Robert Louis Stevenson, author of “Treasure Island” and “Kidnapped” was a conflicted professing Christian. He was raised by a staunch Presbyterian father, but his nanny was much more evangelical. Stevenson, as a child heard the gospel. During university Stevenson claimed to be an atheist, but later returned to his more Biblical roots. I’ve not found a clear testimony of his salvation, but I won’t rule out that he was a child of God. And one reason for that opinion can be found in his writings. I am told that in “Treasure Island,” Stevenson laid out a clear explanation of the gospel, but that in later editions it was eliminated by his editors so as not to offend his unbelieving readership. Stevenson also wrote another book, which, while not explaining the gospel, explains our need of the gospel. “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” illustrates the doctrine of the depravity of man. It develops the idea that inside every apparently good man there resides a wretched, sinful monster.
Dr. Jekyll is a good, moral man, but he also experiences an inner battle with horribly evil temptations. And once in a while, he doesn’t know if he likes his evil side more than his better side. Then in his secret lab he creates a serum designed to separate this evil nature from his outward persona. When taking this potion, Dr. Jekyll transforms himself into a cruel, remorseless, devilish man – Mr. Hyde. Jekyll has many friends and is an amiable person, but as Hyde, he becomes mysterious and violent. In fact, as Mr. Hyde, there is hardly any sin which he might not commit. As time goes by, going back and forth, Hyde grows in power, committing more and more atrocities. And then after taking his potion one too many times, Jekyll is completely overcome by his depravity. Mr. Hyde grows so strong that Jekyll loses control, and together they fall to their just reward.
Please don’t hold it against me, but I don’t feel any joy in studying Mr. Hyde this evening. I’m going to skim over these verses, only defining the words and making a few comments. But here is what I need you to know: Mr. Hyde dwells in the heart of every unregenerated man. There is not a single person on earth who might not murder or otherwise ruin someone. We are all children of our wicked father, who was a murderer from the beginning. And then – to some degree – this wicked stench remains hidden even in the soul of the believer. The only thing needed to bring Hyde out of Jekyll is a little wicked encouragement – a little evil serum. And with enough of that encouragement, Hyde may become permanent – even in a professing Christian. “And as natural brute beasts,” he is “made to be taken and destroyed” – verse 12. A case in point might be Judas Iscariot.
In the sentence under consideration, it appears to me that Peter has gone back to verse 1. “There shall be false teachers among you… and (they) bring upon themselves swift destruction.” Mr. Hyde “shall utterly perish in (his) own corruption” – verse 12. What are the characteristics of Mr. Hyde, Peter?
Verse 10:
Hyde is someone who “WALKS IN THE FLESH.” The unsanctified heart says, “Oh, that’s really not so bad. Everyone walks in the flesh, especially when he has no Holy Spirit. Everyone gets a little lustful once in a while. Everyone can lose his spiritual sanity, if the conditions are just right.” Just because some Christian likes watching Mr. Hyde on television that doesn’t make him Mr. Hyde. Just because he dreams of being a millionaire that doesn’t turn him into a thief. Just because he watches pornography on his computer, that doesn’t make him an adulterer. Is that so? Walking in the flesh can be as simple, and as sinful, as being a worry wort, a hot head or a unfriendly cold fish. And, says that same self-justifying Christian, “walking in the flesh has never sent anyone to hell.” While that may be true, just about every man ever sent to hell, spent his life walking in the flesh. Walking in the flesh and being cast into hell, are only one cup of poisonous serum away from each other.
Walking in the “LUST OF UNCLEANNESS,” takes walking in the flesh up a notch. I chuckled when I read the words of Dean Alford – a prim and proper Greek expert. He spoke like a common man when he described walking in the lust of uncleanness as: “HANKERING after (the) polluting and unlawful use of the flesh.” This isn’t walking after the flesh, but RUNNING after it – hankering and yearning for it. Mr. Hyde wants to forsake dull, monotonous Dr. Jekyll, because he thirsts for darker, evil things.
And so he participates in unseemly, immoral and illegal activities – despising morality and rules of law – “DESPISING GOVERNMENT.” The word “government” in verse 10 is related to “kurios.” It speaks of “lordships,” which certainly includes the lordship of Christ Jesus. Mr. Hyde says, “I will not have the Son of God to rule over me.” With this being true in their hearts, there are a lot of professing Christians who are really basement dwelling Hydes. There are many professing Christians who refuse to listen to what Christ tells His disciples.
The Biblical word “PRESUMPTUOUS” is found only in this verse; it basically refers to “daring.” The sinner usually knows there is a divine government – there is a Lord over heaven and earth. But he’s willing to try his hand at rebellion – pushing back the Lord’s envelop – daring God to judge him. Even Christians can feel this way from time to time, defying God to flash down His lightning bolts. Mr. Hypocrite… Mr. Hyde… don’t plead the blood of Christ; don’t press your sonship too hard. You may be self-deceived. Being one of the disciples certainly didn’t help Judas. Along with that self-deception comes SELF-WILL – wilfulness and self-pleasing. It might be said that at the root of all sin lays “self.”
Mr. Hyde is not afraid “TO SPEAK EVIL OF DIGNITIES.” The Greek word is translated “dignities” twice, but nearly 150 times it is rendered “glory” or “glorious.” In the next verse Peter refers to the angels of God, who are not going to speak evil of any “dignities.” And by the way, “to speak evil” is the Greek word “blaspheme.” Doesn’t that take the verbal attack in a more heavenly direction?
Mr. Hyde is not afraid to shake his fist toward heaven. “No, I will not give the Lord’s day back to Him, and I will not give of my substance to support God’s work. I don’t care what Christ says, I will not share my testimony with others. I will not honor my father or mother or pastor. I don’t care what the Bible tells me.”
Verse 12 lays out some more characteristics of Mr. Hyde.
Anyone before regeneration – living in the flesh – is little more than “A NATURAL BRUTE BEAST.” About all he is good for is to be taken to the grave. Sometimes sooner would be better than later. The word “natural” is a translation of “physical.” This person may have a soul, but it is impossible to say that he is “spiritual.” And as such he will be consumed by the fire that he set himself. He is an arsonist who dies in his own blaze, and it is not a blaze of glory.
Again Peter uses the word “blasphemy.” This brute beast speaks evil of things he can’t begin to understand, because the things of God can only be spiritually discerned. He may SAY he understands the nature of God, but if he did he would bow before the Lord. He may say he understands the sacrifice of Christ, but if he did he would love Christ. He has no idea what hell and the lake of fire entail. And other doctrines, like divine grace and God’s sovereignty, are as mysterious to him as life itself.
And yet Mr. Hyde lives the home of Dr. Jekyll; sometimes he may even attend Dr. Jekyll’s church.
He may feast politely with the best people in town, and may even dine at the table of the Lord. But he does so in his hypocritical, Dr. Jekyll or Judas Iscariot, form. All those pretenses are nothing but emptiness. They are leprous spots and hideous blemishes where beauty ought to be.
In another scripture, the Bible points out that most people choose to sin while in the shadows. “Men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.” Judas left the Lord and the disciples in the upper room and went out into the night. But more and more often today, Mr. Hyde takes pleasure in rioting in the open daylight. He doesn’t hide in basements and back rooms any more. No, he joins his sinful friends demanding special holidays to honor their mutual wickedness. They get permission from foolish governments to have disgusting parades in front of the eyes of the world and before the children they’d like to corrupt.
Verse 14:
Mr. Hyde drinks his serum, because he has “EYES FULL OF ADULTERY.” He enjoys what his lustful eyes imagine and promote, until he is consumed by them. He drinks his serum so often that eventually, he doesn’t need it anymore. He gets to the point that cannot cease from sin; it is insatiable within him; he is totally unstable. His heart becomes so corrupt that he exercises his evil covetous practices like the gym rat lifting weights. Over and over again he repeats his sinful “reps” in an effort to become stronger and stronger in sin.
Verse 14 speaks of “cursed children,” meaning that this man has become “A CHILD OF THE CURSE.” He is going to be cursed, because that curse is as natural to him… as it is natural for any human baby to have two eyes, two ears and ten toes.
Verse 15:
Dr. Jekyll has become Mr. Hyde, because he has deliberately “FORSAKEN GOD’S WAY” – the right way. He has taken his accursed potion, because he learned to love the taste of corruption that it provides. He shouldn’t be surprised when he finds he can’t climb out of the pit he dug for himself. He has “forsaken the right way,” and found himself “GONE ASTRAY.”
“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” may be a scarey and disturbing book. And one of the reasons that is so is that it holds up a mirror before our eyes. Until we are born from above, we are all Mr. Hyde. That is a terrible thought. “All we like sheep have gone astray” – Isaiah 53:6.
Peter mentions Balaam, the son of Beor – one of the most enigmatic Old Testament characters. In Numbers he is described as a “prophet,” and he often used the holy name of God – “Jehovah.” Unless I am reading this incorrectly, Peter seems to put Balaam into the camp with the false prophets of the Old Testament. He certainly fits some of the criteria – most particularly, “loving the wages of unrighteousness.” He “through covetousness… with feigned words made merchandise” of the people of Israel. But he was rebuked by the Lord; he was rebuked through the lips of a “dumb ass” – a donkey. Remember that the word “dumb” in God’s Word doesn’t speak of “stupid,” but rather of the inability to speak God used an unspeaking animal to speak the unspeakable word of God to a Mr. Hyde in prophet’s clothing.
One way to look at all this is that just as the Lord warned Balaam… Peter is warning us against the wickedness of the human heart. But bless God for His willingness to speak to the Mr. Hydes of this world. For three years He looked directly into the eyes of Judas and told him the truth. Yes, Balaam, Judas and a thousand other false prophets have spread their poisonous serums. And many of God’s true prophets have been stoned and martyred by Mr. Hyde throughout the centuries. But, even though, the human mouth piece has been silenced, the eternal Word has not.
Listen up, Mr. Hyde, “The Lord knoweth how to… reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.” You will not escape. You can’t blame your serum, your parents, your society or the devil. It is all about you. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”