(Vss. 5-16)
These ungodly men who have crept into the Christian profession are identified in this next series of verses by various third person pronouns: “these,” “they,” “them,” “their,” “whose,” and “whom.” They stand in contrast to real believers whom Jude will address in verses 17-25. To designate these saints, he uses the first and second person pronouns: “ye,” “your,” and “our.” They constitute a remnant of true believers amidst the mass of ungodly, merely professing believers.
In this passage, Jude describes the fallen state of the Christian testimony by using six examples from the Old Testament. Hence, he begins with: “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this” (vs. 5). This shows that he was assuming that they were familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures.
1) The Children of Israel—Unbelief
(Vs. 5)
All apostasy starts with unbelief—not having personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. For an example of this, Jude points to the unbelievers among the children of Israel. He says, “The Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.” (See Numbers 14:28-3528Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: 29Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, 30Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. 32But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. 33And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. 34After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. 35I the Lord have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die. (Numbers 14:28‑35); Deuteronomy 2:1414And the space in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the Lord sware unto them. (Deuteronomy 2:14); and 1 Corinthians 10:5-105But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. (1 Corinthians 10:5‑10).) The children of Israel had been physically “saved” by the Lord in an outward deliverance from Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea (Ex. 14:30-3130Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. 31And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. (Exodus 14:30‑31)); but having that temporal salvation did not mean that they were born of God. Many were not, and they manifested their unbelief when tested in the wilderness, and consequently, were “destroyed” by God. These people had been baptized unto Moses in the sea (1 Cor. 10:1-21Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (1 Corinthians 10:1‑2)) and were in a covenant relationship with the Lord (Heb. 9:19-2119For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. (Hebrews 9:19‑21)), and thus, were in a favoured position of privilege. But these were outward things; they needed an inward work of faith in their souls to go with those outward tokens of favour—but this was the very thing that they lacked.
This is the foremost thing that characterizes Christendom. Being christened (or baptized), and/or having made some sort of profession of faith, the mass of professing Christians is in a position of outward nearness to God. However, they lack personal, soul-saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31; 20:2131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)
21Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21); Eph. 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)). Like the children of Israel who fell under God’s judgment in the wilderness, these will meet their end under the judgment of God.
2) The Fallen Angels—Rebellion
(Vs. 6)
Unbelief leads to rebellion; Jude touches on this next. To illustrate this, he points to the angels that sinned at the time of the flood. He says, “And angels who had not kept their own original state, but had abandoned their own dwelling, He keeps in eternal chains under gloomy darkness, to the judgment of the great day.” It is generally believed by Bible teachers that when Satan was expelled from heaven (Ezek. 284With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: (Ezekiel 28:4)) that there were other angelic creatures that fell with him, because thereafter we read of “the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:4141Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41)). This verse in Jude is not referring to that event, but to what happened at the time of the flood. Certain of those fallen angels manifested a discontent as to their state as angels and co-habited with the daughters of men in an attempt to create a sort of super race of men and angels (Gen. 6:1-41And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. (Genesis 6:1‑4)) The “original state” in which God created them was sexless; they did not procreate (Luke 20:35-3635But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:35‑36)). But being rebellious and discontent with their state as such, they “abandoned their own dwelling” in the heavens and came down among men to accomplish their evil plan. But in the flood, God wiped out those giants and mighty men who had come out of these unholy unions, and He took those wicked angels and put them in “eternal chains under gloomy darkness.” Peter calls this special place of confinement in the abyss “the deepest pit gloom” (2 Peter 2:44For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (2 Peter 2:4)).
Some have wondered if verse 6 is speaking of a second fall of angels. J. N. Darby was asked about this as follows: “Were there two falls of angelic beings at two different times?” He replied: “Your question assumes two falls of angels of which Scripture does not speak, though it is very possible” (Letters of J. N. Darby, vol. 2, p. 447). Thus, being careful not to go beyond what is revealed in Scripture, it is generally taken that this passage refers to a rebellion among certain of the fallen angels. God took them away from the earth and confined them in the abyss because they were so diabolically corrupt. They will be cast into the lake of fire (Hell) at the great day of judgment (Matt. 25:4141Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41); Rev. 20:1010And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)). The rest of the fallen angels under Satan are still loose and practicing evil today. They will be taken and confined to the bottomless pit [the abyss] at the beginning of the Millennium (Rev. 20:1-31And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Revelation 20:1‑3)). After the Millennium, on the great day of judgment, the devil and his angels will be cast into the lake of fire.
Jude mentions this rebellion among the fallen angels to show us the spirit of the ungodly persons who will be found in the Christian testimony in its last days. They will be discontent with God’s natural order in creation and will rebel against it. This spirit manifests itself in a variety of ways today, ranging from: women teaching publicly in the house of God (1 Tim. 2:1212But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. (1 Timothy 2:12)), their abandoning of head coverings, which signify the proper roles of men and women (1 Cor. 11:2-162Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. 5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 13Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 16But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. (1 Corinthians 11:2‑16)), the submission of wives to their husbands in the home (Eph. 5:22-2322Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. (Ephesians 5:22‑23)), etc. Such is the spirit that pervades Christendom today.
3) Sodom and Gomorrah—Immorality
(Vss. 7-10)
Discontent and rebellion against God’s natural order in creation will eventually end up in immorality. Sodom and Gomorrah are cited to illustrate this evil (Gen. 19). Jude says: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude refers to their homosexuality as “going after strange flesh.” He calls it “strange” because that kind of unholy union is completely foreign to God’s moral order in creation. His point is that Christendom will be marked by having persons who will have given themselves over to this kind of sin, yet at the same time, they will profess to be Christians! How incredibly incongruous to associate such a sin with the holy name of Christ! This does not mean that every person will be engaged in immorality, but it will be so prevalent in the Christian ranks during the last days that people will condone it, and even defend it. Today, many Church ministers, though not personally engaged in immorality, will permit it in their churches, and even excuse those who are so engaged––even the sin of homosexuality!
(Vss. 8-10)
These “filthy dreamers defile the flesh” with their immoral practices. This sin is described by the Apostle Paul in Romans 1. The difference between the two passages is that Paul is speaking of the heathen outside the Christian community, whereas Jude is speaking of those who profess to be Christian. These people say they are Christians!
They also “despise dominion [authority].” Being rebels against God, they naturally rebel against the governmental institutions which are set up of God (Rom. 13:11Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (Romans 13:1)). They manifest this by “speaking evil of dignities [dignitaries].” Jude tells us that this is something that Michael the archangel would not dare to do—even if it was in regard to our enemy, the devil! This shows that the devil, though now fallen, was once of a high dignity among the angels, and until he is finally judged by God, his dignity is to be respected. Even so high of an angelic dignity as Michael the archangel respected it. Hence, he did not take it upon himself to rebuke the devil but left it for the Lord to do—saying, “The Lord rebuke thee” (vs. 9). Though fallen, Satan still has immense power. We are to respect his power, but we have no need to fear him. In fact, we are told: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:77Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)). But at no time should we bring “a railing accusation” against him.
The “bone” of contention on that occasion was Moses’ burial site. Satan’s purpose was probably to set up a shrine there in memory of Moses, and thus, to ensnare the people of Israel in idolatry. (Compare 2 Kings 18:44He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. (2 Kings 18:4)). God, therefore, conducted a secret burial of his body in “the valley of Moab” (Deut. 34:5-65So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. 6And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. (Deuteronomy 34:5‑6)). (Note: “archangel” is in the singular; there is only one such creature. Similarly, “devil,” in Scripture, is always in the singular. The KJV, however, will occasionally say “devils,” but it should be translated “demons.” There is one devil, but many demons.)
Jude adds: “But what even, as the irrational animals, they understand by mere nature, in these things they corrupt themselves” (vs. 10). “Mere nature” refers to animal instincts. This shows that these morally corrupt people ought to have known better from observing the animal kingdom (Job 12:77But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: (Job 12:7)), for the animals don’t debase themselves in such a manner. But they disregard the testimony of nature and corrupt themselves. In summary, their evil is twofold:
• In spiritual things they bring “railing accusation” against the truth (vs. 9).
• In natural things “they corrupt themselves” with immoral practices (vs. 10).
4) Cain—Bloodless Religion of Works
(vs. 11a)
Cain is then brought forward to indicate another characteristic of apostate Christendom—bloodless religion. Jude says: “Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain.” The way of Cain is to approach God on the ground of good works, rather than on the ground of a sacrifice (Gen. 4:33And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. (Genesis 4:3)). He sought acceptance with God by what he had accomplished through the work of his hands, and on that ground, his offering was rejected. This depicts what much of Christendom has degenerated into, as far as the basic concept of how a person is reckoned righteous before God. Many Christian denominations question, and even reject, the vicarious atonement of Christ. His finished work on the cross as being the only way of salvation through faith (John 19:3030When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)) is replaced with the performance of good works for acceptance with God. Christ’s death is reduced to being a model of humility, nothing more. As a result, people are enjoined to love their neighbour and to do good works for divine acceptance. Such is a bloodless gospel is really “another gospel” that is not of God (2 Cor. 11:44For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2 Corinthians 11:4)). It is the way of Cain.
5) Balaam—The Commercialization of Christianity
(Vs. 11b)
Jude says that these ungodly persons have “given themselves up to the error of Balaam,” which is seeking honour and glory in the sphere of divine things (Num. 22-2415And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. 16And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: 17For I will promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. 18And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 19Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more. 20And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. 21And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. 23And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. 24But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again. 26And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 28And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 29And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. 30And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. 31Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. 32And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: 33And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. 34And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. 35And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. 37And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor? 38And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. 39And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath-huzoth. 40And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. 41And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people. 1And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. 2And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the Lord will come to meet me: and whatsoever he showeth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place. 4And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. 5And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. 6And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. 7And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. 8How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied? 9For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. 10Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! 11And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. 12And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth? 13And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence. 14And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. 15And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the Lord yonder. 16And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. 17And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the Lord spoken? 18And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: 19God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 20Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. 21He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. 22God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. 23Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! 24Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. 25And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all. 26But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do? 27And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence. 28And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon. 29And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. 30And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. 1And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him. 3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: 4He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! 6As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters. 7He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. 8God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. 9He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee. 10And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. 11Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honor. 12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, 13If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak? 14And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. 15And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: (Numbers 22:15‑24)). The Apostle Peter speaks of “the way of Balaam,” which was Balaam’s love of “the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Peter 2:1515Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; (2 Peter 2:15)). Thus, he was not only a self-seeking man, but also a covetous man who was willing to prostitute his prophetic gift to gain wealth, even though he made every attempt to have it appear otherwise (Num. 22:1818And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. (Numbers 22:18)). These men would also teach “the doctrine of Balaam,” which is to encourage worldliness among God’s people (Rev. 2:1414But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (Revelation 2:14)).
Putting these three things together, we have a composite picture of the money-driven, glory-seeking side of Christendom. Greedy men have sought to turn Christianity into a profitable business, and they have succeeded in this in many ways. They see nothing wrong with serving in the pulpit for wages, taking money from the lost, etc. Many preachers have made themselves incredibly wealthy. The Apostle Paul decried this, stating: “We do not, as the many, make a trade [retail] of the Word of God” (2 Cor. 2:1717For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:17)). W. T. P. Wolston pointed out that if money and entertainment were taken out of the church systems in Christendom, many of them would collapse. He said that if entertainment were taken out, they would lose their large audiences, and if money were taken out, they would lose many of the men and women in the pulpit.
6) Core [Korah]—Ecclesiastical Error
(Vs. 11c)
Jude brings forward one more example from the Old Testament to illustrate another thing that marks Christendom—ecclesiastical error. This is error in things pertaining to Church doctrine and practice. Jude exposes this by mentioning “the gainsaying of Core.” Core (Korah) and his band of men (Num. 16) wanted a position above the people which belonged only to Moses and Aaron who are a double type of Christ, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Heb. 3:11Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (Hebrews 3:1)). Not being content with the place that God had given them as Levites, they wanted an office of their own making, and their uprising against God’s order in that Mosaic economy was met with His displeasure and judgment.
Men in Christendom have risen up similarly and have introduced the office of a clergyman. This is a position in the Church that is purely a human invention, for God’s Word does not speak of it. It gives the holder of that office (be it a man or a woman) a distinguished place between God and His people. However, God never intended that there should be such a class of persons presiding over a congregation in Christianity. In fact, such a thing is decried in His Word (1 Peter 5:33Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:3)). These men are presumptuous in this, often calling the flock of God their flock. Inflated with a sense of importance, they have overlooked God’s order for Christian worship and ministry in as taught in the epistles and have introduced their own man-made order. As a result, the clergy/laity system can be found in varying degrees in most, if not all, denominations in Christendom. One difference between Korah and his men and their counterparts in Christendom is that Korah’s men did not get as far as to take office, whereas clergymen in Christendom have been functioning in their man-made place for over a thousand years.
The Character of Ministry of Apostate Ministers
(Vss. 12-13)
We are not saying that every man or woman who is part of the clergy is apostate, for most are true believers. However, many are lifeless. Jude points to five similitudes in nature to describe the character of these false Ministers and their ministry:
FIRSTLY—Spots
Firstly, he says: “These are spots in your love-feasts, feasting together with you without fear, pasturing themselves.” A “spot,” or a shoal, is a sunken rock just below the surface of the water, which, if a sailing ship were to strike it, could cause shipwreck. Rocks that are charted are not difficult to steer clear of, but hidden shoals can be disastrous to sailors. This first metaphor shows that these false so-called Ministers—though ordained by some religious body and having a degree of divinity (DD)—have caused many to go into spiritual “shipwreck” (1 Tim. 1:19-2019Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:19‑20)). The fact that Jude says that “they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear,” shows that they have gained the confidence of the mass and are welcomed in many circles.
SECONDLY—Clouds
Secondly, they are as “clouds without water, carried along by the winds.” That is, they promise showers of blessing, but have nothing to refresh the soul. They are carried along by “the winds,” meaning that their ministry has been tainted by the false doctrines that are blowing around in Christendom (Eph. 4:1414That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4:14)).
THIRDLY—Autumnal Trees
Thirdly, they are as “autumnal trees, without fruit, twice dead, rooted up.” Normally, autumn is the time when fruit is found on trees, but these have none. Jude explains why they don’t bear fruit; they are “twice dead.” This refers to being dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1, 51And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (Ephesians 2:1)
5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:5)) and also being dead through apostasy (Rev. 8:9-119And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. 10And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. (Revelation 8:9‑11)). All such trees will be “rooted up” and cast into the fire of God’s judgment (Matt. 15:1313But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. (Matthew 15:13)).
FOURTHLY—Raging Waves
Fourthly, they are “raging waves of the sea.” This speaks of their insubjection. Being in a lawless state of soul, they refuse to be controlled by the authority of God’s Word. Their teaching is really the “foaming out their own shames.” It is outright blasphemous, and involves the excusing of sin, rather than the teaching of righteousness. It is not that they feel their shame, but nonetheless, those things are a shame to them (Phil. 3:1919Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) (Philippians 3:19)).
FIFTHLY—Wandering Stars
Fifthly, they are “wandering stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” Stars have been looked to for navigation purposes by sailors for thousands of years. They speak of the leaders of God’s people who are responsible to provide spiritual light and direction for the saints (Rev. 1:2020The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:20)). Jude calls these false Ministers “wandering” stars because a star that leaves its place will only mislead those who look to it for direction. Such are false guides. Their false light will soon be quenched in “the blackness of darkness forever.”