Jude 1:11 Woe to them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward… I. Like the first murderer, THESE HERETICS WERE FIRED WITH MALICE AGAINST THE REAL AND FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST. While we are often warned that the world is opposed to the true people of God, it may at the same time be said that no class of men regard them with feelings of such bitter disaffection as those who are false and heretical professors of religion. To the instinctive hostility of nature they add the sullen rancour of religious animosity. II. To run after the error of Balaam is TO TEACH DOCTRINES CALCULATED TO FOSTER THE DEPRAVED AFFECTIONS OF THE HEART — doctrines pleasing to flesh and blood, for personal and pecuniary ends. Such was the case with the seducers in the text, and such is the case with false teachers in every age. Having neither the knowledge nor the love of the truth in them, their main concern must necessarily be to turn their teaching to account in the way of advancing their temporal interests. With this view they study to accommodate their doctrines to the prejudices and private likings of human nature, being well aware that, without some dilutions and transmutations of the truth, they will not be so successful in their object. But of all the varied forms of error, the most attractive is that which has the twofold effect of soothing the conscience, and at the same time giving some scope and licence to sin. III. The apostle declares THAT THESE SEDUCERS WERE ALSO ANIMATED BY THE SPIRIT, AND DESTINED TO SUFFER THE DOOM OF THAT AMBITIOUS AND MISCHIEVOUS REBEL, CORE. Those who "deny the only Lord God" as they did, and who make light of the law of heaven, need not be expected to be very submissive to any authority established among men; and hence heretics have in every age been found to be seditious subjects and dangerous members of civil society. The very same qualities of character by which they are led to spurn at the will of the Supreme, will necessarily dispose them to resist and despise all other dominion. (A. E. Gilvray, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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 Core. |
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