Jude 1:8-11

The Apostates in Jude's Day

In verse 8, Jude showed the false teachers had committed sins similar to those committed by those in the Old Testament examples he had previously given. They had committed sins of the flesh that were of the lowest nature. They showed no respect for authority and it did not bother them to say bad things against people in high positions."Michael the archangel," or "chief," or "captain" of the angels, is mentioned only in Judges 1:9 and Revelation 12:7-9 in the New Testament. He is pictured as the protector of Israel against the world's pagan powers in Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:21; Daniel 12:1. Jude said he was in a discussion over the body of Moses. While we know nothing more of this discussion, it can easily be seen Jude was making a point about this high angelic being and the fact that he would not even say an evil word against the devil. There is quite a contrast between this action and those of the false teachers.

Not only did the false teachers speak evil, they even spoke against things about which they did not know or understand. The only things they understood concerned the fulfillment of physical appetites. They did that to the point of their own destruction. They could only look forward to woe because they were like Cain. He followed his own desires instead of walking the path of obedient service (Genesis 4:7). Balaam simply did his works to gain monetary profit (Numbers 22:5-7). Korah rebelled against Moses' and God's authority in the wilderness in his lusty hunger for power (Numbers 16:1-35). These men are examples of the type of attitude the false teachers must have portrayed (Judges 1:10-11).