Scorpions are not false teachers exclusively, they are wicked men who do you harm. Ezekiel 2:6 And you, son of man, you must not be afraid of them, and you must not be afraid of their words, because briers and thorns are with you, and you are sitting among scorpions. You must not be afraid of their words, and you must not be dismayed because of their looks, for they are a rebellious house. A sting of a scorpion will kill a man, so therefore do not be afraid of them, do not fear who can kill the body, but rather the soul. Luke 12:4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. Therefore preach the truth, no matter what threats they or harm they bring towards you. [snip=Church Father: Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume VIII] But we, miserable as we are, dwelling as it were with deadly serpents (822: Exe 2:6 referencing scorpions) —I mean with wicked men—necessarily suffer with them the plagues of afflictions in this world, but we cherish hope from the comfort of good things to come.” [/snip] [snip=Gill] and thou dost dwell among scorpions; that is, as the Targum paraphrases it, "thou dwellest in the midst of a people whose works are like to scorpions.' Some interpret it, as Kimchi observes, of sharp thorns, of a thorny plant that grows in the form of a scorpion {a}; but scorpions here are a kind of serpents, subtle, venomous, and mischievous, which have stings in their tails; which, as Pliny says, they are continually thrusting out, and striking with, that they may lose no opportunity of doing hurt {b}; and fitly describe wicked men their subtlety and mischievous nature, be not afraid of their words; as before; with which they are like briers, thorns, and scorpions, being very grievous, defamatory, and mischievous: nor be dismayed at their looks: their frowning furious, and angry countenances; forbidding with which, as well as with their words, the prophet from prophesying unto them: [/Gill] [snip=Poole] Scorpions: some say this is an herb which, because it is every way armed with sharp, pricking stings, hath this name given it; but if we retain the more common interpretation, it speaks the rage and heat, the poisonous malice, and the sly lurking craft and irreconcilableness, of these apostate Jews, and of all other contemners of God and religion. These men, like scorpions, undiscerned, wound, torment, and kill. [/snip] Remember, we must keep everything in context. Can this point to a false teacher? Of course, but it is not exclusively talking of one, it is speaking of wicked men in general, a rebellious house.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 19:05:18 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015