After urging his readers to be on the lookout for false teachers who had infiltrated their church and brought with them a false gospel and an empty way of life. In verses 12-17, Jude then sought to expose their character. To do this, Jude uses words that are ‘word pictures’ such as ‘trees without fruit’ and ‘wild waves of the sea’. There are five word pictures in all that lead us to see that the lives of these false teachers are characterised by selfishness, helplessness, fruitlessness, shamefulness and aimlessness. To add the severity of the picture, he gives his own warning as well as one from the non-biblical book of Enoch, that reminded his readers the need to be on guard. By telling us these things, Jude also reminds us that true teachers of theWord of God ought to be seen as those whose lives have the evidence and character of God’s grace.
Philip Burns
Rev Philip Burns is the minister of Bendigo Presbyterian Church.
‘Jude’s grim warnings about false teachers’ (Jude 8-11)
Having established that his readers were in great danger from false teachers, in verses 8-11 of his letter, Jude added to his previous three illustrations from the Old Testament by referring to three more – using the examples of Cain, Korah and Balaam. All of these Old Testament men are known for their misdeeds, rather than their righteous acts or faith. Cain was a murderer, Korah led a rebellion and Balaam sought money to lead Israel astray. By referring to these men, Jude sought to make plain the character of false teachers who not only twist Scripture but whose lives are also reflect that they do not know the Lord or follow His ways. God’s people are urged to be on guard and fight for the truth – especially that of the gospel.
‘Jude’s good ground for urgency’ (Jude 5-7)
Having established that his readers were in danger of being led astray by false teachers, in verses 5-7 Jude then proceeded to give three illustrations from the Old Testament of how God brought judgment upon those who oppose His truth. And so by reminding us of the people of Israel who died in the desert, the angels who left heaven to join the rebellion against the Lord and the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah who lived lives of sexual immorality, Jude gave a strong warning to his readers. These lessons from the Old Testament were written for us and should be noted well. God will not be mocked. His Word teaches that ‘a man reaps what he sows’.
‘Meet the author and his urgent letter’ (Jude 1-4)
The New Testament letter of Jude may well be small but it packs a punch. In verses 1-4 we find that the author, one of the brothers of the Lord Jesus, intended to write this letter to his readers about ‘their common salvation’, but was compelled instead to write a letter with a far different tone – one that urged his readers to be very careful of the rise and the influence of false teaching in the church, calling his readers to do everything they can do to ‘contend for the faith’ and defend the truth of the gospel. 20 centuries later, Jude’s call is just as important. While there is a rapid growth in many religions and -isms around the world, the truth of God’s Word must be upheld, defended and promoted. God has not changed and He calls His people to be a people who know, love and defend His truth.
‘The King who invites us to His banquet’ (Matthew 22:1-14)
When Jesus told the parable recorded in Matthew 22:1-14 it would have been a shocking parable to His hearers. To turn down an invitation from a King could leave you open to the charge of treason. Yet the King’s subjects treated him with contempt as they turned down his invitation. Not to be deterred, the King put other plans into action, inviting and compelling the ‘non-invited’ to attend. God has made His gospel free to all and all are invited to believe it and respond to it in faith. Those who reject the invitation or who simply do not respond will only face the inevitable consequences that Jesus outlined in the parable. But all who respond to the gospel in faith can look forward to the great Day when the Father plans for people of all nations to honour His Son.
‘The King who spoke with a sting in His tale’ (Matthew 21:33-46)
When Jesus told the ‘Parable of the Tenants’, He really cut close to the bone. The Pharisees had just asked Him about the origins of His authority and He had just returned fire a parable to show that any repentance that they had claimed on their behalf was false. So He put the whole matter fairly and squarely before them in Matthew 21:33-46. In the parable, it is clear that Jesus wanted the Pharisees to not only see their hypocrisy but also their murderous intent, as was seen in the tenants of the parable who put the landowner’s son to death so that they might claim the inheritance. Sadly, Jesus’ words fell upon deaf ears. Everything that the parable told about the landowner’s son would and did happen to Him. Yet while Jesus told this parable that the Pharisees might see themselves, He also told it that we might see ourselves and in seeing, that we might know that salvation must come from God alone.
‘The King who decrees that repentance brings blessing’ (Matthew 21:28-32)
When Jesus spoke the parable of the Two Sons in Matthew 21:28-32, he wasn’t telling a story about always following through on what you say, or how to show proper respect to your parents. The parable tells of one of the sons, who, when asked by his afther to go out and work in the vineyard, said ‘yes’ but did not go and the other son, who said ‘no, he would not go’ but then did go. The point that Jesus was making is that there are plenty who will gladly say ‘yes’ to God but their ‘yes’ amounts to nothing. The Pharisees were men like that. They said ‘yes’ on the outside, but inwardly their hearts were far from Him. They were hypocrites. The only cure for hypocrisy is repentance, shown to us by the second son who turned away (repented) from his selfish ways. Entry to the Kingdom of God is clearly marked ‘for the repentant’. No-one else but they will come in. This is why Jesus told the Pharisees that ‘tax-collectors and prostitutes’ will enter the Kingdom of God. It is because repentance leads to salvation.
‘The King who confirmed His right to rule’ (Matthew 21:23-27)
In Matthew 21:23-27 we find the religious leaders challenging Jesus about His claims. No doubt the cleansing of the temple did not escape their notice and must have caused them some angst. So they asked Jesus, ‘Who gave Him authority to act and to speak as He did?’ In response, Jesus returned serve by asking them ‘Who gave John the Baptist authority to speak and act as he did – was it from man or God?’ Trapped in a web of their own making, all the Pharisees could say was ‘We don’t know’, fearing a revolt from the people if they said ‘man’ or having egg on their face if they said ‘God’. The authority of Jesus is a major question we all have to face up to. A non-response (like the Pharisees) is a poor response. There remains only one way to respond to the authority of Jesus and that is to bow before Him as Lord and King.
‘Some news about why the resurrection news is the best news’ (Matthew 28:6)
In Matthew 28:6, we find the words of the angel, ‘He is not here, He is risen’. In this world filled with news, the news of the resurrection of Jesus must be the best news of all. Why is that? For a start it is the best news because it is true. The confirming accounts of the four gospel writers, the evidence of the empty tomb and the dramatic change in the life of the disciples. all point to the certainty of what took place. It is also the best news because it most welcome. The disciples were cowring in fear after Jesus’ death, but news of His resurrection filled their lives with joy and hope. Then also it is the best news, because it proves God’s promises are true. These include those He has made about the offer of salvation to all who believe in Jesus, His Son, and also about the eternal destiny of those who believe in Him. His resurrection will be the basis for their resurrection! Believers have an eternal hope because of the resurrection of Jesus.
‘The struggle and the victory of Gethsemane’ (Matthew 26:36-46)
When Jesus spent time in the garden of Gethsemane, as recorded in Matthew 26:36-46, He faced an hour of enormous anguish that required angelic help to recover from. What took place in Gethsemane? What caused His soul to be ‘troubled to the point of death?’ And how is it that we can speak of the ‘victory’ of His time in the garden? What had He come to do there and how is it linked to His death on the cross? Matthew gives us answers to all these questions and more!