11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
Verse 11 functions as a literary hinge to the letter of Jude. It is the last mention of historical apostates before Jude describes the character deficiencies and sins of the false teachers who were presently finding a home in the churches that Jude wrote to. He lists three biblical characters, all guilty of a unique, historical act of apostasy. The Bible itself provides the answers to what exactly these false teachers did that gave them such an infamous place in the history of God’s people. Notice, apostates can come from varied backgrounds—like that of a pre-Flood, though historic, farmer, a Mesopotamian magician, and a Jewish priest.
1. The way of Cain—persecution of the righteous. (Gen. 4)
The Bible tells us that Cain, the first murderer, was also the first apostate. He and his brother Abel both offered sacrifices to the Lord one day—Cain was a farmer, and offered produce; Abel was a shepherd and offered an animal from his flock. The Lord favored Abel’s sacrifice, a blood sacrifice, but had “no regard” for Cain’s produce. Cain then killed his brother, “And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.” (1 John 3:12) See also Heb. 11:4.
Application: The false teacher who goes “the way of Cain” attacks those who live in a righteous relationship with the Lord, particularly when his own faith is revealed as being self-serving and man-centered by comparison. False teachers can pass off their counterfeit faith more easily when there isn’t a genuine article around to be compared to.
2. The error of Balaam—pursuing ministry for the money. (Num 24, 25, 31:16)
Balaam was a popular religious man (magician) from ancient Mesopotamia who was hired by a king to prophesy/cast an evil spell over the nation of Israel. However, once he saw the nation of Israel, he was constrained by the Lord to say only what the Lord had told him to say—all good things, not evil! The king was infuriated, and refused to pay Balaam…that is, until Balaam came up with another idea: The greedy prophet counseled the king to use temple prostitutes (woman who had sex with “worshippers” for a price paid to their temple) to lure the men of Israel away from their people and their their God, and worship idols instead. The plan actually worked for awhile, until a priest named Phinehas put a pointed end to the widespread immorality of God’s people. See also 2 Pet 2:15, Rev 2:14.
Application: Money is the bottom-line motivator for the false teacher who rushes “headlong into the error of Balaam.” These leaders love money, and are not above condoning and encouraging moral compromise in their followers if doing so gains them access to their follower’s bank accounts!
3. The rebellion of Korah—pulling down God’s mediator. (Num 16)
Korah was a distant cousin of Moses, and a priest. He led 250 priests in a rebellion against Moses and his brother, Aaron, arguing that “all the nation is holy,” and therefore everyone could speak to and receive the word of God without the intermediary (go-between) ministry of Moses and Aaron. (Over two dozen times in the Old Testament the word of the Lord is said to have come to the Israelites “through Moses.”) Korah and the priests who joined him in the rebellion were executed by the Lord when the earth literally swallowed them alive.
Application: Modern-day Korahs presume to function in a type of mediatory role themselves, standing between God and the people. They “plead with God” on behalf of the people, or rebuke their followers, supposedly in the name of God. They rarely promote a genuine, healthy independence in their followers—but usually take measures over time to insure that they will always be the “go to” spiritual leader for those that they lead. They would never admit it—but they want and even need—to take the place of the Lord Jesus, who is the “one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim 2:5)
Concluding thought: In the end, all apostate, false teachers today are guilty of the one sin—denying Jesus Christ, either in word and speech or in deed. I love the way Pastor Chuck Swindoll has said it: “Apostasy is always opposed to Christ: Instead of the WAY of Christ, there is the way of Cain. Instead of the TRUTH of Christ, there is the error of Balaam. Instead of the LIFE of Christ, there is the death of Korah.” Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. May you look to Him alone for alone—for everything!
downtownpastor