Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Peter 2:14

"having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unstedfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing;" — 2 Peter 2:14 (ASV)

In the Greek text vv.12–16 form one sentence. So the vivid phrase “with eyes full of adultery” (meaning to desire every woman they see) implies that the false teachers desired to turn church gatherings into times of dissipation. Their eyes unceasingly looked for sin. They “seduce” (or “lure”; GK 1284) “unstable” persons, i.e., those with no foundation to their lives. In 1:12 of this letter Peter has spoken of his readers as being “firmly established in the truth,” and in 3:16– 17 he will warn them of “unstable people” and of the danger of falling “from [their] secure position” (similar Greek words are used here). Deep within these false teachers are thoughts of “greed” (GK 4432) and avarice. Of them Peter exclaims, “An accursed brood!” (lit., “children of a curse”), meaning that God’s curse is on them.