But these people
blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that
they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.
THE STUDY:
Unlike Michael, these people blaspheme all that they do not understand. Verses
9–10 are closely connected to the last phrase of v 8, where the intruders are
accused of “slandering celestial beings.”
In each verse Jude uses a derivative of blasphēmia
(blaspheme, slander, insult).
In v 8 the opponents are accused of
“slandering” (blasphēmousin) angels. In v 9 they are contrasted with Michael who
refused to bring “a slanderous accusation”
(blasphēmias) against the devil. And
in v 10 Jude asserts that they speak abusively against (blasphēmousin) whatever they
do not understand. These
“dreamers” claim prophetic insight and wisdom. But their behavior demonstrates
complete ignorance of spiritual matters in general, and in particular the role
of angels in the divine scheme of things.
Instead of following God’s
reasonable moral laws, they behave on a level of instinct, like unreasoning animals. They have no moral sense of right or
wrong. The intruders are said to act like ‘animals without reason’ (aloga zōa) because they allow themselves
to be led by instinct or nature (physikōs)
alone.[1]
WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY
WITH ….
- We walk away this morning understanding that as followers of Christ, the insights and wisdom that will lead us should be found in the scripture and not necessarily from dreams or dreamers.
- We will find God communicating with us in four ways: Devotions, Meditation, Prayer, and life circumstances. One thing is for sure, one will not contradict the other. All four will line up with the others!
CONCLUSION:
Have you ever heard someone (a
believer) use this phrase, “That’s just the way I am!” I find that 90% of the
time when this phrase is used it is to justify their behavior, which is usually
not nice or even sinful! From the point of my salvation I have found this
phrase unsettling. It has always been my view that once Christ came into my
heart He is “just the way I should be.”
The natural instincts (eating,
drinking, sexual) we have as humans are not sinful. It is how we react to these
instincts that may cause us to sin. With that said, let today be a day that we
remember it is not “just the way I am” but just the way “I AM!”
Blessings my friends
Pastor Rod
[1]
Powers, D. G. (2010). 1 & 2
Peter/Jude: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible
Commentary (278). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.
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