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. (Jude 10)
When reading Jude 10-11, keep in mind that we are dealing with apostates. We are not dealing with people who would be categorized as the lower types in the world, the criminal element, or the low life, but God says they are “brute beasts.” They talk about religious things and declare that they know almost everything, but they are operating entirely on the natural and know nothing of the spiritual. (See 1 Corinthians 2:14.)
- Brute Beasts Do Not Know God
They talk about “those things which they know not.”
- Brute Beasts Do Not Have Salvation
Jude 4 says they have “turned the grace of God into lasciviousness,” which is “unleashed desire.”
- Brute Beasts Do Not Know Jesus Christ
They know the historical figure, Jesus Christ, but not the biblical Christ.
The Way of Cain
The Bible describes these brute beasts as having “gone in the way of Cain.” When Adam and Eve sinned, God made for them coats of skin. He slayed an innocent animal for the guilty sinners. The blood was shed, making the way to God through blood.
In Genesis 4:1-5, we read that Abel submitted to God and offered a blood sacrifice for atonement. However, Cain chose his own way and offered the fruit of the ground. He did not come through the blood. The way of Cain is a refusal to submit to the way of God.
The only way to God is through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Brute beasts, with their natural minds, do not understand this. They want a bloodless, Christless religion that leaves man lost in his sin.
The Error of Balaam
The Bible also says these brute beasts “ran greedily after the error of Balaam.” In Numbers 22:1-7, we read that Balak, king of Moab, offered the prophet Balaam regards if he would come and curse Israel. God told him not to go, but Balaam wanted promotion. The greed inside him would not let him stop. He was willing to be hired for his service, failing to recognize that God had a special covenant for the nation of Israel.
According to Revelation 2:14, Balaam was the “stumblingblock” that caused Israel to fall into idolatry and immorality with the heathens of Moab. The Bible says that these brute beasts living today are guilty of the same error as Balaam.
The Gainsaying of Core
Jude 11 also says that they “perished in the gainsaying of Core.” We can read the account of the rebellion of Core, or Korah, in Numbers 16:1-33. It was a rebellion against Aaron, the high priest, and Moses. Korah was of the tribe of Levi. He had the privilege of serving God and being in religious leadership. He gathered 250 princes of the assembly who were famous in the congregation, men of renown. The Bible says that they gathered “against the LORD.”
It is a serious thing to speak against God-called and God-appointed leadership. Moses fell on his face and sought the Lord. God judged Core, his followers, and their families. Many people today are also filled with this spirit of rebellion. They may be “religious leaders” just as Core was, but their hearts are full of pride and full of desire to be greater than everyone else. We should be determined to follow those whom the Lord has placed in leadership in the work of God.
Background Reading for Next Week: Jude 12-13; John 14:6; Revelation 22:4; Hebrews 9:27; Ephesians 6:10-12; Genesis 3:1-5; John 1:4-5, 9; 1 Peter 2:9