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. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Just like the groups who rebelled against God, the false teachers are dreamers. They live in a fantasy world in which they can do whatever they like without consequence. They defile their flesh, their bodies, by living in sexual immorality. They reject all authority.
Jude refers to a dispute between the archangel Michael and the devil over the body of Moses. This event is not discussed elsewhere in the Bible. Apparently Micheal, as chief of the angels assigned to guard and protect Israel (Dan 10:21; 12:1), was sent to bury Moses’ body but was apposed by Satan. Michael didn’t take it on himself to dispute with Satan but in humility left it to God to rebuke Satan. Michael’s humility is a stark contrast to the false teachers Jude is describing. The false teachers on the other hand blaspheme those in authority with ignorance and lack of reason. They are behaving like animals.
Woe to these false teachers. They live under God’s judgement just like Cain who did not offer God his best. They live under God’s judgement like Balaam (Num 22-24; 31:8,16) who used his position as a prophet to gain wealth. And they live under God’s judgement like those who rebelled against Moses’ authority along with Korah (Num 16:1-40).
God has placed those in authority over you and expects you to listen to them. That includes parents, teachers, coaches, pastors and elders, law enforcement and government (Rom 13:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17). God calls us to a life of submission and obedience, not to arrogantly live how we want to.