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Jude 10 But these {false teachers} speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Last week we saw how Jude spoke against idolatry and false teachers. He started by reminding us that when God saved Israel from Egypt, a “mixed multitude” went out with them:

Exodus 12:37-38 (KJV) And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot [that were] men, beside children. [38] And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, [even] very much cattle.

Word Study: “Mixed multitude” is the Hebrew ʿēreḇ raḇ, which can be translated “a foreign multitude, a great rabble, a mixed {non-Israelite} crowd”. God’s people – whether Israel or the Church – has always had those who are not born again who attend services, who may actually be on our membership roll. When Israel regathered in Jerusalem at the end of the Medo-Persian exile, much of the “mixed multitude” were cousins of the Israelites, Ammonites and Moabites. These people had their own gods and goddesses, and secretly wanted to draw Israel away from the God of Scripture. We are told in:

Nehemiah 13:1-3 (KJV) On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; [2] Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. [3] Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude{ʿēreḇ}

When Israel neglected the Word of God, they bound together with false teachers and idolaters, those things that would keep them away from a perfect union with God. But once they realized through the reading of God’s Word who were ʿēreḇ and who were of Israel, they separated from these people.

It is the Word of God that gives us the standards that we, as Children of God, are supposed to seek. The mixed multitude can lead the Church from honoring Christ.

Characteristics Of False Teachers

Jude 10 But these {false teachers} speak evil {blasphēmeō} of those things which they know not

Word Study: The false teachers blasphēmeō, or blaspheme things they do not understand or agree with. They did this with our Lord Jesus. The Pharisees made intricate additions to the Law of God concerning the Sabbath. If you were hungry, you were not even supposed to pick raw corn from the stalk to eat it (Matthew 12:1-8). Jesus reminded them that The Scripture taught that when David was hungry, on the Sabbath day the PRIESTS gave him and his men shew bread, which was only supposed to be eaten by PRIESTS (Matthew 12:3-4). Jesus relied on the Scripture. Moving to the Synagogue, the Lord Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath day (Matthew 12:10). Again Jesus referred to the Scripture, saying:

Matthew 12:11-12 (KJV) … What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

The Law of God allowed people to eat, and animals to be watered and rescued on the Sabbath Day. The Sabbath was established as a time to worship the Lord, to glorify His name. But the Pharisees – a “rabble among us” or “mixed multitude” – did not refer to the Scripture, but to what they thought was best. When Jesus healed on the Sabbath, rather than glorifying God they taught that Jesus was demon possessed. When Jesus healed a demon possessed man, proving He was the Messiah, the …

Matthew 12:24 (ESV) … Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”

They do not understand, nor do they want to understand Jesus the Messiah, so they blaspheme Him. They put Jesus in league with the devil, though He did no wrong. They did so not on the basis of Scripture, nor by the Holy Spirit, but based on their feelings and desires. Jesus pointed out that, if He were in league with Satan, then …

Matthew 12:26 (ESV) And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

Jesus went on to say,

Matthew 12:28, 31-32 (ESV) But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. … [31] Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. [32] And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

The Pharisees were not blaspheming the Son of Man, the Messiah. It was the Holy Spirit that was casting the demons out. It was the Holy Spirit by which Jesus healed people. They were blaspheming the Holy Spirit, an unforgivable sin that brings everlasting damnation. Why is this sin unforgivable, and all others forgivable?

Because it is the Holy Spirit that convicts a person they they are a sinner, and need the Savior, Jesus Christ
(John 16:8-9).

Jesus said in John 6:44, (KJV) “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” When a person is under conviction, it is because the Father sent the Spirit of God to convict that person. When a person sees a clear work of God and attributes it to Satan, they are rejecting the Holy Spirit, the only One Who can convict them of sin and bring them to REPENTANCE so they might be saved. My commentary notes:

“All sin can be forgiven. However, the key to forgiveness is repentance. The key to repentance is conviction. The source of conviction is the Holy Spirit. When a person blasphemes, slanders and rejects the true work of the Holy Spirit, they disconnect their source of conviction. When this happens, there is nothing or no one who will move that person to repentance and without repentance there can be no forgiveness. … they have rejected the Holy Spirit.”

False Prophets Cut Themselves Off From Salvation

The “mixed multitude” or the unsaved cut themselves off from salvation. They are likened to “BRUTE BEASTS”…

Jude 10 … what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Their actions condemn themselves to hell by rejecting the Word of God and the Messiah. When a person in our midst says, “I know what the Bible says, BUT I DISAGREE. It’s an old, outdated Book.” That person condemns themselves, and if not careful, will kill the righteous. The Apostle wrote:

2 Peter 2:12-13 (KJV) But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; [13] And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you …

The Way of Cain

Jude 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain …

False teachers have no love for their brethren. We are told “they have gone in the way of Cain”. The Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is DEATH” (Romans 6:23). Adam’s sin against God in Eden brought the reality of this home to both him and his wife. After their expulsion from Eden, Adam and Eve had a child called Cain, a farmer, and Abel, s shepherd (Genesis 4:1-2). God had instituted animal sacrifices in the Garden to act as a temporary covering for sin. When Cain brought his sacrifice, he brought the “fruit of the ground to the Lord” (Genesis 4:3). His brother Abel brought the firstborn of his flock (Genesis 4:4).

God refused Cain’s offering, but received Abel’s offering. Why did God refuse Cain’s offering? Because it was NOT OF FAITH. Faith heeds God’s Word. Faith honors God.

You can’t just do it the way you want to do it. The Word of God establishes the pattern, what is acceptable. The Scripture says:

Hebrews 11:4 (ESV) By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

Cain could have easily obeyed the Lord. He knew what the standard was. His brother Abel was a believer in God, and would have readily given Cain a lamb had he asked for it. God pleaded with Cain, saying:

Genesis 4:6-7 (ESV) … Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? [7] If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

Faith is to DO WELL, to DO WHAT GOD SAID. Period! God will not repent. Cain must repent. But since Cain refused to repent, and God would not re-write Scripture to satisfy Cain’s whim, Cain killed his brother Abel. The false prophet wants to set the standard. The Apostle wrote:

1 John 3:12 (ESV) We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.

False teachers are “OF THE EVIL ONE”. They are not of God. Those who are of God, of Christ, not only HEAR but DO His Word. Jesus said:

Luke 6:44-46 (ESV) … for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. [45] The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. [46] Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

The false teacher, like Cain, will not repent. He will KILL HIS BROTHER – either literally or figuratively – rather than obey the Lord. Cain has made himself a god, and refuses the Word of God.

Running After The Error Of Balaam

Jude 11 Woe unto them! for they … ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward

When Israel came out of Egypt, they passed near Moab in their journey to Sinai. The Moabites, though cousins to Israel, hated Israel and the God of Israel. They along with the Amorites worshiped Chemosh, the Destroyer. Mesha king of Moab …

2 Kings 3:27 … (ESV) took his oldest son who was to reign in his place and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall.

Those who worshiped Chemosh (who was demonic) offered human sacrifices to appease that god. Balaam was a ‘prophet for hire’ that the King Balak of Moab hired to curse Israel. God told Balaam:

Numbers 22:12 (AP) You shall NOT go with the Moabites. You shall NOT curse Israel, for they are BLESSED.

Balaam was offered riches to speak man’s word instead of God’s Word. He agreed. But God sent an Archangel to stop Balaam. His donkey saw the Angel, but he didn’t.

Anytime God allows an animal to speak in Scripture, whether snake or donkey, we would best reconsider what we’re planning. The Angel allowed Balaam to go with the Moabites, but warned him:

Numbers 22:35 (ESV) Go with the men, but speak ONLY THE WORD that I tell you.

Four times Balaam prophesied over Israel, but instead of cursing God’s people, he was made to bless them. But Balaam was greedy. When King Balak offered him more money Balaam suggested that Balak send unbelieving but beautiful women from Moab into Israel to entice God’s people into sin.

Israel added to the mixed multitude!
What was the result?

Numbers 25:1-3 (ESV) {Israel} began to whore with the daughters of Moab. [2] These invited the people {of Israel} to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. [3] So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

Israel took up with the human sacrifice of Chemosh. We are told that Israel “yoked himself to Baal of Peor”. The word baal is simply the word for “lord,” “master,” or “ruler.” Baal became a technical or semi-technical name for the gods of the Canaanites. What Israel did caused God to bring a plague on the nation that would kill 24,000. What was the source of this horror?

Numbers 31:16 (ESV) Behold, these, on Balaam ‘s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the Lord.

False teachers bring plague upon God’s people, and lead the Church into sin. Jesus spoke to the Church of Pergamum:

Revelation 2:14 (ESV) … you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.

I suspect that the “TEACHING OF BALAAM”, the suggestion that we as believers should allow more leniency towards those who “practice sexual immorality” is one of the more common false teachers found in American Churches.

The Rebellious Talk Of Korah

Jude 11 … and perished in the gainsaying {antilogia} of Core {kore, or Korah}.

This is a reference to Korah. The word translated “GAINSAYING” is the Greek antilogia, which means “to speak against, to rebel against Divine authority, to contradict what god has decreed”. There are three other “Korahs” in the Bible (Genesis 36:5, 14, 18; 1 Chronicles 1:35; Genesis 36:16; 1 Chronicles 2:43), but this Korah is found in Numbers 16:1-40.

Korah was the grandson of Kohath. The lineage of Kohath was responsible for transporting the furniture of the Tabernacle, along with the Ark of the Covenant. Korah reported to Aaron’s son Eleazar, the Overseer of the Tabernacle. Korah’s responsibilities and those of his family was very important. Without the vessels and the Ark of the Covenant, worship could not proceed. But Korah wasn’t satisfied.

Just as Lucifer looked at himself, and thought himself better than even God His Creator, Korah felt that HE could be more than he was called to be. Korah wanted to be of Aaron’s line – and led a revolt against Moses and Aaron to that effect.

Numbers 16:1-3 (ESV)Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. [2] And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. [3] They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

He claimed that Moses and Aaron conspired to be priests and leaders, and that he and his followers had just as much right to lead Israel. There were 24 courses of priests throughout the sons of Levi, and each had their assigned place BY GOD. But Moses was very wise.

He put it before God. He let God fight the battle.

Numbers 16:5-7 (ESV) {Moses} said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the LORD will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him. [6] Do this: take censers, Korah and all his company; [7] put fire in them and put incense on them before the LORD tomorrow, and the man whom the LORD chooses shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!”

Korah and his crowd forgot that Moses and Aaron did not call themselves. God called them. Only God can remove them, not Korah!

We must all be careful not to overstep our calling. God calls us – we do not call ourselves. When you step into God’s place, and seek to overthrow someone God installed, then you do so to your peril.

Moses let God fight his battle. Moses called two of the ringleaders, Dathan and Abiram to come and speak to him. Their response is typical of the false teacher. They refused to meet Moses face to face, but hid in the mob they created, saying …

Numbers 16:12-14 (KJV) We will not come up: 13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? 14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.

They claimed it was Moses, not God, who led them to this place. They blamed Moses, not themselves, for failing to enter the Promised Land. In short, they lied and put their problems on Moses, not on themselves. The reality is that these people were part and parcel the reason that the first generation of Israel perished in the wilderness.

Neither Moses nor Aaron can force a people to the blessings of God. The people must choose to follow God. Murmuring and grumbling will not bring blessing, nor will rebellion. “Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and insubordination is idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:23).

I wish you would read the full chapter of Numbers 16, for my time is limited and I must hurry to close. Let me simply say this. Moses asked God …

Numbers 16:30-33 (KJV) if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord. 31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

They were buried alive by God! God will punish those who defy Him, who murmur and complain and seek to impede His will.

What Should We As God’s Beloved Do?

Jude 17-20 But, BELOVED, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But ye, BELOVED, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

What can we do to preserve our fellowship, and honor our God? Remember that we are His Beloved. Remember that God has warned that the mixed multitude will come among us, spiritless and unsaved people who will walk following themselves as idols. Let us pray, let us grow, let us stay true to our God.

More on this next week. May God touch your hearts with his Word! Amen.