Really Weird Stuff

Jude 8-11

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.

Jeremiah 23:16–19 (ESV)
16 Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. 17 They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’ ”

18 For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD
to see and to hear his word,
or who has paid attention to his word and listened?
19 Behold, the storm of the LORD!
Wrath has gone forth,
a whirling tempest;
it will burst upon the head of the wicked.

2 Timothy 4:2–4 (ESV)
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

3 Old Testament Stories:
1) Brazen rejection of any external authority
2) Penalty of eternal damnation

8 Yet (in spite of historical warnings) in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.

“Blaspheme the glorious ones”
What does this mean?

The Law of God came through angels
Acts 7:38
Acts 7:53
Hebrews 2:2
Galatians 3:19
Acts 7:53 (ESV) : “you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

“Face to face” = unmediated, personally

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.”

The Assumption of Moses
“Who shall dare to move your body from there as that of a mere man from place to place. What place shall receive 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.

1) Way of Cain
2) Balaam’s Error
3) Korah’s Rebellion

Way of Cain
Genesis 4
I John 3:12
Hebrews 11:4

“There is neither judgment nor judge, nor another world; nor will good reward be given to the righteous, nor vengeance be taken of the wicked.”

Balaam’s Error
Numbers 22-24
Numbers 31
2 Peter 2:15,16
Revelation 2:13-15

Korah’s Rebellion
Numbers 16

“As we reach this ghastly climax, it is worth remembering again that the people Jude describes here are not at all easy to spot. If they were he would not have had to write this letter. This poisonous infiltration or deadly hijack is going on under our noses, and if Jude had not warned us that the nice people who want us to do this are dangerous rebels, we simply wouldn’t know.”
Dick Lucas

B. GROUP DISCUSSION

1) Read Jude 8-11. Talk about these stories. What do you know about them? What do you think of the story of Michael and the devil?

2) Jude is now shifting his attention to authority. How do all 3 of these stories exemplify a disregard for established authority?

3) “Authority” has gotten a bad reputation over the last 10 years. What is your view on submission to authority, even if you disagree with it? Where does one draw the line between submission and rebellion?

4) How do we live in submission to God? What would that look like?
What are the obstacles for you in trusting God’s leadership or ownership of your own life?

5) We may struggle to trust God, and even if we are not in open rebellion we may try to do things for ourselves without His permission. Why is the cross so important in developing trust in God?

6) Prayer and praise