Five Metaphorical Imputations (Jude 12,13)
Jude leaves historical illustrations behind, and instead describes in poetical fashion, the dangers of the false teachers in the church. They are:
Hidden Reefs. We are all familiar with terrifying danger of a reef lying invisible, just under the surface of the sea. Ships who are unfortunate enough to sail near them without warning are doomed to destruction. The false teachers and leaders in the churches Jude was writing to were like these perils. These people would gather with the churches during their celebrations and fellowships only to tear them up and destroy them from within.
Dry Clouds. Most of the time, we think of clouds as the collection of water vapor that are the promise of rain and the hope of farmers. However, there are other things that form clouds. Today, the reality pollution and smog are all too familiar to us. But even in Jude’s day there were clouds formed by smoke, volcanic eruptions, and other non-water particles. These may look like clouds, but they are not beneficial to anyone. Such are the false teachers in the church. They are empty, helpless, imposters.
Fruitless Trees. The trees in the orchards that do not produce fruit come harvest time are fit for nothing more than pulling up and burning. These teachers are “twice dead,” in that, having tasted of the life that the Gospel offers, they have returned to deception and sin.
Wild Waves. Similar to the picture of the clouds without water or trees without fruit, these teachers are all bluster and show, with no substance. Their pride and the way that the revel in things that should cause them shame, are like the empty foam churned up in the surf.
Wandering Stars. Finally, these false leaders are not like stars, set in the heavens as constants and reliable guides. They are like meteors who flash for a brief instance and then burn out never to be seen again. They are destined for the darkness of the forgotten.
All of these metaphors are not just slaps in the faces of people whose aim is to build themselves up. They are dire warnings to the churches—or Jude’s day as well as our own—lest we are deceived and follow such leaders. We should want to avoid the traps of hidden reefs, empty clouds, fruitless trees, foamy waves and flashy rocks burning up in a moment! In light of the wonderful Gospel message we have received, and the mercy, peace, and love bestowed upon us, we should reject false teachers every time they rear up.
Hidden Reefs. We are all familiar with terrifying danger of a reef lying invisible, just under the surface of the sea. Ships who are unfortunate enough to sail near them without warning are doomed to destruction. The false teachers and leaders in the churches Jude was writing to were like these perils. These people would gather with the churches during their celebrations and fellowships only to tear them up and destroy them from within.
Dry Clouds. Most of the time, we think of clouds as the collection of water vapor that are the promise of rain and the hope of farmers. However, there are other things that form clouds. Today, the reality pollution and smog are all too familiar to us. But even in Jude’s day there were clouds formed by smoke, volcanic eruptions, and other non-water particles. These may look like clouds, but they are not beneficial to anyone. Such are the false teachers in the church. They are empty, helpless, imposters.
Fruitless Trees. The trees in the orchards that do not produce fruit come harvest time are fit for nothing more than pulling up and burning. These teachers are “twice dead,” in that, having tasted of the life that the Gospel offers, they have returned to deception and sin.
Wild Waves. Similar to the picture of the clouds without water or trees without fruit, these teachers are all bluster and show, with no substance. Their pride and the way that the revel in things that should cause them shame, are like the empty foam churned up in the surf.
Wandering Stars. Finally, these false leaders are not like stars, set in the heavens as constants and reliable guides. They are like meteors who flash for a brief instance and then burn out never to be seen again. They are destined for the darkness of the forgotten.
All of these metaphors are not just slaps in the faces of people whose aim is to build themselves up. They are dire warnings to the churches—or Jude’s day as well as our own—lest we are deceived and follow such leaders. We should want to avoid the traps of hidden reefs, empty clouds, fruitless trees, foamy waves and flashy rocks burning up in a moment! In light of the wonderful Gospel message we have received, and the mercy, peace, and love bestowed upon us, we should reject false teachers every time they rear up.
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