Don’t be a Mocker

Jude 17-19

Jude begins to exhort his audience, reminding them of what was taught by the original Apostles.  Depending upon the translation you are using, verse 18 mentions “scoffers” or “mockers.”  Now in today’s language, we might not use these specific words, as we couldn’t quite consider a false teacher a mocker or scoffer.  However, we must consider what false teachers actually do.  They mock the true gospel with their falsehood.  Whether intentionally or unintentionally, by teaching a false doctrine, they are mocking Jesus’ truth.  

Now, as we get into the rest of verse 18, Jude says these people follow their own ungodly, worldly desires or lusts.  This is why the office of teacher or prophet carries a heavy responsibility!  We must always check ourselves to make sure we are not teaching or speaking from our own wisdom, but from the leading of the Holy Spirit.  It is so easy to incorporate our own agendas into teaching, and it is dangerous to those who are receiving it.  As a person who speaks with authority, it can create a lot of confusion (and division, as Jude mentions here).  In an earlier post, I referenced Jesus’ warning against false teachers and prophets, knowing them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16), but today, let’s look at the whole passage in Matthew 7:

15 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inside are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits: they do not gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles, do they? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree is not able to produce bad fruit, nor a bad tree to produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 As a result, you will recognize them by their fruits.

While Jesus is warning those who are following teachers who could be teaching falsely, it is also important to use this as a litmus test for ourselves.  What does our own fruit look like?  When we are sharing the gospel either informally or through a formal teaching, what is the motivation for what we are saying and how we are saying it?  Are we following the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lesson preparation or as we talk with others?  It would be easy to read this passage and think, “Well, I’m not a teacher in the church, so this doesn’t apply to me.”  However, as Jesus followers, we are walking testimonies of the faith.

Are we leading people astray?  Are we creating divisions?  Are we pursuing our own desires based on worldly results?