BIG IDEA:
DESPITE THEIR DECEPTIVE NATURE, THE APOSTATE FALSE TEACHERS ARE EXPOSED AND DOOMED TO DESTRUCTION FOR THEIR PURSUIT OF UNGODLINESS
I. (:12-13) DECEPTIVE NATURE EXPOSED
A. Trojan Horse Syndrome – Danger from Within
1. Hidden Danger
“These men are those who are hidden reefs in your love feasts”
2. Arrogant and Devoid of the Fear of God
“when they feast with you without fear”
2. Characterized by Selfishness rather than Love
“caring for themselves”
B. Four Examples from Nature of Disappointing and Shameful Outcomes
1. Clouds that fail to deliver needed rainfall — empty
“clouds without water, carried along by winds”
Green: Here is a graphic example of the uselessness of teaching which is supposedly “advanced” and “enlightened” but has nothing to offer the ordinary Christian for the nourishment of his spiritual life.
2. Trees that fail to yield fruit — dead
“autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted”
3. Waves that wash up shame – wild and uncontrolled
“wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam”
4. Stars doomed to darkness – aimless
“wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever”
Coffman: Those evil men who troubled the church were just like “shooting stars” that shine a moment and then plunge to doom and darkness.
MacArthur: Those verbal metaphors are very vivid: hidden rocks, waterless clouds, autumn trees, raging waves, and wandering stars. That is how Jude describes apostate false teachers. Hidden rocks speak of the danger of apostasy. Waterless clouds refer to the false promises that apostates make. Autumn trees illustrate the barrenness of apostasy. Raging waves depict its wasted effort, foaming out nothing but shame. Wandering stars picture its brief and aimless course ending in darkness. What descriptions!
Green: In these two verses, then, Jude has evoked a swift, bold picture of the men he is castigating. They are as dangerous as sunken rocks, as selfish as perverted shepherds, as useless as rainless clouds, as dead as barren trees, as dirty as the foaming sea, and as certain of doom as the fallen angels.
II. (:14-15) ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONDEMNATION GUARANTEED — PROPHECY OF JUDGMENT AGAINST UNGODLY FALSE TEACHERS
A. Source of the Prophecy – extra-Biblical
“And about these also Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying”
B. Execution of Judgment
“Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all”
C. Accountability for Ungodliness
“and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
III. (:16) FOUR FATAL CHARACTER FLAWS EXPOSED
A. Unthankful
“These are grumblers”
B. Judgmental
“finding fault”
C. Immoral
“following after their own lusts”
D. Manipulative
“they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.”