These
are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are
loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
THE STUDY:
Yesterday we
talked about how these false teachers complained about the restrictions God’s
rules and laws placed on their freedom to behave as they wanted. Today we are
going to look at the second half of this passage: they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. It means literally, “of excessive size,
puffed up, swollen.” Thus, the
expression could mean the false teachers use excessive or puffed up words about
themselves. But the expression could
also convey a sense of arrogance and haughtiness against God.
The false
teachers’ flattery probably expressed itself in their willingness to teach
whatever their audience wanted to hear. Claiming spiritual enlightenment, the
intruders cast aside traditional Christian moral restraint. They smoothly
flattered their hearers with the morally lax message they longed to hear. They
did this to win favor with those members of the community on whose generosity
they depended for financial support. Jude predicted that this exploitive and
self-serving behavior would reap certain condemnation.[1]
WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY
WITH ….
- We walk away this morning with the understanding that arrogance and/or pride causes one to seek personal gain at the expense of others. This can resonate a sense of superiority, but more importantly it can be detrimental to one’s salvation.
CONCLUSION:
If we are saying things to promote a personal
cause or boast ourselves for others to see, we are no better than these false
teachers. But if our words and actions are to glorify God then we don’t have to
worry about eternity. Let today be a day we spend more time talking about Jesus
and what He is doing in our life and less time talking about ourselves. When it
comes down to it, IT’S NOT ABOUT ME!
Blessings my friends
Pastor Rod
[1]
Powers, D. G. (2010). 1 & 2
Peter/Jude: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible
Commentary (286). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.
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