These verses are quite something; Jude has an interesting way with words!
In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.
Jude 8
Our journey begins with connective language indicating that Jude’s opponents are doing the say thing that was being done in the previous verses, separating people from their relationships with God, as we saw in the last post. Please keep in mind as we continue, that the issue here for Jude isn’t so much that these people are doing improper things, but that they are encouraging others to turn their backs on their covenant relationship with Christ.
These dreamers (or on the strength of their dreams) is another interesting turn of phrase. The Israelites were warned against prophets and dreamers who would lead them into rebellion against God. (Deut. 13:15; Jer. 27:9) It seems that these false prophets, based upon dreams were leading the people away from their covenant relationship, just as Jude is claiming about the first century false teachers. Further, these people are “ungodly” and “pollute their own bodies” and do not respect authority. This pollution is a reference to their immoral sexual practices.
They also reject authority. The word rendered “authority” here is kyriotēs meaning “dominion, power, lordship” and is rendered “powers” in Col. 1:16 and “dominion” in Eph. 1:21. This is a reference to angelic beings, like those spoken of in Heb. 2:2 “message spoken by angels”. In short, the “authority” they are rejecting is that of the angels of God who brought the Law to the people; the very morality they are flaunting in their behavior. These people are heaping abuse on the messengers of God Himself!
But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
Jude 9
These people are so out of line in heaping their abuse on angels, they are doing something that the Archangel Michael wouldn’t even do to Satan! Jude is recalling a story that is not found anywhere in Scripture. According to the early writings of Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Didymus, Jude found this account in The Assumption of Moses, a Jewish work dating from the first century that currently exists in fragment form.
Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
Jude 10
These characters slander what they don’t understand. I would think that a Christian of our age would understand exactly what is meant here, for we deal with that almost every day in the popular media. What these characters understand by instinct, like any animal would, will destroy them. Yes, they apparently understand sex, and their immorality will be their undoing.
I realize that this post is quite a departure from the norm here, and I hope you won’t mind the academics that I usually try to avoid, but this is a rather strange little letter, and it seemed necessary to convey its full meaning. There’s more fun dead ahead, see you next time!
Life Project Blog 
“They slander what they don’t understand.” How true! I don’t claim to understand it all myself. Yet, I see so many in the world bashing the word of God or picking out select verses to support their claims. Thank you for this word.
Thanks!
A very good point. The world, nor the things of this world, are our friends. They choke the life out of God’s word, ironically in the name of “tolerance!” Hypocrites!
May the God of all have His way with His enemies…
Good post.
Steve Pejay
Thank you Steve!
I appreciate your posts, Don! Enjoy your weekend…
Steve
I enjoyed this. I understand that you wanted to include some outside resources. I am glad that you do not go off the deep end in your research. I stick with what my software program contains, and then sometimes I do not use such resources in my writings because they are contrary to scripture. When I was attending Liberty University as an online student, I had to use at least seven outside references. I was still very selective concerning these “outside” sources. I presented them as “theories and thoughts” outside the normal commentaries concerning the Word of God. It was better for me to examine the original language of the text and develop my comments in that form.
Thanks Pam, i appreciate that.
I try to keep all of that to a minimum, because I have the crazy notion that the Word is the star of the show, and I am His tool, rather than having me be the star and the Word my tool. In this post, and the next, I did bring a little bit in just so people would see where the info was coming from if they want to check further on their own…
Yep.
I wanted to respond while ago, but kept getting a “wait on it” as if the rest of the message to which the Lord was wanting to make me privy hadn’t been opened, yet.
Here it is. “…but that they are encouraging others to turn their backs on their covenant relationship with Christ.”
There are so many other ways to identify than as a beneficiary of a covenant with God: Baptist, Armenian, white, American, Evangelical.
Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Gal 4:12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. 13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. 14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. 16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? 17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
Be careful not to let your sense of identity be shifted by those who would affect you only to bring you to a place where they can control you by a threat of exclusion.
You make a great point as usual, thank you for making it!
You made that point about some separating others from the covenant relationship. It took me a while to get what that meant. I thank YOU.
I remember this verse about the angel Michael saying, The Lord rebuke you. I have heard and read about people saying to rebuke, rebuke. rebuke, I guess I don’t understand it. And if Michael didn’t do it, I always question if people should. I know its a little off the subject, but its something I always have wondered about and wanted your opinion? Thanks!
I’ve seen and heard that too, both people rebuking others and Satan or his henchmen; rebuke first and ask questions later. There is a time and place to rebuke a brother or sister in Christ, but those are rare in my view. Usually when people err, they do so because they don’t understand and need some help rather than a rebuke. For me to rebuke demons might amuse them, but I doubt it will turn them around. Michael gave them the Lord’s rebuke not his own. Apparently Satan felt that one! I doubt that most of us will find ourselves in this kind of a situation!
Thanks Don, that helped!
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