Jude 1:8-11 (NKJV) Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
V8 “Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.” The Greek word “dreamers” is (G1797) ἐνυπνιάζω enupniázō, which means (Word Study Dictionary) “Used intrans. and spoken of visions in dreams (Act 2:17 [cf. Sept.: Gen 28:12; Joel 2:28]).” The false teachers in order to bring authority to their false teachings tell people of their visions (dreams). Compare Jeremiah 23:32 and
Zechariah 10:2. Their lives are characterized by fleshly sins, rejecting authority (the Apostles), and cursing and binding satan and his host. These actions prove they are false and their “Christianity” is false. Their damnation in the Lake of Fire is sure, unless they repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone. If they do, their lives will show no more fake visions. Remember THE standard of truth is the Bible. These fakes show by their daily living and actions their disrespect for God’s Apostles (we have the teachings of the Apostles and Prophets in the Bible), and cursing what they should not.
V9 “Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” These fake Christian teachers are doing things that even Michael, the archangel, does not do. He spoke face to face with the devil. His condemnation is “The Lord rebuke you.”
V10 “But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.” These fakes do not even know what they are talking about.
V11 “Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.” What does God think of these people? The Scriptures teach it right here–woe to them. Cain was the first child born into the world. He deliberately rejected God’s teaching of offerings (Genesis 4:7). He killed his brother. It was his way instead of God’s way. So, it is with these false teachers. Their covetousness got in the way. We cannot serve God and Mammon (Matthew 6:24). The love of money is a root of causing evil (1 Timothy 6:9). Balaam was killed (Joshua 13:22) for this, and so will these false teachers. Let us beware.
We learn:
- To avoid and discern, we must know the truth.
- To learn THE truth, we must study the Scriptures and believe them.
- If we know the truth, we will expose the evil (Ephesians 5:11).