Jude 11-13 | KingComments | STEP | . Again Jude uses that contemptuous “these”. In contrast to Michael these apostates audaciously and recklessly “revile the things which they do not understand”. That is arrogance and pride all over. Naturally, they have a knowledge which is also present with “unreasoning animals”. This knowledge concerns the natural instincts, needs which they do have, like eating and drinking and sexuality. Animals act after their nature, their instinct. They cannot think, for they have no mind. These people behave just like animals. But just because they are supposed to be able to think of what they do, while they contrarily still act like animals in fulfilling their lusts, they abase themselves and destroy themselves in their way of acting. With the unreasoning of animals they indulge in sexual satisfaction. . The “woe” is spoken out over them, which is the only time that we find it spoken out in the letters. It is the language of the book of the final judgments, the book of Revelation. Using the example of some Old Testament wicked people, Jude describes the way that leads to this ‘woe’. They have “gone the way of Cain”. They are like Cain and his way, that is the way of a religion that does not come from God’s righteousness, but from their own righteousness. Cain was the first who went this way and this way is still extremely popular. He believed in God, but believed he could honor God in his own way, with his own ‘good works’ ( ). God had to be satisfied with that. He did not think for a moment of coming with a bloody sacrifice. God Himself showed that after the fall ( ) which was understood by Abel ( ). This attitude of Cain, serving God with good works, an attitude which is normal for Gentiles, has crept in into professing Christianity and is imitated by countless people. The next step is “the error of Balaam” ( ). That implies their self-enrichment in the service of God. Balaam called himself a prophet of God, but he was greedy and wanted to sell his prophetic gift for money, which implied that he was willing to curse God’s people for money. Like Balaam today’s false teachers are also good in using the tongue and speak for money what the people like to hear. They manipulate the truth for the sake of money. In that way they turn the house of God into a commercial market. To make merchandise out of the good that comes from God occurs frequently in professing Christianity, especially in the roman-catholic church where all the so-called blessings from birth to death cost money. Even the situation after death becomes a source of profit, for people are enabled to shorten their time in the fabrication of ‘purgatory’ with a duration that is dependent on the amount that is being paid. The third and last step in the apostasy is the unmitigated rebellion against God, such as to be seen “in the rebellion of Korah” ( ). Korah rejected God’s choice of the priesthood and in that way His authority. He wanted to have the function of priest himself and wanted to take the place of mediator, through which he could exercise control over God’s people. We see that also in the most clear way in roman-catholicism. God’s judgment was executed on him and his companions. They descended in the realm of death alive. All these three persons have in common that they arrogated something what they were not. In Cain we see a false worshiper , in Balaam a false prophet and in Korah a false priest . The apostasy of each of them had to do with religion. Also here the ranking is not chronological but spiritual: Cain went , Balaam rushed headlong and Korah perished . It shows the spiritual downturn and the end of the people who are concerned. . It is as if Jude is tiring himself out in looking for examples in order to make clear to you what kind of people these apostates are. In order to present the character and destiny of those apostates more clearly, he uses some examples from nature in . The first example is that of “reefs”. The word ‘reefs’ is derived from the word ‘cliffs’, which are rocks below the sea level, that may cause boats to sink when the helmsman does not watch carefully. He calls the apostates “reefs in your love feasts”. ‘Love feasts’ are the fellowship meals that the first Christians connected to the Lord’s Supper ( ). With these apostates, however, there is nothing present of Christian love and fellowship. During the love feasts they only think of themselves. They “feast”, without any fear to be found improper or greedy. They are feeding themselves shamelessly and in that way are the evident opposite of the Lord Who is seeking the well-being of the sheep. In Ezekiel 34, a chapter that deals with false shepherds, the ‘woe’ is spoken out over them ( ). These people probably have, while enjoying all the goodies, spoken out all their edifying thoughts with nice talks. They have given a swirling show, but it seemed to be nothing more than the sparkling of soap bubbles. It promised to be a refreshment like clouds are expected to be producing water (the next example from nature), but they are “clouds without water”. They form a great contrast to Moses who as his desire regarding to his words, speaks out the following to God’s people: “Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew” ( ; cf. ). There is no handhold in what they say, for they are “carried along by winds”. They behave themselves inconsistently and constantly come with other ideas, which do not make sense. They leave only disenchantment and hopelessness behind. What a difference with what Paul wishes to the believers: ”As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love” ( ; )! They are like “autumn trees without fruit”, meaning trees out of which the life has gone and therefore are not expected to produce fruit. They are “doubly dead”. In the first place they are “dead in trespasses and sins” ( ) and in the second place they are dead in their confession, for therein all life lacks. They are dead from the root, there is in no way connection with life, which also cannot possibly come, for they have been cut off from the root. They have been “uprooted”. In this way the promised fruit will never come, just like the promised water from the clouds will never come. Such trees are to be cut down ( ). These people are like trees that are uprooted, they have been taken away from the place of which they confessed to have. The only thing that is left for trees that are uprooted is the fire. . The following example Jude uses is that of the sea. He compares these people with “wild waves of the sea”. There is a complete uncontrollability with them like with a raging sea (cf. ). If you have ever seen a sea in the storm, you must also have seen white foamed waves, caused by the wind. Those white foam is blown on the beach by the wind. The foam goes in all directions and finally there is nothing left of it. This is what happens to these people and their teachings. Despite the noise that they cause, they show nothing more than their own shameless deeds which are visible on the top of the waves and which are being blown on the beach. The white foam seems to refer to cleanness, but it is the whiteness of the whitewashed tombs ( ). There is nothing left of it, they leave nothing behind that has any value. In their whole performance they still want to give the impression that you can take their life as an example to determine your direction, but they are “wandering stars”. They will end up where they live and that is in “the black darkness” and that will last “forever”. They will never more be able to deceive anyone there and they will also never be able to enjoy anything. . In the earliest days already there has been prophesies about these men, that they will be condemned. As a proof of that Jude quotes Enoch. To not confuse this Enoch with the other, the man with the same name who is a descendant of Cain ( ), it is said of him that he is the “seventh [generation] from Adam”. He “prophesied” about the coming of the Lord Jesus to bring judgment on the wicked apostates. This prophesy of Enoch is only found in this letter. In the Old Testament we do not find it. God’s Spirit has also revealed this to Jude, the same as what is written in . Enoch prophesied in his days about the coming of Christ for judgment, whereby He will be accompanied by “many thousands of His holy ones”, which include all the redeemed of all times. This judgment has had a fulfillment in advance in the flood. It is a nice thought that Enoch himself was taken away by God before the flood, without seeing death ( ). In that way he is a picture of the church that will also be taken up into heaven before the judgments strike the earth. The believers will not come into judgment ( ). . The judgment will be executed upon all unbelievers. Christ will judge all works as well as all words of the ungodly sinners. Do you see how the Holy Spirit emphasizes the nature of ungodliness? The people are ungodly, as are their deeds and ways and their harsh words which they “have spoken against Him”. Therefore every soul that has committed that sin will be personally punished by Him. Because judgment does not immediately follow after the deed, it may seem that God forgets to punish and man keeps on doing evil ( ). But the day of reckoning will come. . Their ungodly words have been uttered in grumbling language. They are dissatisfied, they always want more or differently, they complain about their destiny. They always blame God. Why does He allow the wars and miseries to happen? If He is that almighty, why does not He change the world? Those are people who are “following after their [own] lusts”. They always seek to fulfill their passions. They speak “arrogantly”, using sensationalizing language, words that are haughtily and hypocritically spoken out. They crawl for people who are above them and they flatter them purely out of selfishness, in order to benefit personally. Meanwhile they follow their own hidden agenda, for they do not care about others. Only one’s own ‘I’ is important. Now read again. Reflection: Which examples of ungodliness does Jude present in these verses?

‏ Jude 11-13

Characteristics of Ungodliness

Jude 1:10. Again Jude uses that contemptuous “these”. In contrast to Michael these apostates audaciously and recklessly “revile the things which they do not understand”. That is arrogance and pride all over. Naturally, they have a knowledge which is also present with “unreasoning animals”. This knowledge concerns the natural instincts, needs which they do have, like eating and drinking and sexuality. Animals act after their nature, their instinct. They cannot think, for they have no mind. These people behave just like animals. But just because they are supposed to be able to think of what they do, while they contrarily still act like animals in fulfilling their lusts, they abase themselves and destroy themselves in their way of acting. With the unreasoning of animals they indulge in sexual satisfaction.

Jude 1:11. The “woe” is spoken out over them, which is the only time that we find it spoken out in the letters. It is the language of the book of the final judgments, the book of Revelation. Using the example of some Old Testament wicked people, Jude describes the way that leads to this ‘woe’.

They have “gone the way of Cain”. They are like Cain and his way, that is the way of a religion that does not come from God’s righteousness, but from their own righteousness. Cain was the first who went this way and this way is still extremely popular. He believed in God, but believed he could honor God in his own way, with his own ‘good works’ (Gen 4:3-8). God had to be satisfied with that. He did not think for a moment of coming with a bloody sacrifice. God Himself showed that after the fall (Gen 3:21) which was understood by Abel (Gen 4:4). This attitude of Cain, serving God with good works, an attitude which is normal for Gentiles, has crept in into professing Christianity and is imitated by countless people.

The next step is “the error of Balaam” (Num 22:7 ; Num 31:16). That implies their self-enrichment in the service of God. Balaam called himself a prophet of God, but he was greedy and wanted to sell his prophetic gift for money, which implied that he was willing to curse God’s people for money.

Like Balaam today’s false teachers are also good in using the tongue and speak for money what the people like to hear. They manipulate the truth for the sake of money. In that way they turn the house of God into a commercial market. To make merchandise out of the good that comes from God occurs frequently in professing Christianity, especially in the roman-catholic church where all the so-called blessings from birth to death cost money. Even the situation after death becomes a source of profit, for people are enabled to shorten their time in the fabrication of ‘purgatory’ with a duration that is dependent on the amount that is being paid.

The third and last step in the apostasy is the unmitigated rebellion against God, such as to be seen “in the rebellion of Korah” (Num 16:19-35). Korah rejected God’s choice of the priesthood and in that way His authority. He wanted to have the function of priest himself and wanted to take the place of mediator, through which he could exercise control over God’s people. We see that also in the most clear way in roman-catholicism. God’s judgment was executed on him and his companions. They descended in the realm of death alive.

All these three persons have in common that they arrogated something what they were not. In Cain we see a false worshiper, in Balaam a false prophet and in Korah a false priest. The apostasy of each of them had to do with religion. Also here the ranking is not chronological but spiritual: Cain went, Balaam rushed headlong and Korah perished. It shows the spiritual downturn and the end of the people who are concerned.

Jude 1:12. It is as if Jude is tiring himself out in looking for examples in order to make clear to you what kind of people these apostates are. In order to present the character and destiny of those apostates more clearly, he uses some examples from nature in Jude 1:12-13.

The first example is that of “reefs”. The word ‘reefs’ is derived from the word ‘cliffs’, which are rocks below the sea level, that may cause boats to sink when the helmsman does not watch carefully. He calls the apostates “reefs in your love feasts”. ‘Love feasts’ are the fellowship meals that the first Christians connected to the Lord’s Supper (1Cor 11:20).

With these apostates, however, there is nothing present of Christian love and fellowship. During the love feasts they only think of themselves. They “feast”, without any fear to be found improper or greedy. They are feeding themselves shamelessly and in that way are the evident opposite of the Lord Who is seeking the well-being of the sheep. In Ezekiel 34, a chapter that deals with false shepherds, the ‘woe’ is spoken out over them (Eze 34:2).

These people probably have, while enjoying all the goodies, spoken out all their edifying thoughts with nice talks. They have given a swirling show, but it seemed to be nothing more than the sparkling of soap bubbles. It promised to be a refreshment like clouds are expected to be producing water (the next example from nature), but they are “clouds without water”. They form a great contrast to Moses who as his desire regarding to his words, speaks out the following to God’s people: “Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew” (Deu 32:2; cf. Isa 55:10).

There is no handhold in what they say, for they are “carried along by winds”. They behave themselves inconsistently and constantly come with other ideas, which do not make sense. They leave only disenchantment and hopelessness behind. What a difference with what Paul wishes to the believers: ”As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love” (Eph 4:14-15; Heb 13:9)!

They are like “autumn trees without fruit”, meaning trees out of which the life has gone and therefore are not expected to produce fruit. They are “doubly dead”. In the first place they are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1) and in the second place they are dead in their confession, for therein all life lacks.

They are dead from the root, there is in no way connection with life, which also cannot possibly come, for they have been cut off from the root. They have been “uprooted”. In this way the promised fruit will never come, just like the promised water from the clouds will never come. Such trees are to be cut down (Lk 13:9). These people are like trees that are uprooted, they have been taken away from the place of which they confessed to have. The only thing that is left for trees that are uprooted is the fire.

Jude 1:13. The following example Jude uses is that of the sea. He compares these people with “wild waves of the sea”. There is a complete uncontrollability with them like with a raging sea (cf. Isa 57:20). If you have ever seen a sea in the storm, you must also have seen white foamed waves, caused by the wind. Those white foam is blown on the beach by the wind. The foam goes in all directions and finally there is nothing left of it.

This is what happens to these people and their teachings. Despite the noise that they cause, they show nothing more than their own shameless deeds which are visible on the top of the waves and which are being blown on the beach. The white foam seems to refer to cleanness, but it is the whiteness of the whitewashed tombs (Mt 23:27). There is nothing left of it, they leave nothing behind that has any value.

In their whole performance they still want to give the impression that you can take their life as an example to determine your direction, but they are “wandering stars”. They will end up where they live and that is in “the black darkness” and that will last “forever”. They will never more be able to deceive anyone there and they will also never be able to enjoy anything.

Jude 1:14. In the earliest days already there has been prophesies about these men, that they will be condemned. As a proof of that Jude quotes Enoch. To not confuse this Enoch with the other, the man with the same name who is a descendant of Cain (Gen 4:17-18), it is said of him that he is the “seventh [generation] from Adam”. He “prophesied” about the coming of the Lord Jesus to bring judgment on the wicked apostates.

This prophesy of Enoch is only found in this letter. In the Old Testament we do not find it. God’s Spirit has also revealed this to Jude, the same as what is written in Jude 1:9. Enoch prophesied in his days about the coming of Christ for judgment, whereby He will be accompanied by “many thousands of His holy ones”, which include all the redeemed of all times. This judgment has had a fulfillment in advance in the flood.

It is a nice thought that Enoch himself was taken away by God before the flood, without seeing death (Heb 11:5). In that way he is a picture of the church that will also be taken up into heaven before the judgments strike the earth. The believers will not come into judgment (Jn 5:24).

Jude 1:15. The judgment will be executed upon all unbelievers. Christ will judge all works as well as all words of the ungodly sinners. Do you see how the Holy Spirit emphasizes the nature of ungodliness? The people are ungodly, as are their deeds and ways and their harsh words which they “have spoken against Him”. Therefore every soul that has committed that sin will be personally punished by Him. Because judgment does not immediately follow after the deed, it may seem that God forgets to punish and man keeps on doing evil (Ecc 8:11). But the day of reckoning will come.

Jude 1:16. Their ungodly words have been uttered in grumbling language. They are dissatisfied, they always want more or differently, they complain about their destiny. They always blame God. Why does He allow the wars and miseries to happen? If He is that almighty, why does not He change the world?

Those are people who are “following after their [own] lusts”. They always seek to fulfill their passions. They speak “arrogantly”, using sensationalizing language, words that are haughtily and hypocritically spoken out. They crawl for people who are above them and they flatter them purely out of selfishness, in order to benefit personally. Meanwhile they follow their own hidden agenda, for they do not care about others. Only one’s own ‘I’ is important.

Now read Jude 1:10-16 again.

Reflection: Which examples of ungodliness does Jude present in these verses?