Continuing
our look at insights from Jude regarding the false teachers that infiltrate the church…
Jude 1:12 “These are spots in your
feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear:
clouds they are without water,
carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead,
plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame;
wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.”
The “feasts of charity” are a reference to meals at which
those in the early church gathered together and participated in the Lord’s
Supper—a time of reflection and reminder of the death, burial and resurrection
of Jesus that also encourages us to look forward to His return.
These men weren’t fellowshipping with sincere hearts before
the Lord; and sadly, their lack of respect and reverence before God caused them
no fear. They were totally
self-centered. The Greek for “spot”
actually makes reference to a reef of rock in the sea that poses hidden danger
to the unsuspecting. False teachers can
only be a danger to the church when they are allowed to continue to function
because of lack of discernment and lack of exposure for who and what they
really are.
They are individuals operating outside of God’s purpose
like rain clouds without rain and outside of God’s direction (carried about by
winds). Being described as trees with withered fruit and without fruit is
basically saying that they are spiritually dead and of no benefit to the body
of believers. What they teach has no
solid foundation in the word of God so Jude compares them to plants that have
been plucked up by the roots.
“twice dead”
– I assume this is saying that their physical death and spiritual death are
both certain. J. Vernon McGee shared a
quote from Moody that applies here:
“Those who are born once will die twice.
Those who are born twice will die only once—if at all.”
“raging waves
of the sea” – They are uncontrolled, but have a definite negative impact on
others (foaming out their own shame).
“wandering
stars” – I think of stars as having a specific position in the heavens that
provides direction and gives forth light.
These men have claimed a position in the church and then gone astray
leading others with them. Instead of
giving the light of truth, they have strayed/wandered and are distorting or perverting
the truth. Their punishment will be
eternal darkness—total separation from God (The Light) forever.
Jude 1:14 “And Enoch also, the seventh
from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten
thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that
are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly
committed, and of all their hard speeches
which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
These men
form a part of the throng of the ungodly about whom Enoch (the 7th
from Adam) prophesied.
Note: This prophecy comes from the book of
Enoch. Although not a part of the
inspired canon of scripture, this statement represents truth since the Holy
Spirit inspired Jude to use this quote.
John Trapp
noted: “Tertullian tells us that
the book of Enoch’s prophecies were preserved by Noah in the ark, and that they
continued and were read until the times of the apostles. But because they
contained many famous testimonies concerning Jesus Christ, the Jews out of
malice suppressed and abolished the whole book.”
He foretold
that the Lord would come with “ten thousands of His saints” (holy ones) to
judge ALL (those not saints, unbelievers) and to convince/convict ALL the ungodly of ALL their ungodly deeds done in an ungodly way and of ALL the harsh words
they have spoken against Him. (The
impact words here are all and ungodly. You can’t be godly without the love of God in
your life.)
Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts;
and their mouth speaketh great swelling
words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
These men are
murmurers (grumblers) and complainers (finding fault). Many Christians struggle in this area. I know I tend in that direction myself when
dealing with “other Christians.” They
don’t meet my expectations of how a Christian should act, so it’s easy to find
fault and complain rather than respond with love and prayer and an effort to
help make things right. I think I have
grown much in this area, but the tendency is still there. I pray God’s continued work in my life to be
more Christ-like in my responses.
Back to these
godless men—grumbling and faultfinding are a way of life for them. They “walk after their own lusts.” They are boasters (speak great swelling
words) and full of pride. They flatter
others to their own advantage; their motives are selfish.
(to be
continued…)
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