book in the New Testament. We will be looking tonight at
verses 8 through 11, but let's begin in verse 1 and read through
verse 11. Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ
and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the
Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ and called. Mercy unto
you and peace and love be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence
to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for
me to write unto you and exhort you that you should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
For there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of
old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace
of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God
in our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance,
though you once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the
people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that
believed not. and the angels which kept not
their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath
reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, under the judgment
of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and
the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over
to fornication, going after strange flesh, and set forth for an example,
or set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal
fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers
defile the flesh, despise dominion, speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael, the archangel, when
contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses,
durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, the Lord
rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those
things which they know not. But what they know naturally,
as brute beast, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe
unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily
after the era of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsane
of Kor. Now last week we saw Now that
Jude had warned the people, or warned the people, about men
who had crept in unawares. Men who had a form of godliness,
but denied the power thereof. And they had crept in, unrecognized
for who, in reality, they were. They were false professors. Many
were false prophets. They were Antichrist. And he
mentioned in verse four, five things that we looked at about
those men that had crept in unawares. Tonight, he continues with the
same theme. I will say that one of the verses
that we are looking at tonight, verse nine, has, as one of the
writers said, given more perplexity to expositors than any other
part of this letter. What is written in verse nine
has given more perplexity to expositors than any other part
of the epistle. Yet Michael the archangel, when
contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses,
Durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, the Lord
rebuke thee. I would just say tonight that
what Peter wrote in 2 Peter about some of the things that the Apostle
Paul wrote in his letters is also true of what Jude wrote. Look back here a few pages to
2 Peter. what the Apostle Peter wrote
that he said about some of the things that the Apostle Paul
wrote. In 2 Peter chapter 3 and verse
15, he said, in account that the longsuffering of our Lord
is salvation. It is salvation. If God were
not longsuffering, there would be no salvation. None of us would
be saved. if God were not long-suffering. But thank God He is long-suffering. Count that the long-suffering
of our Lord is salvation. Now notice, even as our beloved
brother Paul, also according to the wisdom given unto him,
hath written unto you, as also in all his officials, speaking
in them of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood,
which they that are unlearned and unstable rest, as they do
also the other scripture unto their own destruction. We see that Peter said that in
the letters of Paul that there were some things hard to be understood. The word of God is the word of
God. The Bible is the Word of God.
And we can only imagine that there would be some
things hard to be understood. Those who understand and those
who grow in the knowledge of the Word of God are those who
apply themselves to study, who diligently study the Word of
God. It's not like reading any other
book, not the Bible. There are some things that are
so plain, as plain as the nose on your face, that there's only
one way to the Father. You can't miss that, can you?
You can't miss that. He said, I am the way, the truth,
and the life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by me. It'd
be hard to misunderstand that. That's not one of those things
that's hard to understand, is it? But there are some things. dealing with God's sovereignty
and God's foreknowledge and God's purpose, predestination, election. Some of these things that the
Apostle Paul wrote about are hard to be understood. And the
same thing I would say about Jude. In that particular verse
there, verse number nine, some things hard to be understood. For some, the perplexity of this
verse is, where did Jude get this information? Where did Jude get this information? He didn't get it from the Pentateuch. He didn't get it from that which
is written in the Word of God. Look back with me to Deuteronomy
chapter 34, which tells us about the burial of Moses, the burial
of his body, Deuteronomy chapter 34, verses 5 and 6. Deuteronomy 34, verse 5 and 6. So Moses, the servant of the
Lord, died there in the land of Moab, according to the word
of the Lord. And he, that is the Lord, The
antecedent of he is the Lord, and he buried him in a valley
in the land of Moab over against Beth-peor, but no man knoweth
of his sepulchre unto this day. Now that's all that we know about
the burial of Moses. Some people find this a difficulty. Where did Jude get this information? But the same thing could be said
about Paul. When Paul names two men, Janus
and Jambres, which men believe were those magicians in Egypt
which withstood Moses, where did he get that information?
Those two men, Janus and Jambres, believed to be magicians that
withstood Moses. Where did Paul get that information? Well, I don't see this as a problem.
Do you? Not at all. Because I believe,
and I believe that you believe this, that the Word of God, the
Bible, is the inspired Word of God. We believe in the plenary,
verbal inspiration of the Word of God. Not just the thoughts,
but the very words. The very words were inspired
by God. The Bible is a miracle book,
isn't it? I have a little booklet back
there in my office I've read over the years, and the title
is The Miracle Book. And it is. It's a miracle book. No one can deny that the Bible is the word of
God, written over a period of 1,500 years by 40-something different
authors from all walks of life, some of them lawyers, some of
them fishermen, some of them herdsmen, and yet they all have
the same message. That's an impossibility apart
from the truth that all scripture is given by inspiration of God
and is profitable for doctrine, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness that the man of God might be truly furnished. Amen? So I don't see any problem. Where did Moses? You might say,
well, where did Moses get the information that he wrote in
Genesis chapter 1 and verse 1? He wasn't there. He didn't see
it. He didn't hear God say, let there
be light, and light was. Where did he get that information?
The inspired word of God answers that question. I see no perplexity
there. The difficulty has to do with
this one called Michael, the archangel. Some make the case
that this is Christ, that this is Christ himself, Michael, like
God, the archangel. But there are verses of scripture,
I can't, I don't see that, as some men do. Now, I don't have
the light, evidently, some men have on that. Our Lord mentioned
Beelzebub as the prince of the devils, and we know that there's
an order among the angels. Look over in Ephesians chapter
one. We know that there's an order
among the angels. In Paul's prayer here in verse
nine, He prayed what is exceeding greatness of his power to us
were to believe according to the working of his mighty power
which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and
set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places far above
all principality, all power, all might, all dominion, And
every name that is named, not only in this world, but also
in that which is to come. And hath put all things under
his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the
church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth
all in all. And that passage in First Thessalonians,
which speaks for the Lord himself, shall descend with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and the dead in Christ shall rise.
It seems difficult to see that as not being a separate entity
from the Lord who descends from heaven. It is for me. But then
when you read in Revelation chapter 12 about that war that went on
in heaven, it was Michael who overthrew Satan and cast him
down, and that certainly Speaks of Christ, we know he's the one
who defeated Satan. He's the one that gave Satan
his death blow at the cross. And then the body of Moses. Some
people see this as the law, the Old Testament law that was given
through Moses. The body of that law was what
was disputed over or about. But it doesn't, to me, it doesn't
seem right, the term, he did not,
he durst not, this Michael, notice it said, he durst not bring a
railing accusation. To me, that just not fitting
to say that about Christ. He durst not. No, he is the sovereign
ruler. All power in heaven and earth
is in his hands. So, for me, and you may see this
clearly, you may have your understanding of this, but for me, I'm going
to have to wait for more light before I can be dogmatic about
what this verse is telling us. For it is, to me, perplexing. It is perplexing. What is clear,
and let's look at this, what is clear, that is that Jude continues
to describe these men who had crept in unawares. These false
professors, false prophets, and antichrist. Now I have two points,
I won't be long, but notice, let's read verses eight through
10 again, and I want us to notice the parallel between these verses
and the verses in 2 Peter chapter 2. So hold your place here and
turn back there to 2 Peter chapter 2 and verse 10 through 12. Okay, let's read the verses here
in Jude, verses eight through 10. Likewise also these filthy
dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, speak evil of dignities. Now skip over nine, verse 10.
But these speak evil of those things which they know not. But
what they know naturally as brute beast in those things they corrupt
themselves. Now let's read in 2 Peter chapter
two and verses 10 through 12. But chiefly them that walk after
the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise government, presumptuous
are they, self-willed, they're not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater
in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them
before the Lord. 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. You see the parallel there between
what Jude wrote and what the Apostle Peter wrote. Now, I want
to pull out just a couple of things from these verses. First
of all, they're dreamers. Notice that in our text tonight.
in verse eight. Likewise, also these, notice
the word filthy is in italics, it's been added. These also dreamers defile the
flesh. False prophets have often and
many times continued to substitute their dreams for the word of
God. I want to read a passage from
Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy chapter 13. In verse one, if there arise
among you a prophet, now notice, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth
thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to
pass. Wherefore he spake unto thee,
saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known,
and let us serve them. Thou shalt not hearken unto the
words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord
your God proveth you to know whether you love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk
after the Lord your God and fear him, and notice, keep his commandments,
his word. Rather than follow these dreamers
and their dreams, We're to keep his commandments, we are to obey
his voice, and you shall serve him and cleave unto him, and
that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death,
because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God,
which brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you
out of the house of bondage. to thrust thee out of the way
which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in, so shalt thou
put the evil away from the midst of these." Jude is warning about
men who have crept in, false teachers, false prophets, false
professors, Antichrist. And the first thing he says in
this verse is that they're dreamers, they're dreamers. And they would
pawn off on the people of God their dreams rather than the
written word of God. Now, in Hebrews chapter 1, we
are told that God did at sundry times and in diverse manners
speak unto the fathers in different manners, right? But hath in these
last days spoken unto us in his son. the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the final, the complete
revelation of God. Now, these men who had crept
in are dreamers, and I want you to turn to a place in Jeremiah.
I couldn�t pass up this, Jeremiah chapter 23. And verses 25 and 26. I have heard what the prophet said,
that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have
dreamed. How long shall this be in the
heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? Yea, they're prophets of
deceit. of their own heart, which think
to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams, which
they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten
my name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream,
let him tell a dream. Now notice this, and he that
hath my word, and we have his word tonight. Aren't you thankful? We have, he that hath my word,
let him speak my word faithfully. What is chaff to the wheat, saith
the Lord. You can just imagine a big pile
of chaff. You could eat it, you could try
to make bread with it, I guess, and die of starvation. There's
no nutrition in the chaff. But the wheat, the kernel, that's
where the food is. That's what God calls his word,
the written word of God. Food for our souls. Food for our souls, the written
word of God. Go back with me. Now the second
thing we see, they despise dominion. First he says that dreamers,
they despise dominion and speak evil of dignities or dignitaries. Now this may apply first to God's
dominion. God's dominion. God's sovereignty. These men are not afraid to speak
evil of God's sovereignty. It may also apply to civil rule. They fail to recognize, obviously,
that civil authority is ordained of God. And we think things are
bad, and things are bad, but if there was no civil authority,
if there were no policemen, if there were no judges and courthouses,
and we, It'd be hell on earth. Why? Because men are depraved. That's why. These speak evil
of dignities, failing to recognize that the powers that be are ordained
of God. Look with me in Romans chapter
13. Let every soul be subject unto
the higher powers. For there's no power but of God.
The powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth
the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist
shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to
good works, but to the evil. Will thou then not be afraid
of the power? Do that which is good, and thou
shalt have praise of the same. For he, notice, he's a minister
of God. I had a pastor friend many years
ago who's been gone a long time now, pastored in Alabama, but
he had a member of his congregation who was a policeman who was killed
on the job, and at his funeral, He made the point that this brother
was every bit a minister of God as I am, the preacher. Every
bit a minister of God as the preacher is, the minister. That's what he said, for he is
the minister of God for thee for good. But if thou do that
which is evil, be afraid, for he beareth not the sword in vain.
For he is the minister of God, a revenger, to execute wrath
upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore, you must needs be
subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay you tribute
also, for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this
very thing. People complain about paying
taxes, don't we? Don't we? I tell you, somebody's
got to support the policemen and the military and those who
are ordained of God as ministers for good, several brothers. But Jude tells us these speak
evil of dignities. And you know, you hear people
say, well, punishment, you know, every law has a penalty. If a law doesn't have a penalty,
then it's just good advice. That's all it could be. And the
sociologists, they say, well, punishment doesn't deter crime. Well, who are you going to believe,
God or the sociologists? Who are you going to believe?
God says it does. Let me show you that. In Deuteronomy
again, chapter 19. That prisoner who broke out of
prison recently and killed those four, those three young men and
that grandfather, if the law had executed that man for the
crime, the murder he had already committed, those people would
be alive today. Yes. The law of God that was
given to Israel had part of it concerned civil matters. And notice here in Deuteronomy
chapter 19 and verse 16. If a false witness rise up against
any man to testify against him that which is wrong, then both
the men between whom the controversy is shall stand before the Lord,
before the priest and the judges, which shall be in those days.
And the judges shall make diligent inquisition, and behold, if the
witness be a false witness and hath testified falsely against
his brother, then shall you do unto him as he had thought to
have done unto his brother, So shalt thou put the evil away
from among you. Now watch this. And those which
remain shall hear. They shall hear. He got punished. He got punished for what he did.
He did wrong. And he got punished. They shall
hear and they shall fear and shall henceforth commit no more
any such evil among you. And then that next verse, and
then I shall not pity, but life shall go for life. Eye for eye,
tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. That mandate is
for the civil rulers. It's not for you or me to take
revenge. Revenge or vengeance rather belongs
under the Lord. It's not for us. to execute this
eye for eye and hand for hand. But yes, the government, the
civil rulers, the penalty is to fit the crime. And God said
people who are penalized will hear and they will fear and shall
henceforth commit no more any such evil among you. If Jude here is arguing or reasoning,
I should say, from the greater to the least, but he says, if
Michael did not bring a railing accusation against Satan, but
said the Lord rebuke thee, then men should not speak evil of
dignitaries. And some understand the words,
these speak evil of those things which they know not, as referring
to angels. And I'm going to skip over part
of these notes, but just remember this, what we know about angels,
we know from the book, from the word of God. Not from feelings
and not from Hollywood movie pictures and things like that.
That's not where we learn about angels. What we know about angels
comes to us from the word of God. Now let me just hurriedly
notice this second part, this divine, woe unto them, in verse
11. Woe unto them, exclamation mark. A prediction of what was to come
upon them. And John Gill pointed out that
in the Arabic version, there is a preface to these words,
oh my beloved, oh my beloved, that what is about to be said
might be attended to as a caution and instruction to them. They
have gone in the way of Cain. Now, what was the way of Cain?
Envy. Envy. He envied his brother Abel. You know, envy is one of those
sins that we have a tendency to think, well, that's not so
bad, you know. Envy. It's an evil, wicked sin. And
the envy of Cain resulted in murder. It led to murder. And the proverb said, let not
thy heart envy sinners, but be thou in the fear of the Lord
all day long. You see these multimillionaires
who, who are wicked, many of them, I'm not saying they all
are, but don't envy those people. See those famous people, famous
sports people, famous politicians, and don't be envious of those
people. Don't let your heart be envious
of those things. Thank God that thou have been
given the fear of the Lord in your heart, the fear of the Lord. And then he says they ran greedily
after the era of Balaam. What was the era of Balaam? It
was covetousness. Paul said, for the love of money
is the root of all evil. He didn't say money is the root
of all evil, but the love of money is the root of all evil. That prayer that we find in the
book of Proverbs, that prayer of agar, is one that God's people,
that we should learn and we should pray quite often. Remove far
from me vanity and lies. Now listen, give me neither poverty
nor riches. Feed me with food convenient
for me. I remember Brother Shanks had
a message he preached, the title was, Cornbread and beans. Cornbread and beans. And his
point in the message was, if you have to eat cornbread and
beans, if you have to exist on only that to hear the gospel, be in that place. Don't let money,
the love of money, cause you to leave the gospel. Better pay,
all of that stuff. It's such an attraction. That's
the way of Balaam. How much does it cost? I mean,
how much does it take for a person to be satisfied? I tell you,
it's not money. It's always just a little more.
Just a little more. Godliness. with contentment is
great gain, Paul said, great gain. And then the third thing,
they perished in the gainsaying of Korah. Gainsaying, of course,
means the contradicting. Korah contradicted God's order. God had set up, raised up Moses
as the leader and Korah He wanted to usurp that place. And he had a bunch of people
with him, too. And remember what God did to
those people. He opened up the earth and just
swallowed them up. Because they resisted, they gainsayed
Moses.