BRUTE BEASTS, THE WAY OF CAIN, THE ERROR OF BALAAM
AND THE GAINSAYING OF CORE
Jude 10-11
Introduction: Jude 10-11 continues to use Old Testament people who illustrate the apostasy and heresy that was generated then and is entrenched in our current culture. Each of these has a unique method of turning away from the revelation and blessing of God to pursue their ways of turning away from God. Jude 10 sets the tone for what motivated each of these in Jude 11 who had an interesting motivation to seek their carnal ways. The tone is established which says in Jude 10 (KJV), “But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.” Some try to refer this verse back to those mentioned earlier such as the “filthy dreamers” of Jude 8 who “speak evil of dignities.” It is my position to believe this verse, Jude 10, is speaking of those in Jude 10 and following. The reason for this conclusion is the first words of Jude 11, which says, “Woe unto them!” and this must be a reference to all found in Jude 12-13 which are described as “spots in your feasts of charity,” “clouds they are without water,” “trees whose fruit withereth. . .twice dead,” “Raging waves of the sea,” and “wandering stars.” These phrases are descriptive of those who are described in Jude 10 (KJV), “But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.” The phrase “brute beasts” describes the people who follow what they “know naturally” (Jude 10). In other words, they are motivated by the flesh and have no relationship with the Holy Spirit of God and His word. These types focus on the natural things that man can develop to enhance their image and ego without the input or influence of God. What is somewhat startling is this passage describes exactly what is taking place today. There is one difference, the people who claim to be “spiritual” leaders are engaged in the things described in Jude 11-12. There are preachers encouraging fornication, homosexuality, and other sexual deviations. The movement to eliminate the gender identity of children and others is a movement against what God has said in His word. These are forms of rebellion that are not exactly like the ones Jude brings to the discussion table, but the principles are the same. Let’s explore these illustrations in Jude to seek a connection between what happened in history to what is taking place in the culture today. They are different in the method, but the results are the same. John Phillips, a popular theologian of the more conservative mentality, has a statement that fits the discussion. He said:
“Apostasy corrupts not only public standards but also personal standards. Jude exposes the foolish
nonsense of the apostates: ‘But these speak evil of those things which they know not.’ What
characterizes the apostate is his colossal ignorance of spiritual things.”
Jude is pointing out some pitfalls that the believer must avoid else they become engaged with the position.
- BRUTE BEASTS, Jude 10. These are described as people who “speak evil of those things which they know not.” When Pastor Green describes the instructors of the two local institutions of higher learning, Valencia College and the University of Central Florida, he characterizes them as disliking Christianity and seeking to slander the things taught in the Bible and subvert the souls of the young people who sit under their instruction. It is popular to speak evil of Christianity in the institutions of higher learning and not having a clue to the truth taught in the Bible. The last part of this verse characterizes these types of people teaching things they know “naturally” and “in those things they corrupt themselves.” They will find the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15 a bit difficult and humiliating as God, the Judge, will expose them for what they are and their activities of subverting those they led astray, turning them from the things of God. We will see in the next few verses the biblical characters and their antics was the methods they engaged in.
- THE WAY OF CAIN, Jude 11. This verse begins with “Woe unto them!.” This takes the thought back to Jude 10 since the subject is the same and refers to the “brute beasts.” The “way of Cain” is the tactic they engaged in. Most are familiar with Cain, the first son of Adam and Eve described in Genesis 4. That passage informs us that he was a “tiller of the ground” a farmer who raised crops. We are familiar with the event where Cain and his brother, Abel, came to offer to God their offerings in worship (Gen. 4:3-8). The story goes that Cain became “wroth” (extremely angry, vss. 5, 6). The result was that he met Abel in the field and “slew him” (vs. 8). Cain was a liar and murderer (vss. 8-9). When God asked him where his brother Abel was, Cain said “I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?” (vs. 9). It is interesting that God placed a “mark” on Cain (vs. 15). Note what is said about Cain in 1 John 3:12 (KJV), “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” Craig Keener makes an interesting comment about murder in antiquity. He says, “Murder of a brother was considered one of the most hideous crimes possible in antiquity (so, e.g., Cicero, Horace).” It is worth noting what is stated in 1 John 3:10 (KJV), “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” Cain is mentioned three times outside of Genesis 4 (Heb. 11:4; 1 John 3:12; Jude 11). Some say the “way of Cain” was referring to “. . . Cain’s desire to devise another way of worship rather than the way God intended.” This conclusion comes from Hebrews 11:4 (KJV), “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”
- III.THE ERROR OF BALAAM, Jude 11. Balaam is found 60 times in the Bible and all but three are in the Old Testament. The three times Balaam is mentioned in the New Testament we find some interesting commentary on this false prophet. We looked at 2 Peter 2:10 last week when comparing it with Jude 10. They both are talking about the same people, “brute beasts,” those who “despise government,” and “speak evil of dignities.” Peter then speaks about Balaam in 2 Peter 2:15 (KJV), “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.” [Emphasis added.] The story of Balaam is found in Numbers 22-24. It is a rather lengthy description of how Balaam was contacted by the King of the Moabites and was asked to curse the people of Israel. God told him he could not go with them and not curse the people of Israel because God had blessed them (Num. 22:12). Balaam is in somewhat of a good light in the section of Numbers before chapter 25. The narrative in Numbers 22-24 seems to picture Balaam as being desirous of obeying God. Yet, he is the fellow whose ass spoke to him when the angel of the Lord was seeking to stop Balaam from going with the men of Moab. The king of Moab offered to pay Balaam to curse Israel and yet he could not because the Lord hindered him. The story concludes and in Numbers 25:1-3 where Israel committed “whoredom” with the “daughters of Moab” (vs. 2). The “way of Balaam” (2 Pet. 2:15) was to seek financial gain which is also the “error of Balaam” (Jude 11). The “stumbling block” is recorded in two places. In Numbers 25:1-5 Israel committed “whoredom with the daughters of Moab” which brought the anger of the Lord against Israel, and a plague was initiated where 24,000 people of Israel died (Num. 25:9). The motivation for this activity of Israel with the women of Moab is stated in Numbers 31:16 (KJV), “Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.” That is why Revelation 2:14 refers to the event as the “doctrine of Balaam.” One would think that as much as God hates the activity of fornication people would learn to avoid it. “Fornication” is found 36 times in the Bible and all but four of them are in the New Testament. You would think that Bible readers would take notice. Fornication is not acceptable to God as a behavior of those who belong to the Lord. We learn more about Balaam in Revelation 2:14 (KJV), “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” [Emphasis added.] This verse verifies the judgment God brought against Balaam as well as Moab, not to mention those of Israel who engaged in the fornication.
- IV.THE GAINSAYING OF CORE, Jude 11. This is referring to the rebellion of Korah in Numbers 16. This is an interesting story of opposition to Moses’ leadership and actually God’s direction for the nation of Israel. Note Numbers 16:1-3 (KJV), “1 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 son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 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: 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? The leaders of this rebellion are named (vs. 1). They were, Korah a great-grandson of Levi, Dathan, and Abiram, descendants of Reuben. This would make Korah a great nephew of Moses. Verse 2 indicates they “. . .rose up before Moses, with certain children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown.” This was not a bunch of nobodies seeking fame and fortune. These were leaders of Israel who had prominent responsibilities in Israel. Look at Numbers 16:3 (KJV), “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? There is one problem with their complaint. Moses had walked with God and met with Him often. The things Moses was doing came directly from God. Moses was God’s selection for leading the people of Israel to the “land of promise” (Heb. 11:9). The phrase “the LORD spake unto Moses” occurs 111 times with only one of them being in the New Testament (John 9:29). Of these 111 times God “spake to Moses” Often the phrase has “saying” added” and often God told him what to say. The phrase “the LORD spake unto Moses saying. . .” is found 79 times in the Old Testament starting with Exodus 6:10 and ending with Numbers 35:9. The claim by Korah (Core) was unfounded. If God gives a person instruction and what to do, the person best obey.
Conclusion: These three examples of false teachers should bring the believer today to be very vigilant to the “false teachers” that are rampant in our culture. Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, Andy Stanley, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland, Rick Warren, Ceflo Dollar, T. D. Jakes, and many more. All of these listed have made millions with their false teaching. These would fit into the model of Balaam for sure as well as Cain and Korah. We must learn to be diligent and discerning about the truth.