Monday, 12th October 2026
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文 「主知道搭救敬虔的人脫離試探，把不義的人留在刑罰之下，等候審判的日子。」——彼得後書2:9（和合本）
「他們應許人得以自由，自己卻作敗壞的奴僕，因為人被誰制伏就是誰的奴僕。」——彼得後書2:19（和合本）
引言
彼得後書第二章，以「從前」這兩個字開始：「從前在百姓中有假先知起來，將來在你們中間也必有假師傅……」彼得先帶信徒回顧歷史。從前，以色列百姓是神的子民，領受了神的話，但在他們中間仍然有假先知出現，把人帶離神的道路。
接着，彼得說：「將來在你們中間也必有假師傅。」這提醒我們，已經認識耶穌、成為跟從主的人，仍然需要警醒。身處信仰群體之中，並不表示所聽見的每一句教導，都符合神的真理。
彼得在第一章提醒信徒，要殷勤追求生命成長，也指出先知的話是人被聖靈感動而說出的。到了第二章，他接着揭露假教師的危險：他們的教導和生活，會把人引向敗壞。按照書信本身的記述，彼得知道自己離世的日子近了，因此留下這些提醒，希望信徒記住真理，繼續走在主的道路上。
今天，讓我們一起從彼得後書第二章，學習怎樣持守主的道路，不被敗壞轄制。
一、認清引誘，警醒使人偏離主的教導
第二章第一至三節，指出假教師怎樣影響信徒。他們「私自引進陷害人的異端」，甚至「連買他們的主他們也不承認」。他們帶來的教導，使人背離主，走向滅亡。
彼得接着說：「將有許多人隨從他們邪淫的行為，便叫真道因他們的緣故被毀謗。」——彼得後書2:2（和合本）
這些人的問題，不只在於說了錯誤的話。他們的生活也充滿放縱，而且有人跟着他們去做，結果使真道受到毀謗。
第三節又指出，他們因着貪心，用捏造的話，在信徒身上取利。這讓我們看見，錯誤的教導可以與人的私慾和利益連在一起。人若貪愛利益，就可能扭曲真理；人若不願意離開罪，就容易接受那些容許自己繼續放縱的話。因此，我們需要留意：一個教導，正在把我們帶向哪裏？它是否忠於聖經，使我們承認主、順服主？還是讓我們逐漸忽略主的權柄，順着自己的慾望生活？
第一章鼓勵我們在認識主的根基上殷勤成長，到了這裏，我們就明白這件事的重要。若我們只跟着別人走，卻沒有認真認識神的話，就容易被錯誤的教導帶離正路。
今天，我們需要把所聽見的話帶回聖經，按經文的原意查驗，也願意讓神的話調整自己的想法。持守主的道路，首先要認清甚麼正在使我們偏離主。
二、信靠神的公義，在試探中持守敬虔
第三節指出，假教師的刑罰與滅亡必不落空。接着，彼得在第四至八節，用過去的事例說明：神必處理罪惡，也知道怎樣保守屬祂的人。犯罪的天使，不能逃避神的審判。
挪亞的時代，洪水臨到那不敬虔的世界，神卻保護了傳義道的挪亞一家八口。所多瑪和蛾摩拉因罪惡受到毀滅，神卻搭救了羅得。
彼得特別描述羅得身處其中的痛苦：「因為那義人住在他們中間，看見聽見他們不法的事，他的義心就天天傷痛。」——彼得後書2:8（和合本）
羅得每天看見、聽見不法的事，心裏受到折磨。神看見他的處境，也搭救了他。這些事例帶出第九節的結論：「主知道搭救敬虔的人脫離試探，把不義的人留在刑罰之下，等候審判的日子。」——彼得後書2:9（和合本）
這是我們在敗壞環境中可以抓住的確據：主知道。祂知道罪惡的真實情況，知道敬虔之人的痛苦，也知道怎樣搭救。有時候，看見別人藉着錯誤的手段得到利益，或看見放縱的人似乎沒有承受後果，我們可能會動搖，甚至覺得持守主的話很吃虧。
彼得提醒我們，要從神過去的作為，看見祂的公義。眼前的情況，不能推翻神必施行審判的事實。同時，身處試探和痛苦之中，我們可以向主求助。祂的搭救有祂的方式和時間；第九節給我們的確據，是主知道怎樣搭救敬虔的人。
今天，若我們正在一個很難持守信仰的環境裏，不要因為周圍的人都這樣做，就放下神的話。也不要讓自己的心，漸漸對罪惡失去感覺。羅得為不法的事傷痛，提醒我們持守一顆敬畏神的心。我們也可以把自己的處境帶到主面前，求祂保守我們，在壓力和試探中仍然順服祂。持守主的道路，需要相信：神看見，神掌權，神也知道怎樣搭救。
三、拒絕虛假自由，不再被敗壞轄制
從第十節下半開始，彼得進一步揭露假教師的真實面貌。他們膽大任性，輕慢所不明白的事；他們放縱情慾，心裏習慣了貪婪，又引誘心不堅固的人。
彼得說，他們離棄正路，走差了，隨從巴蘭的路。巴蘭的問題，是「貪愛不義之工價」（2:15）。這說明，利益可以成為使人偏離神道路的引誘。巴蘭甚至受到驢子的責備，攔阻他的狂妄。彼得藉此揭露，這些看似能教導別人的人，自己卻已經離開正路。
到了第十七節，彼得形容他們是「無水的井」，也是被狂風吹逼的霧氣。井本來應該供應水，卻沒有水；霧氣看似帶來盼望，卻被風吹散。他們的應許看似吸引，實際上不能供應人所需要的生命。彼得也指出，有墨黑的幽暗為他們存留，表明他們面對的審判。
他們說誇大的話，藉着肉體的情慾引誘那些剛脫離錯誤生活的人，並且應許人得自由。
但彼得揭露：「他們應許人得以自由，自己卻作敗壞的奴僕，因為人被誰制伏就是誰的奴僕。」——彼得後書2:19（和合本）
他們所應許的自由，把人帶回敗壞的轄制之中。一個人可能以為，能夠照自己的慾望去做，就是自由；但當他不能拒絕那個慾望，反而一次又一次受它控制，就顯明自己正在被轄制。
第二十至二十二節，把這個警告推到最嚴肅的地方。彼得描述人曾因認識主耶穌基督，脫離世上的污穢，後來卻又被纏住、被制伏，末後的景況比先前更不好。這段接續假教師和受引誘者的描述，提醒我們：認識了義路，卻背棄所領受的聖命，是一件極其嚴重的事。
最後，彼得用狗回到所吐的、洗淨的豬又回到泥裏打滾這兩個比喻，描寫重新回到污穢中的可悲情況。這些話使我們警醒：不要把使人回到罪中的應許，當作自由；也不要輕看自己所領受的真理。
今天，我們可以省察：有甚麼正在重新纏住我？是貪心、情慾，還是某個我明知道不合主心意，卻一直容許的行為？當主的話光照我們，就要回應祂。需要停止的，就停止；需要離開的，就離開；需要尋求幫助的，就誠實尋求幫助。持守主的道路，就是珍惜所領受的真理，不讓敗壞重新作我們的主人。
總結
彼得後書第二章，從「從前」的假先知，講到信徒中間的假教師；從神過去的審判與搭救，講到人被敗壞重新轄制的嚴重後果。這一章提醒我們：已經走在主的道路上，仍然需要警醒。
我們要認清引誘，用神的話查驗所接受的教導；在試探中信靠神，持守敬畏祂的心；並且拒絕虛假的自由，不讓敗壞重新轄制我們。神看見罪惡，也看見敬虔之人的痛苦。祂的審判必不落空，祂也知道怎樣搭救。
今天，讓我們認真回應所領受的真理，把主的話放進自己的選擇和生活，繼續持守主的道路。
Key Scriptures “Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.” —2 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)
“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.” —2 Peter 2:19 (NKJV)
Introduction
Second Peter chapter two begins by looking back: “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you…”
Peter first reminds the believers of what happened in the past. The people of Israel belonged to God. They had received His word. Yet false prophets appeared among them and led people away from God’s path.
Then Peter says, “There will be false teachers among you.”
This reminds us that even after we know Jesus and begin to follow Him, we still need to be watchful. Being part of a Christian community does not mean that every teaching we hear agrees with God’s truth.
In chapter one, Peter encourages believers to grow in their faith. He also explains that the prophets spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In chapter two, he exposes the danger of false teachers. Their teaching and their way of life lead people into corruption. Earlier in this letter, Peter says that his death is near. He gives these reminders so that believers will remember the truth and continue on the Lord’s path.
Today, let us learn from Second Peter chapter two how to stay on the Lord’s path without being controlled by corruption.
- Recognise the Danger of Teaching That Leads Us Away from the Lord
In verses one to three, Peter explains how false teachers influence believers.
They secretly bring in destructive heresies. They even deny the Lord who bought them. Their teaching leads people away from the Lord and towards destruction.
Peter continues: “And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.” —2 Peter 2:2 (NKJV)
Their problem is more than wrong words. Their lives are also marked by sinful behaviour. Others follow their example, and the way of truth is spoken against because of them.
Verse three says that, because of their greed, they use deceptive words to take advantage of believers.
Here we see how false teaching can be connected with selfish desires and personal gain. When people are greedy, they may twist the truth. When people do not want to leave their sin, they may welcome teaching that allows them to continue in it.
So we need to ask: Where is this teaching leading us? Is it faithful to Scripture? Does it help us honour and obey the Lord? Or does it encourage us to ignore His authority and follow our own desires?
Chapter one encourages us to grow in our knowledge of the Lord. Now we can see why this matters. If we only follow other people, without making the effort to understand God’s word, we can easily be led away from the right path.
Today, we need to bring what we hear back to Scripture. We need to understand the passage in its context and allow God’s word to correct our thinking. To stay on the Lord’s path, we must first recognise what may be leading us away from Him.
- Trust God’s Justice and Remain Godly in Times of Testing
Verse three makes clear that the judgment of these false teachers will not fail. Then, in verses four to eight, Peter gives examples from the past. These examples show that God judges evil and knows how to preserve His people.
The angels who sinned could not escape God’s judgment.
In Noah’s time, the flood came upon the ungodly world. Yet God preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, together with seven others.
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of their wickedness. Yet God delivered Lot. Peter describes the suffering Lot experienced: “For that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds.” —2 Peter 2:8 (NKJV)
Every day, Lot saw and heard the evil around him. It caused him deep distress. God saw his situation and delivered him.
These examples lead to the conclusion in verse nine: “Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.” —2 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)
This is the assurance we can hold on to when we live in a corrupt environment: the Lord knows. He knows the reality of evil. He knows the suffering of the godly. He also knows how to deliver them.
Sometimes we see people gaining something through dishonest means. We see others living in sin without any immediate consequences. We may begin to feel that obeying God puts us at a disadvantage.
Peter reminds us to look at what God has done in the past. His justice is real. What we see today does not cancel the certainty of His judgment.
At the same time, we can turn to the Lord in our trials and temptations. His deliverance comes in His way and in His time. Verse nine assures us that He knows how to deliver the godly.
Today, if we are in a place where following the Lord is difficult, we must not put aside His word simply because everyone around us lives differently. We must also guard our hearts from becoming comfortable with sin.
Lot’s distress over lawless deeds reminds us to keep a heart that fears God. We can bring our situation before the Lord and ask Him to help us remain obedient under pressure.
To stay on the Lord’s path, we need to trust that God sees, God rules, and God knows how to deliver.
- Reject False Freedom and Refuse to Be Controlled by Corruption
From the second half of verse ten, Peter describes the character of the false teachers in greater detail. They are bold and self-willed. They speak against things they do not understand. They indulge their sinful desires. Their hearts are trained in greed, and they draw unstable people into sin.
Peter says that they have left the right way and gone astray. They follow the way of Balaam, who “loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2:15).
This shows how the desire for gain can lead a person away from God’s path. Balaam was even rebuked by a donkey, which restrained his madness. Through this example, Peter exposes the folly of people who claim to guide others while they themselves have left the right way.
In verse seventeen, Peter describes them as “wells without water” and clouds carried by a storm. A well should provide water, but these wells have none. The clouds appear to offer something, but the storm carries them away. Their promises look attractive, yet they cannot provide what people truly need.
Peter also says that darkness is reserved for them. Their judgment is certain. They speak proud and empty words. Through sinful desires, they entice people who have only recently escaped from those living in error. They promise them freedom.
But Peter exposes the truth: “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.” —2 Peter 2:19 (NKJV)
The freedom they promise leads people back into slavery.
A person may think that freedom means doing whatever they desire. But when they cannot say no to that desire, and it controls them again and again, they are in bondage.
Verses twenty to twenty-two bring this warning to its most serious point. Peter describes people who have escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, but are then entangled in it again and overcome. Their final condition is worse than their first.
This passage continues the description of false teachers and those caught in their influence. It warns us how serious it is to know the way of righteousness and then turn away from the holy commandment we have received.
Finally, Peter uses two striking pictures: a dog returning to its own vomit, and a washed pig returning to the mud. These pictures show the tragedy of returning to corruption.
These words call us to be watchful. We must not accept a promise that leads us back into sin as true freedom. We must not treat lightly the truth we have received.
Today, we can ask ourselves: What is beginning to entangle me again? Is it greed, sinful desire, or a behaviour I know displeases the Lord but continue to allow?
When God’s word exposes something in our lives, we need to respond. If something needs to stop, stop it. If we need to leave a situation, leave it. If we need help, seek it honestly.
To stay on the Lord’s path, we must value the truth we have received and refuse to let corruption become our master again.
Conclusion
Second Peter chapter two moves from false prophets in the past to false teachers among believers. It points to God’s judgment and deliverance in history, and then warns of the serious consequences of being controlled by corruption again.
This chapter reminds us that even when we are following the Lord, we still need to be watchful.
We need to recognise deception and test the teaching we receive against God’s word. We need to trust God during trials and keep a heart that fears Him. We also need to reject false freedom and refuse to let corruption control us again.
God sees evil. He also sees the suffering of the godly. His judgment will not fail, and He knows how to deliver.
Today, let us respond faithfully to the truth we have received. Let us put the Lord’s word into our choices and our daily lives, and continue on His path.
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