Guide to The Pilgrim's Progress Part Two

Then, as they were coming in from abroad, they espied a little robin with a great spider in his mouth. So the Interpreter said, “Look here.” So they looked; and Mercy wondered. But Christiana said, “What a disparagement is it to such a pretty little bird as the robin redbreast is; he being also a bird above many, that loves to maintain a kind of sociableness with man! I had thought they had lived upon crumbs of bread, or upon other such harmless matter. I like him worse than I did.”

The Interpreter then replied, “This robin is an emblem very apt to set forth some professors by; for to sight they are as this robin, pretty of note, color, and carriage; they seem also to have a very great love for professors that are sincere; and above all other, to desire to sociate with and to be in their company, as if they could live upon the good man's crumbs. They pretend also, that therefore it is that they frequent the house of the godly, and the appointments of the Lord; but when they are by themselves as the robin, they can catch and gobble up spiders, they can change their diet, drink iniquity, and swallow down sin like water.”

Notes and Commentary

Before returning to the house for supper, the Interpreter draws another spiritual lesson from nature. The pilgrims see “a little robin with a great spider in his mouth.” They are familiar with robins. Its recognizable color is a welcome sight and its cheerful song is a delight to hear. Robins are beloved and associated with happiness and glad tidings. The sighting of a robin is often believed to be a sign of the passing of winter and the arrival of spring. Robins are friendly, willing to be around people and feed on bread crumbs.

Yet here the pilgrims see the robin’s true nature. While it can easily feed on berries and bread crumbs, its diet is more instinctively insects, worms, spiders, and even small snakes. Christiana is taken aback to see such a beautiful, sociable bird feasting on such a meal!

The Interpreter draws an analogy between the robin and “some professors” of the faith.

Robins are like some who frequently attend church services, who look the part, and who are quite convincing in playing the role of a Christian. They “seem also to have a very great love” for the church and “they pretend” to serve the Lord, but at heart they prove to be hypocrites. They pretend to be something they do not intend to be. At church they sing a cheerful song and partake of bread and wine. But in private they “change their diet, drink iniquity, and swallow down sin like water.”

Jesus condemned such behavior among the religious leaders in His day.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matthew 23:27–28).

Hypocrites have the appearance of godliness. But in reality they are full of corruption and deceit. Though they desire to be seen as godly, they have little desire to live godly lives, especially at home and in private.

True godliness is the result of divine power that brings about a changed life. Peter describes this divine power the opening verses of 2nd Peter:

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1:2–4).

Hypocrites may profess faith in Christ, but without the saving power of God’s grace, they remain ensnared by sin and corruption. They continue to love and cling to sin. They lack true repentance and faith that is evident in a changed life.

A changed life does not mean a life that is perfect or that never struggles or falls into sin. But it does mean a life that recognizes sin as evil and flees from it. It means a life that finds no lasting pleasure in sin—a life that is not content to remain in sin. A changed life is a life of daily repentance and faith, turning away from sin and turning to Christ. It is a life that rests in Christ’s righteousness and seeks to walk in holiness and humility. It is a life that is entirely impossible apart from the saving power of God’s grace.

This lesson may at first appear to be coincidental. The pilgrims happen to see a robin with a spider in his mouth. But every lesson is valuable. The House of the Interpreter represents God’s Word and every part of God’s Word is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Just as in Part 1, the lessons in the House of the Interpreter are given to guide the pilgrims on their journey to the Celestial City. The lessons in Part 2 help them understand the nature of the local church. They learn to distinguish a true church (a garden) from a worldly church (a field). And they learn to distinguish between a true profession of faith (that desires to please God) and one that is mere pretense (that seeks to impress men). They are to be wise and discerning when travelers come among them to walk with them on the journey. Who should they welcome as fellow church members? Not everyone who wears the colors and sings the songs is a true believer. Paul warned of those who have only “a form of godliness” but whose lives give no evidence of the true saving power of God’s grace.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1–5).

This is a warning we must heed. First and foremost we must mortify such sins when we see them try to take root in our own lives. And we must not join with those who refuse to repent and chose to cling to such sins. We cannot walk together with those who will not forsake their sin. To do so would lead us back to Destruction.

This lesson will prove to be valuable to the pilgrims as they increase their company and continue their journey to the Celestial City.

Continue reading 32. Proverbs before Supper

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The text for The Pilgrim's Progress
and images used are public domain
Notes and Commentary for Part II ©2014, 2021–2023 Ken Puls

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from
the New King James Version (NKJV) ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Above image created from Unsplash

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