What the False Teachers Were Like
8-13
Similar to these Old Testament people and angels, the false teachers in Jude’s time did many things that were wrong. They relied on their dreams instead of God’s word. (8) We have these claims today that people hear God tell them something that is contrary to his Word (or they just make it up).
Relying on their dreams, the false teachers commit three sins:
(1) they defiled the flesh (sexual sin);
(2) they reject authority; and
(3) they blaspheme the glorious ones. (8)
So, first, the false teachers were immoral: they defiled the the flesh, or polluted their bodies. This refers to sexual immorality. We see that in many pseudo-Christian cults today. The leaders believe they are entitled to commit sexually immoral acts with their followers. Also, some teachers teach that sexuality that is outside that permitted in God’s word is acceptable. God will hold them accountable for leading people astray.
The false teachers rejected authority. This refers to the Lord’s authority even though that is not clear in the English translation. But the Greek word used here, kyriotes, never refers to human authority. This interpretation fits in with verse 4, which says some deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
There is a reason that Jesus is called Lord. He is our master and we do what he says. It is especially grievous for one to call oneself a minister, priest, or preacher of God’s word, yet defy him by teaching other than his word says. Jesus said we are truly his disciples if we abide in his word, not if we make up our own stuff. (John 8:32)
Lastly, the false teachers blaspheme the glorious ones. To blaspheme is to insult or show contempt for deity or sacred things. In this case, the false teachers insulted or showed contempt for angels, the glorious ones. In this case, it seems to mean the fallen angels. Jude does not say why the false teachers want to insult these angels.
So, you might think that, since they are fallen, why is it bad to insult them? I think it is because they are greater than humans, at least for the time being. They are a superior level of creation than mankind. 2 Peter 2:10 also condemned those who blaspheme the glorious ones. Peter pointed out that angels who did not fall do not pronounce blasphemous judgment on the failed angels, and they are of greater might and power than humans. Peter went on to say the false teachers blaspheme about matters of which they are ignorant. So, the angels are higher beings than us and we do not know all that is involved in all of this.
As an example, Jude mentions a story about the archangel Michael dealing with the devil. It happened when Moses died. We know from Deuteronomy 34 that Moses, not being allowed to go into the promised land, died in the country of Moab and was buried there, but that no one knows where for sure.
However, the story Jude tells about Michael disputing with the devil over the body of Moses, does not appear in the Old Testament and we do not know where Jude got it. Some think it comes from a writing called the Assumption of Moses which has been lost to us.
Jude’s point, though, is that even this archangel did not show contempt to the devil, but simply said “the Lord rebuke you”, invoking the power of the Lord over Satan. That statement does have a place in Scriptures.
In Zechariah 3:1, Zechariah saw Joshua the high priest standing before the “angel of the Lord”.
stood at the angel’s right hand and accused Joshua the high priest. Joshua was guilty: his filthy garments represented his sin.
But, God forgave Joshua, as seen by his giving Joshua clean vestments and taking away his iniquity. (5) The LORD said: “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan!”. This was a vindication of Joshua and a declared defeat of Satan.
So it appears that Satan wanted the body of Moses to prevent his proper burial, accusing him of sin. He did sin by not honoring the Lord before Israel, by striking the rock. That is why the Lord did not allow him into the promised land.
Michael, though, knew Moses was forgiven by God and, therefore, asked God to rebuke Satan and vindicate Moses. But he did not blaspheme or insult Satan.
Michael is a powerful and honored angel. He is “archangel” - one of authority and prominence.
He is one of the “chief princes”. (Daniel 10:13) He is the “great prince”. (Daniel 12:1) Yet, this great and powerful angel did not blaspheme Satan.
If he did not, we human beings certainly should not.
So Jude pronounces a judgment very similar to that in 2 Peter, saying the false teachers blasphemed what they did not understand and are destroyed.
It is important for us to observe the limits of God’s revelation to us. The Bible is sufficient- it tells us all God wants us to know & all we need to know to live the Christian life. It is not for us to speculate or expand this revelation based on our desires, dreams or speculations. To do so risks serious error and heresy, leading to judgment.
Following this up, Jude kind of goes into a rant, comparing the false teachers first to bad characters of the Old Testament, then to unproductive things in nature. It is a blistering condemnation.
First, Just said they were like Cain, whom God rejected because he did not bring the correct offering to the Lord as Abel did. (Genesis 4) Can chose wickedness over goodness. The false teachers did the same.
They were also like Balaam, who gave himself to error for the sake of gain, meaning monetary gain. (Numbers 21 et seq) Balaam accepted money from a foreign king to curse the Israelites. He led the Israelites into sexual sin. He was finally killed in battle, fighting the Israelites. He suffered judgment in this way, as will the false teachers who taught for financial gain.
They would have perished in Korah’s rebellion. Korah, a Levite, led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. The Lord caused the earth to open and swallow them, then closed over them, in front of the whole assembly of Israel. (Numbers 16) Likewise, the false teachers would suffer terrible judgment for their actions.
Next, Jude give a long list of things to describe the false teachers; they are all dangerous or unproductive things.
They are hidden reefs (ESV & NASB) at the love feast. A hidden reef would be a danger to a ship trying to get into port & could tear the ship apart if it was grounded on the reef. It is an unseen danger. The “love feast” (including the Lord’s Supper) was a symbol of the love believers had for each other and for God. The warning is that the false teachers did not really love the believers or God and thus were a danger to the fellowship. These teachers felt no fear at eating the supper deceptively - they had no fear of the Lord.
They were shepherds feeding themselves. This is a reference to Ezekiel 34:2 - “Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?”
God promised judgment for these shepherds, leaders of Israel, that would be accountable to him. These false teachers in Jude’s time did not care about the flock; they just took care of themelves.
They were waterless clouds. (12) In a desert, a cloud with no rain is a big disappointment.
They promise much, but deliver nothing. “Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give”. (Proverbs 25:14)
They were fruitless trees. They produced no fruit as a Christian or a teacher, no good works
They were completely dead spiritually (twice dead). (12)
They were wild waves foaming their own shame. (13) While the previous example was of no works, this is an example of evil works, like a wave that washes up muck and weeds upon the shore. “The wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.” (Isaiah 57:20)
The false teachers were like wandering stars. They did not follow the order of things prescribed by the Lord and so could not be counted on to give aid in finding your way.
The false teachers would be judged by the Lord and punished in eternity, placed in the gloom of utter darkness forever. (13) This mirrors verse 6, where rebellious angels are said to be kept in gloomy darkness until the final judgment. They will not experience the light of the glory of God.
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