Daily Devotions

Jude

Jude 
Day 
Day 19

"These are grumblers, complainers..."

Text: Jude 16

MORE DETAILS

Jude must have made a very careful study of these false teachers. He added more details about these false teachers.

“These are grumblers, complainers,
walking according to their own lusts;
and they mouth great swelling words,
flattering people to gain advantage.”

Jude 16

1. “These are grumblers”

a) We can imagine these false teachers noting how people tend to grumble.
b) They capitalize on that and they join in the grumbling.
c) They seem to have many things to grumble about.

2. “Complainers”

a) The word translated “complainers” is different from that of “grumblers”.
b) Two nuances may be noted: –
i) They are dissatisfied with their lot in life.
ii) They express their grouses freely, even if they are blameworthy.

3. “Walking according to their own lusts”

a) What drives these people?
b) Jude makes this important note: –
i) They are walking according to their lusts.
ii) The fleshly desires of their heart drive these people.

4. “And they mouth great swelling words”

a) They apparently can speak well.
b) They are able to sound very compelling and impressive.
c) They speak words that seem very high-sounding.
d) However, it is all “empty-talk”.

5. “Flattering people to gain advantage”

a) They may succeed in convincing people to what they profess.
b) They will use any means to gain followers, including flattery.
c) But it is all to their own personal advantage.