REVILERS & FALSE TEACHERS ARE UNREASONING ANIMALS DESTROYING THEMSELVES - Jude 1 v 10
Jude 1:10 These men revile the things which they do not understand, and like unreasoning animals, they are destroyed by these things which they know by instinct. (NASB)
Jude speaks of the character of these evil men, or if you like, the false teachers he has been exposing in his letter. Verse 10 speaks of their actions. They revile things they do not understand. This word “revile” in the NASB or “slander” in the NIV or “blaspheme” in the ESV is the Greek word “blasphemeo”, usually translated as blaspheme. The word for “understand” is a word of varied usages meaning, “what they do not appreciate, or have knowledge of, or to understand what someone is trying to explain”. When they understand, it is a gateway to spiritual truth, the spiritual eyes taking in what the physical data is trying to tell them.
These men are like those who blaspheme the invisible things of God because they reject the God of creation and believe in a chance, random selection called evolution. When matters of faith are raised in their presence they slander, blaspheme God, and mock Christians. When I was young, the atheists did not do that. Those who did not believe in Christian things either kept their opinions to themselves, or just rejected what was being said to them. In these days people get angry and officious and threatening, and lash out against Christians and their God. The world is becoming more and more hostile to anything Christian.
I don’t advise you to do this, but if you examine the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras you will hear people there speak openly against God in the foulest of terms. Christian leaders, such as Fred Nile, a few years ago were openly mocked by placards, and arrogant human voices, and Jesus Christ is blasphemed. That is why persons in the mould of (manes withheld for Sermon Central) and the members of the Australian Greens, are blasphemers against God. These people are so stamped by perversion, the demonic side of them naturally opposes anything relating to God. Yes, they blaspheme what they do not understand. Their darkened hearts naturally oppose the truth.
DARKNESS, CONSCIENCE AND INSTINCT
Can we look at the first chapter of John’s Gospel – {{John 1:4 “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.”}} In chapter 1, John is introducing the Word made flesh that dwelt among men, and that Word was both life and light. It was from the life that light issued forth. Men had to come into the light so that they could partake of the life. That light of the Lord Jesus Christ shone in the darkness, the darkness of men’s souls, but instead of facing up to what the light revealed, man pulled the visor down over his face and shut out the light, and therefore, did not understand the light. He did not comprehend it. Because man willfully cut off the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, then the life of God could have no part in him, because the acceptance of Christ brings light and light leads to life.
When the heart of man rejects the light, then his life is filled with darkness, and that darkness opposes the light, and so we saw in the Gospels that those who rejected the light called out to crucify the Lord at His trial. They blasphemed God because they did not understand God, for their lives were in darkness. These are they of whom the Psalmist speaks – {{Psalm 82:5 “They do not know nor do they understand. They walk about in darkness.”}} Paul explained something similar to the Corinthians – {{“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”}} (ESV). The average person rejects Christ because it is natural for him to do that, but only when the power of the Holy Spirit is present, then enlightenment comes to the soul.
John continued in chapter 1 to say, {{John 1:10 “He was in the world and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.”}} The creation rejects the Creator. The One who is the Light of the World is rejected and reviled by the ones who are the darkness of the world. There, in John, the same idea is expressed as we have in Jude, that is, they do not understand. Light accepted, is life obtained, but light rejected, is darkness accepted, and life forfeited. That is God’s principle, and Psalms has said, {{119:130 “The unfolding of Your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple,”}} so the bottom line becomes the very word of God, for the word starts revealing the light in our souls.
You remember in the previous message that Michael in his battle with the devil, did not bring railing accusations against Satan, or pronounce a reviling judgement, but handed it over to God with the conclusion, “The Lord rebuke you.” Michael adopts the line that the Lord Jesus Himself will demonstrate later in history as explained in Peter – {{1Peter 2:23 “and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.”}} Of course that becomes the standard for us in this sinful world that reviles and blasphemes us too – {{1Peter 4:14 “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”}}
Look again at Jude 10 where he says, “and like unreasoning animals, they are destroyed by these things which they know by instinct.” Do you believe man has a conscience that tells him right and wrong? I mean deep down in his soul, is there located there, an awareness of instinctive right and wrong? I believe so, but it is so corrupted it is of little use in the natural man, but some Christians don’t think that way. The trouble with man’s conscience is that it makes cowards of each man. When Adam sinned, he gained a conscience which he had not possessed before. What did that conscience do for him? Well, it made a coward of him. When faced with his dilemma, what did he do? He hid; he ran away from God; his world had become darkness and he ran and hid from God because the light of God would expose his own sinfulness. That is what men and women continue to do. They hide from God in their world of darkness so the light does not shine on them to expose their true selves with their sin.
Instinct relates to conscience. It is that deep down feeling of the awareness of right and wrong. Picture this - There is small spring in the ground and water bubbles up from it. It is on land where a man does not want water coming from the ground, so he picks up a stone and drops it into the spring. Nothing happens, and he does it again and again, and eventually the flow is stemmed. He continues dropping stones in until the spring is actually sealed up. That spring is man’s conscience. The stones are the blocks and numbing agents to conscience and eventually many stones seal the conscience over. That is why the scripture says, {{Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them.”}} There comes a time when conscience dies and is no longer receptive, but hard and calloused and that person is heading to hell.
The people Jude speaks of, are those who act like unreasoning animals, who have not the ability to discern or allow reason to have its place. They know nothing of the scripture that says, {{Isaiah 1:18 “Come now and let us reason together,” says the LORD.”}} They just follow instinct, which is following the character of the old nature with gay abandon, with no thought as to consequences or responsibility. We are all responsible before God and everyone must give an account, but the sinner follows the leading of his dark, old nature, and Jude likens him to an animal that operates on instinct. When a deer hears a noise, it does not stand there and weigh up the possibilities, or make judgements as to the right and wrong action to take. No. Immediately through instinct, it runs for its life. It can not reason, but man can. Our reasoning should lead us to God, but our cold unregenerate hearts lead us away from God.
We shall look at a Romans passage. {{Romans 1:18 “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (WHY IS THAT SO?) Rom 1:19 because that which is known about God is evident within them, for God made it evident to them, Rom 1:20 for since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Rom 1:21 Even though they knew God, they did not honour Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Rom 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,”}} (and the rest of the passage goes on to say they led themselves into pagan idolatry then into perverse sexual conduct).
Note verse 19. There is some sort of stamp in the heart of man that gives a god-consciousness, and atheists have it in spite of their denials. It is just that atheists are working overtime to block up the spring with stones. If an atheist says he does not believe in a god, then he is a liar because God has given evidence within their being. That makes each atheist a liar. No wonder the bible says one has to be a fool not to accept the existence of God. Verse 20 here in Romans reveals that God’s invisible attributes, eternal power, and divine nature, are clearly seen. Creation is the signpost God gave, and it is so obvious, that no one will have an excuse. Their foolish hearts hide their consciences in the darkness, and they hide like cowards. It is all a pretense.
There is an expression in the Jude verse we are considering – “they are destroyed by these things which they know by instinct.” Now, what can that mean? How are they destroyed, and by what? These people are irrational and refuse to consider what might be truth. They are reprobate. A truth revealed, when not acted upon, becomes an arrow to the heart at the appropriate time. By instinct, people know God exists, and that they should respond to God, but their black, old natures propel them away from God with all sorts of inventions to help them feel better about themselves, so they can justify themselves in their pretense, and convince themselves that there is no god. However, God’s existence is that arrow to the heart that will destroy them. Pretending there is no god, won’t make the fact disappear.
Peter’s take on all this, is similar to Jude’s. In our last message in Jude, we spoke of the licentious dreamers, vile men and women who blaspheme what is godly, and revile the heavenly beings. Then Jude spoke about Michael and the devil arguing over the body of Moses. The similar section of 2nd Peter says, {{2Peter 2:10 “and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. They are daring, self-willed, and do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties, 2Pet 2:11 whereas angels who are greater in might and power, do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord.”}} Then both Jude and Peter move on to a description of these ungodly men. We are seeing that in Jude 10, but Peter says this about them – {{2 Peter 2:12 “but these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, 2Pet 2:13 suffering wrong (justly) as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, revelling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, 2Pet 2:14 having eyes full of adultery and that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed - accursed children.”}}
Peter uses “unreasoning animals; creatures of instinct” to describe what Jude calls “unreasoning animals; which they know by instinct”. Creatures of instinct do only what they are designed to do through instinct. These wicked men are only doing what is expected of wicked men who operate through the basic instinct of gross sin. They can not reason what is good, but continually pursue the bad. They blaspheme godly things, angels, and demons, about which they have no knowledge. They will be punished for the wrong done.
Even in the daytime they are rioting in party-making and wantonness when normal people are working. They are called “stains and blemishes” just like black patches on a Leonardo DaVinci masterpiece. They revel in their deceptions, as if to glorify how evil they are, and this they do even while they party and drink with Christians. Verse 14 is very strong as Peter lashes them with words like a whip – (a). They have eyes full of adultery and eyes that never cease from sin. (b). They entice unstable souls, while having a heart trained in greed. (c). Above all, Peter concludes they are accursed children.
A quotation – “These evil persons, like the irrational animals, readily discover the means of gratifying their desires. They cannot improve themselves spiritually any more than the beasts which only live to eat. They use base instincts to excess, wallowing like swine in the mire of mere sensual enjoyments. But what they know naturally - As mere men, as animals, that is, in things pertaining to their physical nature, they are on a level with the beasts of creation. The reference is to the natural instincts, the impulses of appetite, and passion, and sensual pleasure. The idea of the apostle seems to be, that their knowledge was confined to those things, and they did not rise above them to the intelligent consideration of those higher things.” (Barnes)
APPLICATION FOR US ALL.
The description of these evil men who are infiltrating the churches of Jude’s time, and in all proper churches ever since, would give strong warning for us to be very careful in our own church groups to be alert and to guard the true faith we possess. In fellowships there are men who have a shepherding role, but in small groups, that may not always be the case. In that situation, the onus, I feel, comes on us all to be caring for one another and to look out for the interests of all members of the fellowship as good stewards of Christ.
Now, as individuals, there are lessons for us too. First of all, we must guard against shooting our mouths off about what we don’t understand, but make every effort to be acquainted with the subject we express opinions about. Then secondly, we must learn to be moderate and think carefully through situations, not acting on instinct and going off half-baked. These false teachers acted only on instinct, satisfying their base desires.
We have the Holy Spirit through the new nature in Christ, and it is that new nature that controls the children of God. The new nature must be nurtured by God’s word and fellowship. We need to learn so we edify and not destroy. Satan lies in ambush behind our lawful enjoyments. The one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. May the Lord grant us the wisdom to pursue holiness and His will.
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
