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.
- Jude 8-10
In these verses Jude continues to justify his warning to the churches (v. 4) by further describing the false teachers who have come in among them. Having established that Jesus has judged sin in the past (v.5-7), Jude transitions now to speak of how these false teachers live their lives, refusing to recognize Jesus is Lord. Although they claim to be led by visions and dreams into freedom, ironically, they will be destroyed by these very things.
Verse 8 begins with the word “yet,” indicating that all that follows does so in spite of what has been mentioned before. We need to understand that Jude wants us to read his description of these false teachers in light of the previous examples he has given and the judgments which they experienced. Although God has judged those who rebel against him in the past, these teachers persist in their own rebellion which he will now describe in detail.
He begins by referring to them as those who “rely on dreams.” This is, in all likelihood, how they have come to justify their immoral conduct (sexual sin). It is possible that these people claim to have had visions similar to Peter’s in Acts 10 which led to forbidden eating practices to be declared “clean.” Because of these dreams or visions, these teachers live in such a way that “defiles the flesh” and “rejects authority.” Although this is the reality of what they are doing, they do not seem to view their conduct in this way. They are also referred to as “blaspheming the glorious ones,” a strange phrase which probably implies that they believe themselves to be invested with certain power and authority over demons. While the NT references believers being given authority over demons, based on Jude’s words in the next verse, it seems that these false teachers believe that they possess this authority in and of themselves, not that it is and extension of the authority of Jesus.
In verse 9, Jude contrasts these false teachers and their pride with the archangel Michael by quoting from a Jewish non-biblical writing known as “The Assumption of Moses.” This document (which we no longer possess) claimed that, following the death of Moses, Satan disputed with Michael over the body. Rather than proclaiming his own power, Michael relied on Jesus’ authority as Lord in order to rebuke the evil one. Notice how Michael’s actions run contrary to the arrogance of these false teachers who claim authority for themselves based on their own visions and ideas rather than upon the Word of God.
The “but” at the beginning of verse 10 shows us that, in spite of Michael’s example, these teachers speak against all that they do not understand. Given that they are described as “unreasoning animals,” he wants them to be viewed as those who are driven solely by their appetites and desires. In this sense, it is not simply that their dreams and visions have led them to conclude that they can live immoral lives, but instead that their desire to live immoral lives has led them to justify these desires with their dreams and visions. The irony in all of this is that the very demons they claim to have authority over delight in their self-deception, and theses people are ultimately destroyed by the sinful desires which they believe they have the freedom to indulge.
These verses are a serious warning for believers. First, we must consider the teachings of those within the church to determine whether they are based on Scripture. In doing so, we must be careful to discern between that which is truly scriptural and that which may use biblical language, but is in reality nothing more than personal opinion or conjecture. Second, we must consider the outcome of a person’s life. How do they conduct themselves? What things do they advocate? Finally, we must be warned once again that Jesus will judge sin. He will do so in the lives of His people using temporal judgment (often the natural outcomes of our sin). He will also consummately judge those who are not His people, banishing them from His presence for all eternity.
Join us this Sunday in order that we might be both exhorted and warned by our brother Jude. May our hearts be drawn to worship Jesus Christ, our risen Savior and Lord!
Soli Deo Gloria.
-Thomas