One of the marks of these false teachers is that they are slandering. They are abusive to anyone who would challenge or stand up to them.
In order to make this point Jude mentions a well-known story probably taken from a book called the Assumption of Moses.
We do not know exactly why Jude quotes from this book, but whatever his motive, the story he has in mind was prompted by the ending of Deuteronomy. In the final verses of that book we read that the Lord buried Moses and no one knows where his body is laid. Presumably in an attempt to explain how this burial took place, the idea came about that the archangel Michael must have been sent to do it and since Moses was a sinner during his life on earth he was challenged by the devil. Instead of pronouncing a judgment upon him, Michael remained silent and left judgment to God. But the false teachers have acted in the opposite way. They are quick to pass judgment on others.
These false teachers do not understand (Jude 1:10) and have no knowledge of the transformative power of the grace of God. The Spirit does not live in their hearts and therefore the only understanding that they have is that of their own desires. As a result, the commandments of God are a burden to them. They find no joy in doing what pleases God. Working hard to make a marriage work seems like a waste of time when you can simply divorce and find someone new. Fighting against sinful sexual desires is difficult, so why not give in and indulge your fantasies? Telling the truth is hard and not always to your advantage. It is okay to lie as long as you do not hurt someone. Stealing might be wrong in the eyes of God, but as long as you do not get caught and have a vague intention of returning what you have taken, then there is no problem.
The life of faith is hard. It requires self-denial and sacrifice and it takes time for the Spirit to transform our desires and help us to grow in obedience. Those who do not understand that—people who have lost touch with God, become impatient, or never known him—we should not be surprised if they dislike what the Bible says or if they speak abusively against it. And that is what we find in our society more and more.
There is an increasing number of people on television and social media making disparaging remarks about Christians who do not go along with everyone else. We are presented as unenlightened bigots, dinosaurs from another era who are trapped in the past. Of course this kind of slander is nothing new. It has been taking place since the first days of the church. Society has not moved on, it has stayed exactly where it was 2,000 years ago. People was and are still speaking abusively about what they do not understand.
I think Jude wants us to realise that contending for the faith will always be met with some form of opposition. Whether it is within or outside the church community, there will be people who blaspheme what they do not understand and mock those who hold fast to the teaching of Scripture. Fundamentalist, narrow, unenlightened, conservative—these are the kind of labels used to discredit and ridicule. Do not be surprised when your boss thinks you are mad because you say no to more money in order to rest on the Lord’s Day and gather for worship. Do not be ashamed when you are mocked and laughed at because you want to keep the marriage bed pure.
9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”