If we haven't discovered it by now, Jude has been filling our minds with lots of characteristics of false itinerant teachers and prophets who traveled from village to village and town to town spreading words that lead people away from a relationship with Jesus Christ. These unbelieving, rebellious and sinful teachers are to be known and contended against not only in the minds of individuals, but also in their congregational influence. Eternal consequences are at stake, and the lives of people hang in the balance when they consider teaching that determines their everlasting destiny. Jude gives us more of the characteristics of these false teachers in verse sixteen of his revealing book. He wrote:
These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speak great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
Jude shares four more traits within these unbelieving teachers. First, they are murmurers. They talk under their breath and are constantly discontent. This is wrong, and that is wrong is their mantra. Never are they satisfied with circumstances and particularly governing authorities as mentioned earlier in this book.
Second, they are complainers. As a natural outcome from being discontent, complaining is next. Perhaps they are whining, querulous, and constantly saying negative words about why this happened to them or why that didn't happen to them
Thirdly, they are “walking after their own lusts.” They want what they want, and they want it now. Whatever their hearts desired, they walked in it. Jude makes it sound as though they have unbridled lust that is out of control, and even worse, they fulfill whatever they desired.
Finally, “their mouths speak great swelling words.” In other words they are constantly making grandiose and impressive statements. They speak about how great this is or how superb that is, and not to mention how wonderful they personally are in the process. They give great promises about being wealthy, prosperous, and flourishing in the world, and if there are itching ears that are available to hear them, they tell them whatever they want to hear.
So what is the result of these four characteristics? Jude says they have “men's persons in admiration because of advantage.” The idea here is that the faces or countenances of people will be toward these false teachers because of their flattering words, and when these false teachers have their gullible followers in allegiance toward them, they take advantage of them. How many times have we seen this come true? People have a passionate desire to follow something or someone, and they are taken in by lies and deceit and don't even know that they are being taken for a ride. They will give money, time, energy and effort just to promote some guru who supposedly has all the answers. Jude despises this, and his effort to expose these charlatans seems to be ratcheting up.
How are we to know when someone is telling us the truth or not? First, read the Bible. Always use the Holy Scriptures to verify what someone is saying. Secondly, when we see the characteristics of false teachers, use the opposite of what these traits are. For example, false teachers are murmurers. A true teacher will not murmur. Next, false teachers are complainers. True teachers are not complainers. Next, false teachers walk after their own lusts. True teachers are concerned with the desires of others, and finally, false teachers are not boastful, arrogant, and full of grandiose words. A true teacher speaks the truth in love. The result will be that those who follow them will not be taken advantage of in any way. In fact, true teachers will promote the ways of others by serving them rather than exploiting them.
Jude has given us a lot to think about today, and we would do well to go over these characteristics again to examine if they are in our lives. If so, perhaps today is a great day to begin a new commitment to be as a true representative of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a world of people who are looking for something or someone to believe.
Next time we will be reminded of the words of the apostles of Jesus Christ about these things, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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