Jude 11

Jude 11

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.

a. NLT: What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.

b. NIV: Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.

c. YLT: Woe to them! because in the way of Cain they did go on, and to the deceit of Balaam for reward they did rush, and in the gainsaying of Korah they did perish.

d. Amplified Bible Classic:  Woe to them! For they have run riotously in the way of Cain, and have abandoned themselves for the sake of gain [it offers them, following] the error of Balaam, and have perished in rebellion [like that] of Korah!

e. Worrell Translation: Woe to them, because they went in the way of Cain, and rushed on in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah!

f. Wuest Translation: Woe to them, because in the way of Cain they took their way, and to the error of Balaam the abandoned themselves for a reward, and in the gainsaying of Kore they perished.

g. Peshitta Eastern Text: Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

1. “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain,…”

a. Woe [Strong: 3759 ouai oo-ah'-ee a primary exclamation of grief; "woe":--alas, woe.]

b. unto them [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

c. for [Strong: 3754 hoti hot'-ee neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

d. they have gone [Strong: 4198 poreuomai por-yoo'-om-ahee middle voice from a derivative of the same as 3984; to traverse, i.e. travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.); --depart, go (away, forth, one's way, up), (make a, take a) journey, walk.]

e. of Cain [Strong: 2535 Kain kah'-in of Hebrew origin (7014); Cain, (i.e. Cajin), the son of Adam:--Cain.]

1). Scofield Reference Bible: “Cain, type of the religious natural man, who believes in a God, and in religion, but after his own will and who rejects redemption by blood.”

a). Genesis 4:3-5 And in process of time it  came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

b). Abel’s offering was accepted, and Cain’s was not. Why? Because Abel’s offering was by faith, Hebrews 11:4. Cain’s was not. Scofield: “Abel’s offering implies a previous instruction, for it was by faith. Faith is taking God at his word; so that Cain’s unbloody offering was a refusal of the Divine way.”

c). Cain rejected the blood atonement.

2). In 1922, one of the preeminent liberal [read apostate] preachers, Harry Emerson Fosdick, preached his famous sermon, Shall the Fundamentalists win?  “It is interesting to note where the Fundamentalists are driving in their stakes to mark out the deadline of doctrine around the church across which no one is to pass except on terms of agreement. They insist that we must all believe on the historicity of certain special miracles, preeminently the virgin birth of our Lord, that we must believe in a special theory of inspiration—that the original documents  of Scripture, which of course we no longer possess, were inerrantly dictated to men a good deal as a man might dictate to a stenographer, that we must believe in a special theory of Atonement—that the blood of our Lord, shed in a substitutionary death, placates an alienated Deity and makes possible welcome for the returning sinner, and that we must believe in the second coming of our Lord upon the clouds of heaven to set up a millennial here, as the only way in which God can bring history to a worthy denouement. Such are some of the stakes which are being driven to mark a deadline of doctrine around the church….Has any body a right to deny the Christian name to those who differ with him on such points and to shut against them the doors of the Christian fellowship?

a). Harry Emerson Fosdick is an example of those who have gone in the way of Cain. He rejected the blood atonement of Christ. He also rejected the virgin birth and the inspiration of Scripture. Much of liberal Christianity follows in their path.

b). This kind of thinking is poison and is exactly what Jude had in mind when he was denouncing these heretics.

2. “…and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward,…”

a. ran greedily after [Strong: 1632 ekcheo ek-kheh'-o, or (by variation) ekchuno ek-khoo'-no from 1537 and cheo (to pour); to pour forth; figuratively, to bestow:--gush (pour) out, run greedily (out), shed (abroad, forth), spill.] [Bullinger: To pour out, rush tumultuously; spoken of a passion, to rush into, give one’s self up to.]

b. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

c. error [Strong: 4106 plane plan'-ay feminine of 4108 (as abstractly); objectively, fraudulence; subjectively, a straying from orthodoxy or piety:--deceit, to deceive, delusion, error.] [Zodhiates: A wandering out of the right way. In the N.T., used only figuratively meaning error.] [Vines or Bullinger: A wandering, a forsaking of the right path, whether in doctrine, or in morals, though in scripture, doctrine and morals are never divided by any sharp line…Errors in doctrine are not infrequently the effect of relaxed morality and vice versa.]

d. of Balaam [Strong: 903 Balaam bal-ah-am' of Hebrew origin (1109); Balaam, a Mesopotamian (symbolic of a false teacher):--Balaam.]

e. for reward [Strong: 3408 misthos mis-thos' apparently a primary word; pay for service (literally or figuratively), good or bad:--hire, reward, wages.]

1). Gordon Lindsay: “Although he spoke of not accepting Balak’s offer, even if he would, “give me his house full of silver and gold”, it actually was the silver and gold that Balaam was  after.

a). Numbers 22:15-22 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.

22:16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:

22:17 For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

22:18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.

22:19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.

22:20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, IF THE MEN COME TO CALL THEE, RISE UP, AND GO WITH THEM; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shall thou do.

22:21 AND BALAAM ROSE UP IN THE MORNING, AND SADDLED HIS ASS, AND WENT WITH THE PRINCES OF MOAB.

22:22 AND GOD’S ANGER WAS KINDLED BECAUSE HE WENT: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

22:23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

22:24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall being on that side.

22:25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

22:26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

22:27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

22:29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

22:30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

22:31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in his way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way  is perverse before me:

22:33 And thine ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from, me surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.

22:34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: not therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

22:35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

b). Most people who read the passage miss what happened in verses 20-22. Perhaps the translation they read confuses them or they just don’t see it. The Lord got mad at Balaam because Balaam didn’t wait for the men to call on him. The first thing in the morning he just saddled his ass and went. This is the only explanation for the response from God. If the verses in Numbers 22:20-22 are compared with Numbers 22:35, it is obvious that the only real difference between to two was the condition the LORD stated in verse 20: “If the men come to call thee…”  Why would God be mad enough to kill him because he was doing something that God had said he could do? He was mad enough to kill him because he didn’t wait. It was disobedience.

2). Balaam forsook the right way and went astray because he loved the wages of unrighteousness. Jude says ‘reward’, but it is the same Greek word as wages. Balaam was rebuked by a donkey for his insanity.

a). 2 Peter 2:15, 16 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

b). 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

c). Titus 1:9-11 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

3). A similar incident is recorded in Exodus 4:24-26. Disobedience on Moses part about circumcision almost cost Moses his life.

3. “…and perished in the gainsaying of Core.”

a. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. perished [Strong: 622 apollumi ap-ol'-loo-mee from 575 and the base of 3639; to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively:--destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.] [Zodhiates: To destroy, be destroyed.]

c. in the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

d. gainsaying [Strong: 485 antilogia an-tee-log-ee'-ah from a derivative of 483; dispute, disobedience:--contradiction, gainsaying, strife.] [antilogia; anti-against; lego-to speak; to speak against.]

e. of Core [Strong: 2879 Kore kor-eh' of Hebrew origin (7141); Core (i.e. Korach), an Israelite:--Core.]

1). Korah [Unger’s Bible Dictionary] The Levite who conspired with Dathan and Abiram against Moses. Korah was the son of Izhar, the brother of Amram, the father of Moses and Aaron, making him cousin to these leaders of Israel [Exodus 6:16-21]. About all we know of Korah is in connection with the conspiracy of which he was one of the leaders. Korah was probably influenced by jealously because the high honours and privledges of the priesthood had been exclusively appropriated by the family of Aaron. Moses having supreme authority in civil affairs, the whole power over the nation would seem to have been engrossed by him and Aaron. The particular grievance which rankled in the minds of Korah and his company was their exclusion from the office of the priesthood and their being confined, those among them who were Levites, to the inferior service of the tabernacle.

2). In the following two passages of Scripture we see the challenging of Moses and Aaron’s leadership begin, and in the second passage the opening up of the earth to swallow them.

a). Numbers 16:1-11 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the sone of Pleth, sons of Rurben, took men:

16:2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

16:4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

16:5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even tomorrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

16:6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;

16:7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to marrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

16:8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:

16:9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

16:10 And  hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?

16:11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

b). Numbers 16:28-35 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.

16:29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all man; then the LORD hath not sent me.

16:30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

16:31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

16:32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

16:33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

16:34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

16:35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

3). [Unger’s Bible Dictionary] “As the descendants of Korah afterward became eminent in the Levitical service, it is clear that his sons were spared. They were probably living in separate tents, or separated themselves from the conspirators at the command of Moses.”

2). This kind of rebellion will also be characteristic of these apostate preachers.