The Dog and the Sow 2 Peter 2:22

As the apostle Peter concludes this second chapter of the second letter by his name, he has one more description of the false prophets and people who follow them. In verse twenty-two he wrote:

But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

The verse begins, “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again;” As though he could not be more pointed about the way he felt concerning these false teachers, Peter recalls in part Proverbs chapter twenty-six and verse eleven:

As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.

The idea Peter is conveying is that rather than stay away from the “pollutions of the world” these who are entangled within the doctrine of the false teachers return to the very evils from which they were delivered.

The verse goes on to say, “and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” Peter employs a “sow” or a “swine” or “pig” as his next illustration. There is something very interesting about a “sow” or pig. A person could rescue a pig from out of its muddy environment, wash it all over and make it clean, pare its nails and put perfume and a bow upon it, but as soon as it gets back outside, it will retreat to the muddy bath once again. There is a reason for this – it's a pig. Peter likens those “who were clean escaped from them who live in error” and return to their “wantonness” lifestyle to this type of “sow”. If Peter has not been descriptive enough in his words about those who fall away from the faith, the “dog” and “sow” pictures should be very clear.

Do we know people who have once walked with the Lord Jesus and then turned back to the worldly ways? Are there people who live among us who seem to be returning to the regurgitated and muddy rudiments of the world that they once forsook? Perhaps they have forsaken the daily washing of the word of God, and now their scent is that of a wallowing pig once again? As we think about Peter's description, we should consider whether or not we have begun to lean toward the unseemly filth that is in the world, and also be ready to rescue those who have already returned. May the Lord Jesus help us to discern when either scenario comes into our lives, and then be ready to act upon it.

Next time we will begin a new chapter and learn once again of Peter's purpose for writing this letter, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

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