Jude 5-16
Jude 5-16
5 Now I want to remind
you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the
land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who
did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper
dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the
judgment of the great day— 7 just
as Sodom and Gomorrah and the
surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued
unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal
fire.
8 Yet in like manner
these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority,
and tblaspheme 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 advantage.[1]
Devotion
Jude
reminds the people of the Exodus from Egypt was a blessing, but it came with
judgement also on those we not believers. Next Jude discusses the angels. Who left
their positions of authority in heaven and came down to earth to mate with female
humans. God has taken these angels and bound them up with chains in darkness
until the great day of judgement. Jude next message is for the cities of Sodom
and Gomorrah who are promised eternal judgement for the error of their ways.
Stating they will undergo torment in eternal fire.” What
can we do practically to oppose the enemy and maintain the purity and unity of
the church? For one thing, we must know the Word of God and have the courage to
defend it. Every local church ought to be a Bible institute, and every
Christian ought to be a Bible student. The pulpit needs to declare positive
truth as well as denounce error. Second, we must “watch and pray.” The enemy is
already here, and we dare not go to sleep! Spiritual leaders in local
congregations need to be alert as they interview candidates for baptism and
church membership.”2 Many people who want to join the church do so
for their own benefit and turn a blind eye to those in need in the church. They
are motivated by selfish desires. Churches need to be able discern the motives
of those that present themselves for membership in the local church. Finally,
we must have the courage to maintain a position of biblical separation from
those who deny Christ and the fundamental doctrines of the Word.3
These people don’t recognize the
authority of the church or its officers. They are dreamers who follow their own
whims and prevent others from following the apostolic authority. We then get a
story from the extra biblical book of “the life of Moses. Where the archangel
Michael when contending with the devil did not pronounce judgement on him but
rather said “the Lord rebuke you” Humans are in no situation to judge angel
especially fallen ones.
Then Jude rehearses a whole list of people who refused to
follow the Lord and his servant Moses. Jude give the example of people who walk
in the way of Cain and are murders of the brethren. Then Jude rehearses the Old
Testament examples of rebellion. And how these people were dealt with severely.
All in all, Jude provides a grim future for those who do
not follow God’s ways. We must of course seek good examples to model our life
after. Paul openly invited those he wrote to imitate him as he lived his
Christian life. We must resist the urges that seek to lead us astray after
false gods and dubious example. It is good to note that these verses can be
found in 2 Peter 2 apparently this advice is sound and should be imitated by
Christians everywhere.
.
2Wiersbe, Warren W.. Be Alert (2 Peter, 2 & 3
John, Jude): Beware of the Religious Impostors (The BE Series Commentary) (pp.
168-169). David C Cook. Kindle Edition.
3Wiersbe, Warren W.. Be Alert (2 Peter, 2 & 3
John, Jude): Beware of the Religious Impostors (The BE Series Commentary) (p.
169). David C Cook. Kindle Edition
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