Contempt For The Angels Series

“Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you.’” [1]

In a previous message that focused on the verses immediately preceding our text, we saw presented some dreadful examples of those who sin against God through perverting the faithful from obedient service to God. But Jude was not yet finished with those we have deemed spiritual termites and cockroaches, for he continues “Nevertheless, in the same way…” That is a literal translation of the manner in which Jude begins his next thought. In spite of the warnings provided in the Word of God and despite the warnings of history, these insects continually seek to do hurt and injury to the Church of the Living God.

By the standards of this world, Jude is not in the least charitable to those he is exposing. I suppose some among the professed churches of our Lord would argue no Christian should ever be uncharitable; but, then, the world has a decidedly warped view of the Faith. They view the old parson as a kind of Caspar Milquetoast with collar turned backwards as if he never quite knew in which direction he was going. The world thinks of Christianity as weak and timid, as sissified and sterile. Jude presents an alternative view which will stun the uninformed and uninitiated.

I recall reading once of a Southern Baptist social minister from the Mission District of San Francisco. The man claimed it was necessary to wear clerical garb to identify himself because he feared the people to whom he wished to minister. I should imagine he wore lace on his panties as well. Whatever happened to the man known as a Christian by the life he dared live? A true minister of God is identified by his life, and not by artificial accoutrements that he straps on each morning. One man identified the attitude that attempts to hide behind clerical collars as “peg leg” religion, religion that must be strapped on each morning. Though it may appear to be a substitute, it is cold and lifeless. A true minister of God will not always be charitable, especially when dealing with sin and its consequences; but he will serve those to whom he is sent. Because he serves the Risen Saviour, and because he cares for those to whom he ministers, he will speak the truth in love, and he will not soft-pedal the consequence of sin.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE DESTROYING THE WORK OF GOD is the first matter of which Jude treats in this portion of his brief letter. They “rely[] on their dreams,” is the first characterisation Jude presents. The word used is unique, occurring but twice in the New Testament. When we read this passage we might think that Jude was accusing them of being daydreamers. But that is not what Jude has in mind. These individuals claim to have new insight into the Scriptures—they claim to have superior knowledge to the fathers, they claim to be superior to the average Christian.

Though the word Jude uses for “dreams” is rarely found in the New Testament, it is rather commonly found in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament. One place where the word appears is in the Book of Deuteronomy. The passage to which I refer is significant, so it will enable understanding if you look at it. Turn, then, to DEUTERONOMY 13:1 5 where we read what Moses has written.

This is the solemn warning delivered by the Great Law Giver. “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.”