Dear Church Family,
Jude saw that the serious problem of false teaching had grown so bad that he must continue to warn his beloved readers about the danger they faced. In verse 11 he calls down God’s judgment on the godless ones who teach things contrary to “the faith once entrusted to all the saints.” This is not action to be taken lightly. Jude does not give details about the false teaching though they seem to downplay the sacrificial work of Christ and justification by faith alone. The words that follow show how ungodly they and their teachings must have been. We can learn from his inspired words.
Jude says they “have taken the way of Cain” who rejected God’s truth and carried out his anger by murdering his brother. So the teachers do not give a second thought to the damage they inflict on those who hear. They focus on themselves and worldly gain. They rebel against authority as Korah in Numbers 16 did in his uprising against Moses whom God had clearly put in charge of His people. Please note that things did not end well for Korah. The earth split open and swallowed him and those who followed him. Jude uses strong language and he is just getting warmed up!
In verses 12-13 Jude violates the etiquette rule of “If you don’t have anything nice to say about someone, then don’t say anything.” He lambasts the false teachers repeatedly and indeed has nothing nice to say. Among other things he says they “are shepherds who only feed themselves…clouds without rain…trees without fruit and uprooted…wild waves of the sea…wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.” Contrast those words of condemnation with what the Bible tells us about Jesus our great Prophet/Teacher. He was the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep; He was the source of living water; He calmed the storm waves of Galilee; and came as the Light of the world and delivered all who believe from eternal darkness.
Jude wraps up his words of condemnation with a prophecy from Enoch that comes from extra-biblical literature. By quoting it Jude affirms that these words contain truth and will happen in God’s timing. Note the sober tone, “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinner have spoken against Him.”
Jude serves an important purpose for us during the pandemic. With the various pressures that come our way and the uncertainties that we face, the evil one has the opportunity to lead us astray with what seem to be words of truth, but are nothing but more lies from the father of lies. We must be on guard against his deceptive ways and continue to hold firm to Biblical truth. Beware as 1 Peter 5:8 warns, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
With great hope in His grace,
Pastor Gillikin