Jude Chapter 1 Vs. 11

 

Judgment on False Teachers

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. Jude 1:11

Woe unto them... In declaring ultimate spiritual judgment on the apostates, Jude followed the example of the prophets (Isa. 5:8-23), and of Christ (Mat. 23:15, 15-16, 23, 25, 27, 29). The severest judgment of all (Heb. 10:26), will come on apostates because they too followed the same path as Cain, Balaam and Korah.

1. Cain openly rebelled against God’s revealed will regarding sacrifice and was a murderer;

2. Balaam was bribed as he devised a plan for Balak, king of Moab, to entice Israel into a compromising situation with idolatry and immorality which would bring God’s own judgment on His people (Num. 31:16);

3. The rebellion of Korah plus 250 Jewish leaders rejected the God-appointed leadership of Moses and Aaron in an attempt to impose his will upon God and the people.

All of these are worldly and will undoubtedly meet the same end as Korah, divine judgment.

for they have... See, Jude 1:6-8, above.

gainsaying of Core... Korah’s Rebellion

Korah the Levite, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath (Exo. 6:18, 6:21, 6:24), began a rebellion against Moses, with Dathan and Abiram cooperating, because they wanted more authority in the congregation and contended that Moses and Aaron had too much. They caused 250 of Israel’s chief princes to rebel (Num. 16:1-3). Ultimately, 14,700 died (Num. 16:49) besides the original rebels and their families (Num. 16:29-34), and the 250 princes (Num. 16:35).

Perhaps Korah felt slighted because Elizaphan, who was of the younger branch of Kohathites, was made head of all Kohathites (Num. 3:27, 3:30). Korah camped among the Kohathites next to Reuben on the south of the tabernacle which made it convenient to talk over grievances. Reubenites were perhaps discontented because their birthright had been taken away from them and they had not been given what they considered their proper place among the tribes. Korah’s object was not to abolish the distinction between the Levites and the people, but to win the priesthood for himself and his kinsmen (Num. 16:10). This design was hidden under the pretext that all the people were holy and should be equal.

Cain’s heart was not right before God (Gen. 4:1-12). Balaam led Israel to sin (Num. 22 – 24; 31:8-16; 2Pet. 2:15; Rev. 2:14). Korah led a rebellion against Moses and thus against God (Num. 16).

Walking In Error

Again Jude returned to one of his triads. The apostates erred in three respects so Jude said, Woe to them!

They have taken the way of Cain. This may mean either that they, like Cain, (a) disobediently devised their own ways of worship, (b) were envious of others, or (c) hated others with a murderous spirit (cf. 1Jhn. 3:12).

They have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error. Balaam, under the guise of serving God, encouraged others to sin, while at the same time seeking to gain monetarily from their error (2Pet. 2:15-16; Num. 22:21-31). Similarly the false leaders of Jude’s day, greedy for money, led others into sin without recognizing the danger of their actions.

They have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. Korah led a revolt against Moses and Aaron, not acknowledging that God had delegated authority to them (Num. 16:1-50). So their rebellion was actually against God Himself. Likewise the men of whom Jude spoke (perhaps local church leaders) rebelled against God’s authority and as a result would be destroyed suddenly. That destruction was so certain that Jude stated in the past tense that “they have been destroyed.”