II. Illustrations of Past Rebels (5-11)

II. Illustrations of Past Rebels (5-11)

5-7 So Jude provides some illustrations. He reminds the readers of past rebels who were like the false teachers, emphasizing what became of them. Though the Lord saved a people out of Egypt, only Joshua and Caleb entered the promised land. God destroyed those who did not believe (v. 5). He also points to the angelic rebellion. Lucifer led a coup d’état and was followed by angels who . . . abandoned their proper dwelling. Now they’re kept in eternal chains for judgment (v. 6). His third illustration is the sexual immorality of Sodom and Gomorrah. God’s judgment on these cities is an example of the eternal fire that will fall on those who legitimize evil (v. 7).

8-11 Scripture instructs us to obey the legitimate authorities appointed over us. But false teachers reject authority. In this case, they were accountable to no one but themselves. Moreover, the group would slander glorious ones (v. 8). Jude illustrates this with an account of a dispute over Moses’s body between the archangel and the devil. Michael refused to utter a slanderous condemnation against Satan but said, The Lord rebuke you! (v. 9). The false teachers, by contrast, didn’t understand how spiritual warfare works. They lived in a dream world, out of touch with spiritual reality. They’d blaspheme rather than invoking the Lord like Michael did. Why? They didn’t understand that Satan is not to be taken lightly. Instead, they were like irrational animals who only operate by instinct (v. 10). Jude compares them to Cain (who gave a bloodless offering), Balaam (who only ministered for money), and Korah (who rejected the authority of God’s word). For rebelling against spiritual authority, all of them were judged (v. 11).