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"They are clouds without water..."

Text: Jude 12

NECESSARY TASK

Jude did not have a pleasant task to perform. He knew what these false teachers were like. On the other hand, the church community did not seem to be fully cognizant of the danger that these false brethren posed! Thus he felt deeply compelled to declare openly and clearly what he knew about these people who were truly spots and blemishes in the church community.

“They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds;
late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots.”

Jude 12

1. “They are clouds without water”

a) The false brethren were compared to clouds.

b) Rain clouds coming at the right time would be a welcome sight.

c) But these were not rain clouds.

d) They brought no rain.

e) They were not a blessing to anyone.

2. “Carried about by the winds”

a) They were unstable.

b) They may look promising.

c) But they do not deliver.

d) They flit from place to place depending on the wind.

3. “Late autumn trees”

a) These trees would normally be laden with fruit.

b) These autumn trees (agriculturally) would normally be a source of joy.

4. “Late autumn trees without fruit”

a) This was Jude’s description of the false brethren.

b) They were fruitless people.

c) They were a real disappointment.

5. “Twice dead, pulled up by their roots”

a) A barren tree is like a dead tree.

b) They were not just barren but were like trees that had their roots pulled up.

c) Thus the phrase, “twice dead”.

d) These false brethren were spiritually dead people.