The examples we are given of Cain, Balaam, and Korah all refer to instances where someone turns their back on God and encourages others to do the same.
With regards to Cain, when his offering was rejected by God, he refused to heed God’s warning that he must control his sinful desires, desires that are crouching at the door ready to rule over him (Genesis 4:7). Instead he got angry with God, turned his back on him, and killed his brother Abel. And though we are not explicitly told that he led other people into sin, Jewish tradition considers him to be the archetypal sinner. To go in the way of Cain was to go along with the one who laid down the pattern of sin for humanity. That is what these false teachers are doing. They know what God has said—they have the Bible—but at certain points they simply choose to ignore his commandments. They think his rules are flexible and he will not hold them to account. As a result they advocate a form of Christianity that has its own moral teaching—sometimes in agreement with God, sometimes not—God does not notice our sin and if he does notice, he does not mind. He is ready to forgive and forget.
Balaam is mentioned next. We read about him at the end of the book of Numbers. He was hired by the king of Moab to curse Israel so that they could be defeated in battle. Famously he makes three attempts at doing so, going high up on a mountain that overlooks the camp of Israel, but then each time he attempts to pronounce a curse, he pronounces a blessing instead (Numbers 22:1 – 24:25). Enticed by the king’s gold however, he is not content to let matters lie. He comes up with a plan sending Moabite women to entice the Israelite men and lead them into sexual immorality. Again, that is what these false teachers are doing. They know what God intends for his people, that he seeks to bless them and grow them in holiness, but they are driven by greed and animal instincts; therefore, they provoke God’s people into sin. You are saved by grace, you are not under law. Come and enjoy your Christian freedom.
Finally there is Korah, and his story can be found in Numbers 16:1–50. In brief, he rejected Moses and Aaron’s authority over God’s people, claiming instead that each man was holy so that there was no need for Moses to mediate God’s will to them. In essence, each person can decide for himself how he will worship God. He wanted to overthrow God’s order for his church and supplant it with his own vision, a vision where there is freedom from law. The false teachers seek to do the same. They present an alternative Christianity—one that is spiritual and not religious, one where there is freedom to worship God the way you want: salvation with no life change, grace but not gratitude. It is a Christianity that appeals to carnal minds, a Christianity that tempts believers who are immature and new to the faith, a Christianity that leads people into sin.
These false teachers might look very presentable, kind, and friendly but they have turned their backs on God and if you follow them, they will teach you to do the same. They are like clouds that bring no rain, trees that bear no fruit, wandering stars that cannot be used to navigate a way home. They have lots of promises and words of assurance, but in reality it is all empty. An attempt to excuse sin and enrich themselves. Therefore, be on your guard against false teachers, says Jude, because they lead people into sin.
11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.