable for the manner in which they treat such servants. Those whom God has honored are to be honored, and the judgment visited upon Miriam for jealousy and murmuring against God's appointed worker stands as a rebuke to all who do the same.

Against the self-exalting, fleshly, presumptuous course condemned stands Jesus as the pattern, who did not exalt Himself but was meek and lowly in heart though the greatest teacher on earth. Those in God's work are to learn from Him and carry on the work sensibly, with men and women connected in the work and each carrying their appointed part in a way that glorifies God. As a rule for conduct in God's work, walking after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, despising government, and being presumptuous and self-willed are warned against, with self-exaltation replaced by meekness learned from Jesus. Applied to medical work, this calls for men caring for men and thoroughly trained women caring for women and taking charge of childbirth and other private care of women, instead of bringing men and women together in such private practice, because that association brings too great commonness and uncleanness.

The unjust are those who follow fleshly, impure desires, reject authority, and act arrogantly and willfully while speaking evil of those in positions of dignity. The warning about the punishment of the unrighteous and the wages of unrighteousness applies to those who seek worldly gain by disobeying God, including those who work on the Sabbath for wealth.