Jan. 15, 2025

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

HILLTOP LAKES CHAPEL

JANUARY 15, 2025

Jude 1:9-16

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.

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v 9 – “But when the archangel Michael…”

There is much discussion, but we don’t really know what this was

cf: “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of

the LORD, and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one

knows the place of his burial to this day.”—Deuteronomy 34:5-6

The point is that even Michael, who is the archangel, would not dare to pronounce a

blasphemous judgment against Satan himself

blaspheme – blasphémeó, to speak evil of, to despise, scorn

He would only say “The Lord rebuke you”

v 10 – “But these people…”

“ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and

Lord, Jesus Christ” (v 4).

“blaspheme all that they do not understand [eidó]”—this is a major issues in our times, some of it

claiming to be Christian

Gk. blasphémeó – to revile, scorn

eidó—to “see” with the understanding; perceive

“but whatever, as the irrational [unreasoning] animals, they know naturally…”

know — epistamai

naturally — physikós

“in these things they are corrupted.”

corrupted – phtheiró - destroyed, defile, waste away

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Overall—rejecting the spiritual teachings of the gospel in favor of “natural,” immoral, and

mentally-corrupted, living

v 11 – “Woe to them!...”

An exclamation of deep distress for what is coming

More lit. “for in the way of Cain they travelled, and in the deceit of Balaam for reward they

rushed, and in the gainsaying [answering back] of Korah they were destroyed.”

A progressional picture – travelled, rushed, perished—of their lives

Identified with three notorious examples of sinful men

Cain – dishonest with God, resentful, murderous

Balaam — “who loved gain from wrongdoing” (2 Peter 2:15)

Korah – who spoke against Moses, the prophet of God (see Numbers 16:1-35)

vv 12-13 – “These are hidden reefs…”

Characterizing the insidiousness of these people

Fully participating in church activities—but they are treacherous

more lit. “feasting together with you fearlessly…”

more lit. “shepherding themselves.”

“Clouds without water”

False in appearance—failing to provide the very things they are posturing to offer

more lit. “being carried about by winds”—doctrinally and in lifestyle

more lit. “autumnal trees with fruit, twice having died, having been unrooted”

prophetic, poetical condemnation and description

dead once, in autumn, when fruit would have been expected—but a worthless tree

then, uprooted—torn away from the source, separated from Christ – now twice dead

“wild waves of the sea…”

A picture of riotous living, “foaming out of their shame”

“wandering stars…”

A tragic description of what once was and could have been

“for who the gloom…”

A sobering description of their eternal judgment

“has been reserved” – by God. It is already prepared, as the Scriptures teach.

Continuing on this…

v 14 “It was about these that Enoch…”

Here, Jude quotes from the Book of Enoch (see below), a combination of passages.

The message: the Lord [Christ] will come with ten thousands of his holy ones [with his angels, as

Jesus says on numerous occasions]

The ungodly will be judged according to their deeds and words—this message fully consistent

with the rest of Scripture

The Book of Enoch was not, as is not, considered canonical—but that does not mean that there is

no truth in it. Any number of sources other than the Old Testament are quoted in the New

Testament. (e.g. see Acts 17:28)

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v 16— “These are the grumblers …”

A further and concluding description of the corrupting influencers

Grumblers, fault-finders, complainers – the opposite of humble, thankful, affirming…

“following their own sinful desires” – and, of course, this is the key to the whole thing

“showing favoritism…”

More lit. “ flattering faces for the sake of profit.”

The devil does not build up. But he is a master at flattery.