Jude 8–13 (ESV)
8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh,
reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 But
these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s
error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13
wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.
This is a continuation of yesterday’s reading which
gave a warning against those who claim they are Christians, but their words and deeds show otherwise. It continues talking about those who reject authority and blaspheme the glorious ones. As a pastor, I have often found that the people who come
looking for hand-outs from the church or often those who ridicule the church and make fun of Christians. What is worse is when you here people inside the church ridiculing or making fun of God or Christians. Jude uses a series of comparisons to
illustrate the corruption of the ungodly, who are dreamers. He cites two examples of popular Jewish legend against them, perhaps drawing on their own literature to condemn them. Jude’s use of this literature does not mean he regarded it as equal to Holy
Scriptures. The two are 1) the angel contending with the devil and 2) Enoch.
I pray: O Lord, help me to protect the church from those who claim to be working for God, but are actually working
against God. Give me wisdom to discern and a heart to act. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.