First of all knowing this, that in the last days scoffers will come, walking according to their own lusts,
Truth to Learn
There are many today who mock Christians and who scoff at the truth of the Bible, but some day they will be silenced.
Behind the Words
The word translated “first of all” is the Greek word proton, which is an adverb that denotes “preeminence in importance or location.” In this case Peter is not saying that this is the first in a series of things to know, rather he is saying that this is the most important thing to know.
The word translated “scoffers” is the Greek word empaiktēs, which means “someone who mocks or scoffs at the truth,” and it is often used of false teachers (like those we learned about in the previous chapter).
Meaning Explained
Peter said a couple of verses back that he had written both this and the previous letters “as reminders to stimulate you to sincere thinking.” The thing he wants his readers to remember is in the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the apostles. He now tells us another thing that he wants us to remember.
He starts this verse off with, “First of all.” The most important thing he wants his readers to remember is that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking our faith and following their own evil desires. These scoffers will be constantly under the servitude of their own lusts according to Peter. Instead of living a victorious life by the power of the Spirit of God, these false teachers live their lives controlled by their overpowering desires (the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life). Jude, in his short letter, says something very similar:
But you, beloved ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers following after their own ungodly desires.” (Jude 17,18)
Peter will get into more detail in the next verse concerning the specifics of their scoffing. For now, let us consider that today there are many people in the world who mock Christianity and who portray Christians as mindless buffoons sitting in church pews droning on, “Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves …” These same people who make a mockery of what we hold dear and sacred are controlled by their own lusts. In fact, they are so enslaved to them that they can’t possibly understand how anyone in their right mind could give up control of his or her life to God, because they don’t know Him.
Application
Our responsibility in the face of these scoffers is to live lives worthy of the Name by which we are called. We may not silence these scoffers while they are on this earth, but at the Great White Throne judgment when they stand before the one to whom we are submitted today, they will submit… and be committed… to the lake of fire. They will be eternally separated from the One at whom they are now scoffing, and on that day they will not think it so funny.
So… live your witness before all the world and don’t be a chameleon even though some may mock you!
In God's service, for His glory,
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