Jude’s Warning (Part 2)
Jude 8-16
Introduction
- Tonight we will continue our study of the book of Jude
- Jude writes with a heart of love of believers to strengthen them
-- He started our hoping to write a peaceful letter to the early church
-- A note of encouragement and well-wishes for all; a “best wishes” card
- Instead, God called him (pressed on Him) to be direct in warning all
-- APP: Lots or people dislike this kind of teaching, but it is important
-- Not that we should try to scare people into heaven (if we could …)
-- But that we would be willing to be honest and prepared with the whole truth
- It is here that we pick up on our study …
- Read Jude 8-16
- Pray
- There are four really heavy things that we need to see about false teachers
-- Remember, this is from Jude, the half-brother of Jesus writing to early Christians
∆ Point 1 – False Teachers Reject Authority
- First, these false teachers rejected authority (v8)
-- From the results of their dreams, they relied on others to blindly follow them
-- Their claim was to have some “other authority” that people should obey them
-- They claimed divine revelation allowed them to be immoral and sin
-- Therefore, they could pollute their own bodies and live however they wanted
- These false teachers slandered celestial beings (v9)
-- We learn from Jude that the archangel Michael was sent to bury Moses
-- Jewish tradition tells us that the devil argued with him about this task
-- But even Michael did not argue with Satan, simply said “The Lord rebuke you”
-- APP: Even Michael did not slander when he had authority to do so
-Third, they spoke abusively against things they didn’t understand (v10)
-- APP: Consider the actions of an angry 2 year old not getting his way …
-- Their reaction to truth (or things they didn’t know) was to ridicule it away
-- Jude even categorizes them as “unreasoning animals”
- Re: Michelle and I talking last night wondering what our 5 silly dogs think
-- EX: Buddy will bark and howl at anyone who comes in … why?
-- Even with us telling him to shush he still continues with max volume
-- Why would he continue to do this? Cause he is an irrational animal
-- Conclusion: They simply act on instinct rather than think things through
- IMP: Jude just said these false teachers act the VERY same way …
- Michael had extreme respect, as does Jude here for the things of God
-- APP: God’s things are His, and we are to know them – but not cast them away
-- This is exactly what false teachers do: replace God’s teaching with their own
- TRANS: False teacher will always reject God’s authority, and live in sin
∆ Point 2 – False Teachers Participate in Sin
- Jude takes all the things they are involved in (v8-10) and casts WOE to THEM!
- They have taken the way of Cain (v11); morally bankrupted themselves:
-- They worshipped God according to their own understanding – CAIN
-- They were full of envy and hatred for others – CAIN
-- They had a murderous spirit within them – CAIN
-- They were disobedient and unbelieving in the true God – CAIN
- Not only did they assume the role of the Bible’s first murderer …
-- They rushed for profit in the same error that Balaam had made
-- Balaam was hired by Balak to put a curse on the Israelites
-- 2 Peter 2:15-16, “They have left the straightway and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey - an animal without speech - who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.”
- These are the same Israelites who were wandering in the wilderness
-- APP: Balaam’s service was NOT for God, but for money rcvd from Balak
- Jude then mentions Korah, who rebelled against Moses and Aaron (Num 16)
-- Korah tried to raise a sedition against Moses and Aaron (with 250 men)
-- His supposition was that Moses has gone too far; he was too big for his britches
-- Num 16:3, “They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”
- Moses rebuked them, counseled with God, and God spoke clearly to avoid them
-- God would later destroy them by having the an earthquake swallow them up
- Jude’s reminder of this would’ve been powerful to show what happens
- TRANS: These teachers loved to promote themselves, just as others have before
∆ Point 3 – False Teachers are Deceptive Leaders
- Third, these false teachers were deceptive leaders (v12-13)
-- Jude uses the term “love feasts” to suggest they were having communion meals
-- Acts 20:7-11 gives us a great insight as to what these meals consisted of, “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left.”
- However, what these were doing was simply feeding themselves physically
-- There was no spiritual growth happening – just food and merriment
- Jude offers four colorful pictures to describe these men:
1. clouds without rain, blown along by the wind;
2. autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted - twice dead
3. wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame;
4. wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever
- Basically, these teachers serve no real purpose in the church (or anywhere else)
- TRANS: Lastly, false teachers are always looking out for themselves …
∆ Point 4 – False Teachers are Self-Serving
- Jude’s mention of a prophecy from Enoch is interesting (v14)
-- Enoch is not a book of the bible, but a prophecy carefully preserved
-- Probably passed down from generations and carefully recited/memorized
- Enoch declared that the Lord would come with thousands to overcome
-- That his judgment would fall on those who were guilty of their actions
-- Not only their acts, but even their words and things they’ve said about God
- We know that Christ will come and judge the living and dead
-- We know that Christ will descend with thousands to wage war on Satan
-- We know that Christ will be victorious and His name will be praised forever
- Enoch’s prophecy gives us insight into what people knew about God
-- APP: That He would be victorious, and that the unrighteous would be judged
- And they are judged for four things: (v16)
1. they are grumblers and faultfinders;
2. they follow their own evil desires;
3. they boast about themselves; and,
4. flatter others for their own advantage
- If there was ever a verse to be used in the church today to check our attitudes …
∆ Big Idea
- “Are we these people who Jude is now writing about?”
- Do we seek to tear one another down for our own selfish desires?
- Or, do we desire a closer relationship with Christ to show Him to others?
- Pray
