Jude 8–13 (ESV)
Judgment on False Teachers
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.
14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his
holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against
him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain an advantage.
Jude mercilessly describes the sins of
the ungodly without explicitly naming them or their group. He knows that the congregation will read his letter publicly, in the hearing of these false brothers. Jude apparently trusts that the congregation will take all necessary action to correct the problems.
By not naming names, he leaves the congregation to work with individuals at its discretion. This will grant the opportunity for confession and absolution.
I pray: Lord, You bear with my weaknesses patiently. Grant
that I might also bear with my brethren, and may patient teaching lead to repentance those who call themselves brothers but act contrary to the Gospel. Amen.[1]