Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

WARNINGS OF APOSTATE, FALSE TEACHERS AND PREACHERS

1) "But there were false prophets also among the people." Peter asserts that even in 0. T. days (Greek pseudoprophetai) there were false or lying prophets (preachers) among the (Greek lao) laity, masses of people, Luke 6:26; Jeremiah 6:13; Jeremiah 14:14; Jeremiah 23:32.

2) "Even as there shall be false teachers among you." (Greek hos kai en humin) as even among you (esontai) there will be (Greek pseudodidaskaloi) false or lying teachers, Matthew 24:5; Matthew 24:24; Acts 20:29-30; 1 Timothy 4:1.

3) "Who privily shall bring in damnable heresies" Who will (Greek pareisaksousin) secretly or stealthily bring in (Greek aireseis) "opinions" (apoleian) of destructive nature.

4) "Even denying the Lord that bought them." Even (arnoumenoi) "repeatedly denying" (tondes poten) the Master (agorasonta) the one having bought them, or having died for them, Matthew 20:28; Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 2:1.

5) "And bring upon themselves swift destruction." (epagontes) "Bringing" upon themselves (Greek tachinen) destruction or judgment. Repeated denial or rejection of Jesus Christ brings upon the denier just judgment. Proverbs 29:1; Proverbs 1:23-27; Romans 2:4-5.

1) "And many shall follow their pernicious ways." False teachers and prophets will have (Greek polloi) many follow their (aselgeiais) pernicious ways of "licentiousness." False teaching and immorality seem to be Siamese evils Judges 1:4; Judges 1:8; Judges 1:19.

2) "By reason of whom." (Greek di ous) by reason or means of whom.

3) "The truth shall be evil spoken of." the (Greek aletheias) - the system or Word of truth shall be (blasphemethesetai) "blasphemed." Even Paul once did this, Acts 26:11.

1) "And through covetousness." (Kai en) and in (Greek pleoneksia) covetousness - the king of all sins, Exodus 20:17; Romans 7:7.

2) "Shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you." (Greek plastois logois) "with fabricated words" they (false teachers) will make merchandise (personal gain) of you, Judges 1:11; Judges 1:16.

3) "Whose judgment now for a long time Iingereth not." (Greek ois) "for" (always) "lingers not" Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

4) "And their damnation slumbereth not." and the (apoleia) destruction of them (nustazei) slumbers or sleeps not - as the hound pursues the rabbit until he catches it - or as surely as night follows day, Ecclesiastes 8:11; Galatians 6:7-8.

1) "For if God spared not the angels that sinned." The phrase (Greek ouk epheisato) means "held not back judgment from "the rebelling angels - and He did not – Judges 1:6; Judges 1:14-15.

2) "But cast them down to hell." (Greek alla paredoken) "but delivered them" (eis krisin) to judgment, (Greek teroumenous) "being kept or guarded." (tartarosas) "consigning (them) to tartarus," (sirois zophou) "in pits of gloom." Matthew 25:41.

3) "And delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment." This describes the fixed, but now pending judgment of fallen angels and Satan who proved false, untrue to God. God’s attitude toward False prophets, perverters of truth, is as surely condemnation and judgment as it was against fallen angels (Hebrews 2:3), and:

a) Lot (Genesis 19:1-38)

b) Pharaoh (Exodus 14:28; Exodus 15:1)

c) Belshazzar (Daniel 5:27; Daniel 5:30)

d) The Rich Barn Builder (Luke 12:20)

1) "And spared not the old world." The (Greek archaiou) ancient (kosmos) "world system" - in pre-flood times he did not spare (tolerate) forever - or hold back judgment,

2) "But saved Noah the eighth person." Instead of judging Noah, the (Greek ogdoon) eighth man (of Seth’s family lineage, line of Sons of God) He (Greek ephulaksen) guarded or protected - (in the ark) Genesis 7:1; Genesis 7:5; Genesis 7:16; Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20.

3) "A preacher of righteousness." (Greek keruka) "an Herald" (Greek dikaiosunes) of righteousness. What did Noah preach? First, righteousness, a way of pardon and escape, and second, judgment to come upon the unbelieving – Genesis 6:3; Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20.

4) "Bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.” (Greek epaksas) bringing on (kataklusmon) a flood (kosmo) in a world or "world order" of (Greek asebon) impious or ungodly men - men having no spiritual contact with God. Just as certain, doom awaits false teachers.

1) "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes." Peter, disciple and apostle of the Lord, instructed by Him more than three years, gave testimony to the fact that God destroyed, (tephroras) "covered with ashes," the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha. It was no fairy tale to him.

2) "Condemned them with an overthrow.” (Greek katekrinen) "down-judged or rated" (them) (Greek katastrophe) "by catastrophe" (of disruptive, overturning, boiling, bubbling nature.) Genesis 19:24-25.

3) "Making them an ensample." (Greek hupodeigma mellonton) "an example of (such men) making of them." God was saying in this judgment act "men you can’t preach and teach and practice wickedness, wrong, and rebellion and escape judgment for it" - "Be sure your sins will find you out." "out-run or overtake you in judgment." Numbers 32:23; Matthew 10:15; Mark 6:11.

4) "Unto those that after should live ungodly" To live for self alone is to live ungodly. Selfishness or covetousness, forbidden by the 10th commandment, is the "king of all sins," the one that broken leads to the breaking of all the others. The residents of Sodom and Gomorrha lived in selfishness, for self alone, ungodly lives. What God did in judging them in such a condition was an example, type, or visual and testamentary warning for any and all who should thereafter (Greek tetheikos) "place or set" (themselves) (Greek asebein) "to live impiously, defiant, or ungodly." Isaiah 13:19; Jeremiah 50:40; Hebrews 1:1-3.

1) "And delivered just Lot" (kai errusato) "delivered or let out" (Greek dikaion) "righteous or just" Lot - - Genesis 19:16-17. Note God delivered Lot from immediate judgment, told him and his wife to keep moving, look not back in wanton selfishness. He did go on, she looked back, became a "pillar of salt," preserved rock of judgment warning against obstinate defiers of God’s Word. Genesis 19:17; Genesis 19:22; Genesis 19:26; Luke 17:32-33.

2) "Vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked." (Greek kataponoumenon) "being expressed" by and of the (athesmon) "lawless" (Greek anas trophes) "maneuverings, consorting" in (Greek aselgia) licentiousness, immorality of sodomy, lesbianism, etc., going "after strange flesh" Judges 1:7.

1) "(For that righteous man dwelling among them." "for that righteous man" (Lot) (eghatoikon) "dwelling or abiding among them,"

2) "In seeing and hearing" (blemmati) in seeing, eye witnessing, and observing. 1 John 2:15-17.

3) "Vexed his righteous soul" In what Lot saw and observed he was unhappy is soul, though he lingered to his own shame of family name and honor; (Greek ebasanizen) vexed or tormented his (psuchen) soul or entire life, James 4:17; Galatians 6:7-8; Romans 6:23; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

4) "From day to day with their unlawful deeds." (Greek hemeran eks hemeras) "day in and day out" or "the whole day through" Lot’s greater sin seems to be, not living in Sodom and Gomorrha, but his acquiescence, his failure to give a testimony against sin and for righteousness. He saw their (anomois) 11 unlawful" (ergois) works, but kept silent. Psalms 39:1-2; James 4:7; James 4:17; 1 Peter 5:8-9.

SIN IS A MONSTER

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,

As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

- Alexander Pope

I HAVE MISSED GOD’S BEST

"I have enjoyed the meetings this week, but I am sorry I attended them," said a well-to-do businessman to a minister. "Why?" asked the astonished minister. "Here’s why. These meetings have reminded me afresh that I have missed God’s best for my life; I was called to Africa. I intended to answer God’s call. I began to earn money for my passage and outfit. I earned more and more money. I stayed and entered business. Today I am the owner of a large business concern. I have everything money can buy. I have a beautiful home and a lovely wife and children. Down in my heart, however, there is a great void. My life has been a failure, not from the standpoint of the world, but from God’s point of view!"

-Prairie Overcomer

THE COURAGE OF HIS CONVICTIONS

Weak-kneed principles always awaken contempt. Harry Shepler, a young man of whom the Sunday School Times tells was in the signal service. Being ordered one morning by a sergeant to report for duty at the canteen, he refused to do so, and the sergeant threatened to report him to the officer of the day.

"All right," said Shepler, "go ahead. I did not enlist to be a bartender, but a soldier, and I will not report at the canteen."

He was duly reported to the major, who sent for him. Shepler went with trembling knees but with a steady heart for he knew he was right. The officer said to him:

"Are you the young man who disobeyed orders this morning?"

"Yes, sir, I am."

"Why did you do it?"

"Simply because I do not believe it is right to do what I was asked to do. I enlisted to be a soldier and not a bartender."

The major arose quickly from his stool, and extending his hand, said:

"Shepler, you are the kind of a man we want. I am glad to see a fellow who has the courage of his convictions. You are not obliged to report at the canteen."

The great need of the day is for men to have convictions founded upon the Word of God, and then be true to those convictions.

- Christian Victory.

1) "The Lord knoweth how." The Lord (Master) (Greek oiden) knows or perceives (how)

2) "To deliver the godly out of temptation. (Greek reuesthai) "to deliver, of His own will or accord," (Greek eusebeis ek peirasmou) "pious or godly men out of trials or testings." He delivered Daniel, the Hebrew children, Peter and John.

3) "And to reserve the unjust." (de terein) "but to hold in reserve, keep, or guard" - - (Greek adikous) unjust ones, the unrighteous - - men and angels, Hebrews 2:1-3.

4) "Unto the day of judgment to be punished:" (eis hemeran keiseos) "For a day of judgment" (Greek kolazomenos) "being punished" or in a state of punishment, suffering, in hell now until they are cast into the lake of fire and brimstone; Revelation 20:14-15; Revelation 22:11.

Peter affirms that the God who judged 1) angels that rebelled, 2) the pre-flood rebellious men, and 3) the licentious immoral of Sodom and Gomorrha, will not permit lying prophets and teachers to escape judgment for their wicked deeds in defiance of Him. Revelation 21:8.

1) "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh, " (Greek amlista) "Most of all," chiefly, (de) moreover (Greek tous hopiso sarkos) those after flesh (poreuomenos) wandering, going any and all directions.

2) "In the lust of uncleanness." (Greek en epithumia) In a lust state or condition (miasmou) of defilement.

3) "And despise government." (Greek kai kurio-tetos) "and dominion or orderly government (kata-phronountas) despising." Lying religious teachers and false prophets invariably want to be a law unto themselves, "do their own thing." Their very attitude is of the devil, deceptive, arrogant, overbearing. Judges 1:8; Matthew 7:13-20; Acts 20:28-30.

4) "Presumptuous are they, self-willed." (Greek tolmetai) "presumptuous, darers, bullies, brow-beaters they are." and (Greek authadeis) self-willed, self-centered, covetous.

5) "They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities." (Greek dokas) "glories, positions of honor, and those holding them (ou tremousin) they tremble not (at) (blasphemountes) blaspheming or attacking with damning words. The unholy character of false prophets and false teachers reveal their covert, stealthy, deranged nature. Like vampire bats, jackals of the night time, and wolves dressed as sheep they often approach the flock of the saints, but they must be tried by the Word, 1 John 4:11; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.

1) "Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might." More arrogant, domineering, impious and blaspheming are false teachers and false prophets than fallen angels, who for their rebellion against God are cast down, reserved to hell. (Greek angeloi ontes) "angels being" (ischui kai dunamei meizontes) "in strength and power greater."

2) "Bring not railing accusation." (Greek ou pherousin) "do not even gently bring" (Kata auton) "against them" those holding positions of dignity (pastors, deacons, and elders) before the Lord (Greek blaspemon Krisin) railing, arrogant, or blasphemous. If fallen angels are even more cautious, as Peter affirms, than false teachers and false prophets in railing against God’s church, and leaders, how cautious ought children of God to be to recognize, avoid or oppose them with the Sword of the Spirit, Ephesians 6:10-18.

3) "Against them before the Lord." (kata -auton) "against them" dignities, those with official positions in the church government of religious worship - (para kurio) "before the Lord," or in the face of the Lord. God will reveal every secret thing said or done against Him and His people at the hour of the judgment. Matthew 12:36-37; Romans 14:11-12.

1) "But these as natural brute beasts." (Greek autoi de) "These moreover" as or like (aloga) "mindless, unreasoning" (zoa) animals,

2) "Made to be taken and destroyed." (Greek phusika gegennemera) "having been natural born" (eis alosin) "for capture" and (phthoran) corruption.

3) "Speak evil of the things that they understand not." (en ois agnoousin) "In things which they are ignorant of" (blasphemountes) blaspheming or railing. 1 Corinthians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 3:19-20; Romans 10:1-4.

4) "And shall utterly perish." (Kai phtharesonta) and shall indeed be corrupted.

5) "In their own corruption." Peter simply asserted that these immoral Christ denying false teachers and prophets would one day "boil in their own stew," be corrupted, destroyed, brought to great destruction from their own corrupt seed sowing. Galatians 6:7-8; Matthew 23:27-33.

1) "And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness." (adikoumenoi) "Suffering wrong" (Greek misthon) "as wages" (adikias) "of wrong."

2) "As they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime." (edonen) "pleasure" to be (egoumenoi) "deeming it" in the day (trephen) "to riot or live in luxury." Openly false teachers and preachers live a law unto themselves, doing in open day things they condemn in others as night-hypocrites they be, Matthew 23:13-15.

3) "Spots they are and blemishes." (Greek spiloi) spots" they are and (momoi) blemishes, of unholy nature within and contracted and sin spreading without.

4) "Sporting themselves with their own deceivings." (entrephontes) "Revelling" in their own (hapa tais) deceits or self-delusions.

5) "While they feast along with you." (Greek suneuochounenoi) "feasting along with you." Like Jude, Peter desires, in this his last letter, to warn the brethren of the deceitful, infiltrating, self-righteous, piosity of false teachers and false prophets. Judges 1:4; Judges 1:12-13.

1) "Having eyes full of adultery.” Having their eyes full (Greek mestous) "caught by or fixed on" (moichalidos) an adulteress! The lust of the eye, allurements of the adulteress, feeds the roving eyes of these false prophets and teachers 1 John 2:16.

2) "And that cannot cease from sin." (Greek akatapausous) never ceasing from (hamartias "missing the mark of morality or holiness." Proverbs 4:25; Proverbs 6:25; Matthew 5:28; Isaiah 3:16.

3) "Beguiling, unstable souls." (Greek deleazontes) beguiling, alluring, as a fisherman lures with artificial bait, as a trapper lures with scents, or as a fly is lured by a sticker-tape; deceitful, devilish are the methods of false prophets and false teachers. These souls (persons) are not only artificial, counterfeit, deceivers but also (asteriktous) unstable, unsteady, having no peace with God, Isaiah 57:20-21.

4) "An heart they have exercised with covetous practices " The heart of each false prophet is (Greek gegumnasmenen) "having been already exercised or active in" (pleoneksias) covetousness, selfishness, having his depraved desire without regard or respect for God.

5) "Cursed children:" (Greek tekra) children (kataras) of a curse, or condemnation, John 8:44.

BALAAM - LIKE FALSE TEACHERS

1) "Which have forsaken the right way." (Greek kataleipontes) voluntarily turning down or forsaking, of their own volition (Greek eutheian) a straight, proper (hodos) way, course of conduct or behavior, Psalms 9:17; Jonah 2:8.

2) "And are gone astray ." (eplanethesan) they have wandered away, of their own accord - "they erred."

3) "Following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor." (eksakolouthesantes) "going off in pursuit of" (te hodo) the way, course of conduct of Balaam the son of Beor Numbers 22:5. Lying, false prophets and teachers, sell out for money, hirelings, sell their testimony in open market for wages coveted; this is the "way" of Balaam, contrasted with his "error" Judges 1:11 and "doctrine" Revelation 2:14; John 10:12-13; 1 Timothy 6:8-10.

4) "Who loved the wages of unrighteousness." (Greek hos misthon) "Who the wages, salary" (adikias) of wrong (egapesen) loved with his whole heart. He willed, yearned for, desired high pay - wages more than truth. He defied the first commandment, Matthew 22:36-38.

1) "But was rebuked for his iniquity." (Greek de elegksin) "Moreover he was reproved or reprimanded" (eschen) "he had" (rebuke) (Greek idias pranomias) “of his own transgression, trespassing, or paranoia" toward God. His sin was deliberate, presumptuous, premeditated.

2) "The dumb ass speaking with man’s voice." (hupozugion) "an ass" (Greek aponon) "dumb" (en phone anthropou phthegksamenon) "Speaking with or in (the) voice of a man." Numbers 22:28-30. That man should curse a donkey is no miracle, but that a donkey should chide a man, reprimand his stubborn donkey-like master is a miracle, and no less. Vain men often act as a stubborn ass toward his master, Job 11:12.

3) "Forbad the madness of the prophet." (Greek ekolusen) "restrained or held back" the (paraphronian) "extreme, inflamed, red-faced madness or anger" of the prophet. For a price Balaam was riding into the Baal -peor-worship with the princes of Balak, King of Moab, leading the way. His sin of ecumenism-compromise resulted in the slaughter of 24,000 Israelites, Numbers 25:8-9, in spite of the angels that stood in the way and sought to inform and guard Balaam from going on up to lead Israel into compromise and apostasy Hebrews 1:14.

1) "These are wells without water." These false teachers and prophets who had forsaken the right way, gone astray like Balaam, were declared by Peter to be (Greek pegai anudroi) waterless, dried up springs, sources of wells - empty holes, have no spirit of God - empty shells.

2) "Clouds that are carried with a tempest." (Greek homichlai) "mists of fleeting clouds" by (lailapos) a storm (Greek elaunomenai) being driven, unstable, drifting, fleeting ephemeral.

3) "To whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever." (ois) to or for whom (Greek ho zophos) "the gloom" (tou skotou) "of the darkness" - hell, separation from God (teteretai) "has been guarded or reserved." Matthew 25:41; Psalms 9:17.

1) "For when they speak great swelling words of vanity." Balaam - like, empty - well, cotton - cloud -like drifting, unstable apostate preachers and teachers speak (Greek huperogka) "immoderate" (words) of (Greek mataiotetos) "vanity" or spiritual emptiness -They can not bare or share what they do not have, Romans 8:9.

2) "They allure through the lusts of the flesh." (Greek deleazousin) "They allure," attract with eye-appealing, physical senses, stimuli - (Greek en epi-thumiais sarkos) by flesh lusts, things the flesh, carnal nature craves - these are their motivation material, sources for enlisting followers, who go after them as hogs to the slaughter - blind. Matthew 15:14.

3) "Through much wantonness." (Greek aselgeiais) In excesses, incited cravings for the base things - as a mouse is lured by cheese to the death trap - as a fish is lured by an artificial lure, so the false prophet and false teacher, without the spirit, uses the lure of carnal desires as his primary motivation of his followers.

4) "Those that were clean escaped from them." (tous holigos) "those almost" (apopheugontas) fled or almost escaped, "escaping"

5) "Who live in error." The ones in (plane) "error of conduct" (anastrephomenous) turning about in daily living. By their fruits of worldliness, lust and carnality they are known, Matthew 7:15-21.

1) "While they promise them liberty." (eleutherion) liberation" to them, their victims, baited carnal slaves.

2) "They themselves are the servants of corruption." (-huparchontes) "being, slaves themselves of (Greek phthoras) - of corruption or putrefaction. They, these lying prophets and teachers, were chained slaves of Satan, sin, unregenerate, of the devil, as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes who rejected our Lord, John 8:44; Matthew 5:20.

3) "For of whom a man is overcome." (Greek ho gar tis) "For by whom anyone" (hettetai) has been defeated, subjected, or conquered

4) "Of the same is he brought into bondage." When one is conquered by another he becomes his servant or slave (dedoulotai). Thus Peter warns brethren against the fakery and fraudulent claims and physical allurements and carnal, worldly motivations used by religious apostates to lead the saved astray, Ephesians 2:15; Ephesians 5:3-12; Colossians 2:8.

1) "For if after they have escaped." For if (Greek apophugontes) "having escaped" - turned or fled from

2) "The pollution’s of the world." (Greek mias-mata) defilement’s or pollution’s of worldliness -

3) "Through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (Greek en epignosei) "by or in a full knowledge" of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." These false teachers and apostles once received a full basic knowledge of Jesus Christ, in reformation they lived for a while.

4) "They are again entangled therein, and overcome." But (palin) again, as before their moral reformation (not regeneration), these false teachers are by these lusts (Greek emplakentes) enmeshed, entangled or "tripped up," (henttontai) "have been defeated or conquered."

5) "The latter end is worse with them than the beginning." (gegonen autois) "have become to them" (ta eschata) "the latter things." "carnal lusts to Which they have returned (cheirona ton proton) “ worse than the first" Matthew 12:43-45. This exposes the vanity of moral reformation as a substitute for salvation.

1) "For it had been better for them." (Greek kreitton gar en auton) "For it was better for them" like Judas Iscariot not to have been born, Matthew 26:24.

2) "Not to have known the way of righteousness." (me epignokenai) not to have fully known the (holdon) way of righteousness, of salvation of soul and life, Matthew 11:20-24; Luke 12:47-48.

3) "Than after they have known it." (he epignou-sin) "than fully knowing" as Cain did, as the rich young ruler did, as the rich man did.

4) "To turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." (hupostrephsai) "to turn of their own volition, own accord." (ek tes dedotheises) "from the delivered" (hagias entoles autois) "to them holy commandment" -evidently the way of salvation by repentance and faith, trust in Jesus Christ, Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; Acts 10:43; Acts 20:21.

EXTERNAL REFORMATION

The custom prevails in Paris of giving old buildings a new appearance, by recutting the stones of the walls. By this means the church of St. Genevieve has recently been modernized and beautified. It is so identified with the bloody massacre of St. Bartholomew’s that no renovation can obliterate its foul blot; its stains will not out, not its vile memories die. Old sinners seek to quiet their consciences in the same way. They recast and polish the outside with remarkable success, but the deep stains of guilt will ’ not depart, except by the application of the blood of Christ. Beware of confounding reformation with conversion! Bloody memories cluster about the church of St. Genevieve, and bleaching bones fill its vaults, in spite of its external renovation.

- 6000 Windows

REFORMATION NOT SALVATION

A man of good parts and considerable culture fell under the influence of drink. A missionary found him friendless and desolate, rescued him from his degradation, and secured him a situation. After a little he fell into his former habits and many times during ten years, the missionary holding on to him, feeding and clothing him in need, and getting new places for him when ever he would reform for a short time. At length the inebriate began to feel deeply about his sins. He had tried to reform, and failed so often and for such a long time, that he felt there was no hope for him. Then he turned to God for help, and was saved. From that hour his demon was cast out. He prospered in business, and is a conspicuous example of the power of Christ to save the drunkard.

- 6000 Windows

1) "But it is happened to them." (sumbebeken autois) "it has happened, come down upon them" -or overtaken them.

2) "According to the true proverb." in keeping with the true (Greek paroimias picturesqus) parallel or similar saying."

3) "The dog turned to his own vomit again." (the) (Greek kuon) "canine, dog" - (epistrepsas epi to idion exerata) "is turning upon (its) own vomit." or turns around to eat its own excrement ... of its own deranged craving - as the dog turns to his own vomit of him, so moral reformers turn back to their own lusts and carnalities to enjoy them because they have never had their natures restrained by any new nature. They have not been born again. Mark 7:1-9.

4) "And the sow that was washed." (kai hus) and (the) sow, mother hog (lousamend) "having been washed" made clean on the outside.

5) "To her wallowing in the mire." (eis kulismon) into wallowing (Borborou) of mud or mire. Peter, like James, here -turned to illustrations of natural experiences to explain that as a dog’s or hog’s nature is not changed by his environment or association, so a sinner, a person who merely resolves to live clean, moral life of Christ, but does not receive a new nature by the new birth, can not live the upright life. If the dog’s nature could be changed to the non-carnivorous, he would not turn to eat his own vomit or excrement. If the (sow) could change her nature to that of a sheep, she would hate, avoid the mud, see. Even so the new nature of a child of God will not let them with pleasure or happiness live in rioting or worldliness. Galatians 5:25; Colossians 3:1-3.

HABITS OF THE SOW

There is no regeneration for the sow in any amount of washing by water; the ablution over, away she wends again to her wallowing in the mire. Like the canine race (dishonouredly characterized in the same proverb) the porcine is of ill account in Holy Writ. As the flesh of the swine is formally prohibited as -unclean" in Leviticus, so in Isaiah the offering of swine’s blood is, by implication, denounced as almost inconceivably abominable, and the "eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination and the mouse," are with execration connected together (Isaiah 66:3; Isaiah 66:17). Of the Mohammedans we are assured that nothing in the creed or practice of Christians does so much to envenom the hatred of Mohammedans against them as the fact of their eating pork. Besides its being an offence to their religion, their aversion of the flesh of the "unclean beast" resembles an instinctive antipathy, such as the "idea of uncleanness," when once it sinks into the feelings, seems always to excite in those whose personal habits are scrupulously cleanly.

- Homiletic Commentary