Jude tearfully warns the children of God concerning the character of false teachers who stealthily creep in among them. He informs them that they turn the grace of God into lasciviousness, and will even deny the Father and the Son. Men of this stripe have no intention of doing God's will, are far removed in identifying with the character of holiness and are sunken to the bottom of slime that they have no compunction of conscience. As Sodom and Gomorrah gave themselves over to fornication and strange flesh, these false teachers are also moral reprobates. Jude says, "Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities" (Jude 8). In spite of the examples of the cities of the Plain, these dreamers dream on!

Moses said the Lord was grieved in his heart at the wickedness and evil imaginations of men (Gen. 6:5, 6). These evil imaginations and thoughts were in the hearts of men! One of the seven things the Lord is said to hate is "an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations" (Prov. 6:18). Peter speaks of "cunningly devised fables" (2 Pet. 1:16) which, being of the wicked one, destroys all that is right. Over against such wickedness, Paul writes, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think of these things" (Phil. 4:8). What a contrast in God's thoughts and man's thoughts!

But Jude affirms these "filthy dreamers" dream on! Peter writes of the same, saying, "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children" (2 Pet. 2:14). This vivid expression is descriptive of a man unable to look at a woman without lasciviousness in his heart, a clear violation of Jesus' statement in Matthew 5:28! Such motivation prevented a cessation from sin. As in the gymnasium, they "exercised" or trained their hearts to practice sin! Yes, they dreamed of filth! This is exactly what continues to plague individuals and churches today. Think on the pure, the true and the right.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 34, p. 554
August 28, 1980