Matthew Henry Commentary 2 Peter 3

The purified minds of Christians should be stirred up, so that they may be active and lively in the work of holiness. There will be scoffers in the last days, under the gospel, men who make light of sin and mock at salvation by Jesus Christ.

One very important article of our faith concerns something that rests solely on a promise, and scoffers will attack it until our Lord comes. They will not believe that He will come. Because they see no changes, they do not fear God (Psalms 55:19). What He has never done, they imagine He never can do, or never will do.

If these scoffers had considered the dreadful vengeance with which God swept away a whole world of ungodly men at once, surely they would not have scoffed at His threatening an equally terrible judgment. The heavens and the earth that now exist, by the same word, it is declared, will be destroyed by fire. This is as sure to come as the truth and the power of God can make it.

Christians are here taught and established in the truth of the coming of the Lord. Though, in human reckoning, there is a vast difference between one day and a thousand years, yet, in God's reckoning, there is no difference. All things past, present, and future are always before Him: the delay of a thousand years cannot mean as much to Him as putting off anything for a day or an hour means to us.

If people have no knowledge or belief of the eternal God, they will be very likely to think of Him as being like themselves. How hard it is to form any thoughts of eternity! What people consider slowness is long-suffering, and that toward us; it is giving more time to His own people to advance in knowledge and holiness, and in the exercise of faith and patience, to abound in good works, doing and suffering what they are called to, that they may bring glory to God.

Therefore, settle it in your hearts that you will certainly be called to give an account of all things done in the body, whether good or evil. And let a humble and diligent walking before God, and a frequent judging of yourselves, show a firm belief in the future judgment, though many live as if they were never to give any account at all. This day will come when people are secure and have no expectation of the Day of the Lord.

The stately palaces, and all the desirable things in which worldly-minded people seek and place their happiness, will be burned up; all kinds of creatures God has made, and all human works, must pass through the fire, which will be a consuming fire to all that sin has brought into the world, though a refining fire to the works of God's hand. What will become of us if we set our affections on this earth and make it our portion, since all these things will be burned up?

Therefore, secure happiness beyond this visible world.

From the doctrine of Christ's second coming, we are exhorted to purity and godliness. This is the effect of real knowledge. Very exact and universal holiness is enjoined, not resting in any low measure or degree. True Christians look for new heavens and a new earth, freed from the vanity to which present things are subject, and the sin with which they are polluted. Only those who are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and sanctified by the Holy Ghost, shall be admitted to dwell in this holy place.

He who has promised is faithful. Those whose sins are pardoned, and their peace made with God, are the only safe and happy people. Therefore, pursue peace with all people, and pursue holiness as well as peace. Never expect to be found in peace on that day of God if you are lazy and idle in this your day, in which we must finish the work given us to do. Only the diligent Christian will be the happy Christian in the day of the Lord.

Our Lord will suddenly come to us, or shortly call us to him; and will he find us idle? Learn to make a right use of the patience of our Lord, who still delays his coming. Proud, carnal, and corrupt people seek to distort some things into a seeming agreement with their wicked doctrines. But this is no reason why Saint Paul's epistles, or any other part of the Scriptures, should be set aside, for people, left to themselves, pervert every gift of God.

Then let us seek to have our minds prepared for receiving things that are hard to understand, by putting into practice things that are easier to understand. But there must be self-denial, suspicion of ourselves, and submission to the authority of Christ Jesus before we can heartily receive all the truths of the gospel; therefore, we are in great danger of rejecting the truth. And whatever opinions and thoughts of people are not according to the law of God, and warranted by it, the believer disclaims and abhors.

Those who are led away by error fall from their own steadfastness. So that we may avoid being led away, we must seek to grow in all grace, in faith, virtue, and knowledge. Strive to know Christ more clearly and more fully; to know him so as to be more like him and to love him better. This is the knowledge of Christ, which the apostle Paul strove for and desired to attain. Those who taste this effect of the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will, upon receiving such grace from him, give thanks and praise him, and join in ascribing glory to him now, in the full assurance of doing the same hereafter, forever.