“These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage,” verse16.
Girls and boys, I want you to notice that this verse contains yet ANOTHER description of the enemies of Christ, the corrupters of the gospel!
Often times the police, when warning the public about a dangerous criminal on the loose, will issue a very detailed description of that person, including some photos, full face and side view. They are anxious that the public make no mistake about the identity of this person and so give as much information about them as they can. This is what the Lord is doing for us here regarding the ‘creepers’ (verse 4), for these ‘ungodly men’ with their attacks on Christ, are highly dangerous!
This epistle is a call to arms by the Lord. It is especially the duty of ministers to answer this call and defend the flock of God from the attacks of these ‘deniers’ of “the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In verse 16 we learn that:
1. They are subtle in their attack. They are murmurers! The word used of them is an example of ‘onomatopoeia’ — spelt as it sounds. (ie. ‘Sizzle’). It appears only here in the New Testament. They are unique. They complain against God. They don’t like His laws and commands, His standards and requirements of men.They squirm and are uncomfortable under His instructions. They secretively ‘mutter’ behind God’s back as it were, seeking to encourage others to share in their antagonism!
2. They are complainers. This is also a unique word, appearing only here in the New Testament. They complain about God and His ways and how it is He treats mankind! But remember this — mankind is at WAR with God and He who could destroy all in a moment, instead, deals in mercy, offering salvation freely and that at the cost of His Son’s death upon the cross. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.
3. They are defiers of God. “Walking after their own lusts.” The Bible tells us, “This is the way, walk ye in it,” Isaiah 30:21. But these men are walking in their own way, guided by their sinful natures. The Lord Jesus said of Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” John 14:6. But these men reject the Saviour and would have others join them in such evil defiance!
4. They become very vocal in their rebellion. There is a very important truth stated in Ecclesiastes 8:11. “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” These men may have started off ‘murmuring and muttering against God BUT, because they think they are getting away with it, they become more bold! “Their mouth speaketh great swelling words.” Their words are ‘swollen’, as infection and poison causes swelling! They are filled to bursting point with a sense of their own importance and power! One of the best examples of such was a man called Prof. J E Davey. He persuaded the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in 1927 to reject God’s Word and follow his wisdom and views. He led many to ruin and to hell!
5. They ‘admire’ men rather than the Lord. The word Greek word for ‘admiration’ first appears in Matthew 8:10. “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Faith in Christ’s power and word is to be admired. These men admire men.
The word appears later in the same chapter. “But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” verse 27. Again, it is Christ’s power that is admired.
6. Their admiring of men, is hypocritical and engaged in for their own advantage. “Having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.” Self interest, self advantage is what motivate these men. It is the very opposite to what ought to be our objective in life. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness,” Matthew 6:33.
We must put God and the affairs of His kingdom first, before all other considerations.
Boys and girls, it pays those who do so, for the rest of the verse reads: “ . . . and all these things shall be added unto you.” The “these things” are set forth in verse 31. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?”
That, girls and boys is the sum total of all our earthly needs. It is for this that men and women labour and toil. They toil more than necessary for they are never content with having enough. They want more. But when we serve the Lord, He amply supplies all our needs. This He has promised.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:19. Paul said: “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.,” 1 Timothy 6:8.
These evil men would deprive us of God’s provision and have us chase after the empty follies of man’s greed!