Jude Chapter 1 Vs. 16

 

Judgment on False Teachers

“These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.” Jude 1:16

are murmurers, complainers... Or the word “grumblers” are found only here in the New Testament and is used in the LXX to describe the murmurings of Israel against God (Exo. 16:7-9; Num. 14:27, 29; 1Cor. 10:10).

The punishments inflicted upon Israel will be inflicted upon apostates because they backslide and sin after the example of Israel (Rom. 2:11-16; Heb. 4:1-11; 10:26-29).

Five Major Sins of Israel:

1. Lust for evil things (1Co. 10:6; Num. 11:4-15; Psm. 106:14; cp. Gal. 5:19-21; 2Cor. 6:9-11; Rom. 1:29-32; Col. 3:5-10; Mark 7:19-21)

2. Idolatry (1Cor. 10:7; Exo. 32:6-25; p. Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:5; 1Cor. 6:9)

3. Fornication (1Cor. 10:8; Num. 25:1-9; cp. Gal. 5:19-21; 1Cor. 6:9-11; Col. 3:5)

4. Tempting God and Christ (1Cor. 10:9; Exo. 17:2, 17:7; Num. 14:22; 21:4-10; Deut. 6:16; Psm. 78:17-18, 78:41, 78:56; 95:8-9; 106:14)

5. Murmuring (1Cor. 10:10; Exo. 15:24; 16:2-12; 17:3; Num. 14:2, 14:27-29, 14:36; 16:11, 16:41; 17:5, 17:10; Deut. 1:27; cp. Phlp. 2:14)

They gave vent to dissatisfaction with God’s will and way as was the case with Israel, Sodom, the fallen angels, Cain, Korah, and Balaam (verses 5, 7, 11).

after their own... This is a common phrase used to describe the unconverted (verse 18; 2Tim. 4:3). Apostates are especially driven by a desire for sinful self-satisfaction.

great swelling words,... Means bombastic, arrogant language.

in admiration because... Means that they flatter others in order to get what they are after. They speak pompously and even magnificently, but with empty, lifeless words of no spiritual value.

Their message has external attractiveness, but is void of the powerful substance of divine truth. They tell people what they want to hear for their own profit rather than proclaiming the truth of God’s Word for the listener’s benefit.

Now, we see who this judgment will be executed against. The people’s sins, listed in the verse above, are sins of the flesh. They are caused by worldliness. Their murmurings were against God.

Here Jude described the apostates in a fourfold way. These descriptions justify Enoch’s calling them “ungodly.” (a) They were grumblers and faultfinders who faulted others but saw no flaws in themselves; (b) they lustfully followed their own evil desires (cf. Jude 1:8, 1:10, 1:18-19); (c) they bragged about themselves (the word hyperonka, used only here and in 2Pet. 2:18, means to be “puffed up” or “swollen”); and (d) they flattered others, currying favor only when it was to their own evil advantage to do so. Vocally discontented, sinfully self-centered, extravagantly egotistical, and deceptively flattering — such are apostates, then and today.

Thus in unflinching terms Jude clearly identified the apostates, while at the same time exposing their character in order to warn believers of their true nature and their final destiny. He was laying the groundwork to call his readers to action against these ungodly men and their practices.