Jude: Divisive

Jude 16-19

When I was growing up, there was a kids' song called "Grumblers". The chorus went:

"Oh they grumble on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, grumble on Thursday too. They grumble on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, grumble the whole week through."

Have you ever known anyone like that? Better yet, could that ever describe you? Jude wants to talk to us about grumbling today.

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These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.  But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.  These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

Jude 16-19

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If you have noticed, a major problem with these apostates is their mouths. Verse 16 tells us that they fuss and complain because things don't go their way (according to their lusts). Today, people want what they want, and they do not care about anyone else. Jude says that this is a sign that they are not God's children. Writing to a young pastor, Paul said the following:

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Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

I Timothy 6:6-10

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If we are content with what we have, and not living after our lusts, then we will not have a reason to complain. Jude also tells us that they flatter and exaggerate for the purpose of gaining an advantage in this world. David said of those that flatter, "For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open tomb; They flatter with their tongue" (Psalm 5:9).

Jude then tells us in verses 17 and 18 that the Apostles warned the readers that this time would come. It should be no surprise that discontentment and strife will increase the closer we get to the return of Jesus. This has been taught from the beginning. While these behaviors have always characterized people, Jude wants us to understand that it will get worse.

His final thought in verse 19 is that "these are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit". The idea behind sensual is that of only doing what you want to do, like an animal. An animal eats because he wants food. An animal sleeps because they want to sleep. Their thought process is no deeper than that. God made humans able to reason and think beyond our base desires. However, these people only live to satiate those base lusts. In so doing, they cause division between themselves and other people. The Spirit of God is not in this because God's Spirit brings unity. When there was division in the church at Corinth, Paul asked the question, "Is Christ divided?" (I Corinthians 1:13). James, Jude's brother said it this way, "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?" (James 4:1). These behaviors are not led by the Spirit of God, but cause division.

Those that are apostates are so because they do not have the Spirit of God in them. Jude is warning us about them because they can infiltrate the church and cause division among the body. This is also a warning that we are not to behave in the same way. We are different because of God's Spirit that lives in us and guides us.

Father, I hear so many people complaining about the division in our world. If we focus on it, it is exhausting and leaves us feeling defeated. Help us to remember that You are not in this. May we recognize that division comes when we are not following Your Spirit. When we come across those who rebel against Your law, help us to remember that they are not believers. They are the missionfield.