But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
There is a danger here.
Jude is teaching us how to identify those who are walking in darkness. What he is NOT telling us to do is pass judgment on their souls. He tells us what God has in store for such people, but nowhere does it say we are to be the ones who condemn them. To illustrate this point, Jude reminds us of the archangel, Michael.
The archangel is understood to be over all the other angels. This angel is unique in relation to God and other angels. The text refers to another angel called “the devil.” This angel would have been known as Lucifer, or Satan. Satan’s power and influence were rivaled only by God in the heavens.
Now, this is interesting to me. Jude’s letter is about people we might think of as devils who have slipped in among the believers. (He calls them the “ungodly.”) They irritate the believer because they speak down to people. Arrogance is communicated in their voice and their eyes. The believer knows this behavior is ungodly.
We, who were born sinful and brought into the light by Jesus, become able to discern the darkness. The Holy Spirit and the Word guide us in this matter. If we humans can sense darkness, how much more sensitive would angels be? To us, such things are sometimes vague and confusing. To angels, everything would be crystal clear.
Jude tells us about an occasion when the two chief examples of angelic power, one light, the other dark, meet. There is some dispute over the body of Moses. (See Deuteronomy 34 for the story of Moses’ death.) Satan, of course, would want to do something to undermine God. (His intent, apparently, involved slandering Moses.) Michael would be standing in the breech, defending God’s will.
“But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’”
If the archangel Michael is not willing to pass judgment on God’s enemy, who are we to pass judgment on another human?
Application: Learn to distinguish between judging what is darkness and passing judging on darkness. God wants us to recognize the ungodly, but leave the judging to Him.
Food for Thought: Why is it safe to judge someone’s behavior?
When we judge our own behavior or someone else’s behavior by the clear guideline of Scripture we are simply agreeing with God’s stated will in His word. For example, I agree with God that all adultery, stealing and murder are wrong. When I take on His role of condemning people I am not agreeing with God, I am playing God. I imagine for the angels this is serious as it is the reason Satan fell. He wanted to be God. It should be serious for us as well.
You Got it Rich, took me awhile to understand this truth.
As a child in Christ I received discernment and used it to discern the sins of all those around me, always thanking God for saving me from what I was seeing. Eventually, I heard God a He explained this gift was given to me to accurately examine my own heart, not the hearts of others. Many years have gone by and I am still working on myself, fully realizing my reaching perfection will only come when I am with Christ. Until then I give power over my own revealed sins to God, and love others as they are.
(John 8:7,) Let him without sin be the first to throw a stone.
(2 Thessalonians 3:15,) Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
(Matthew 7:1&5,) Judge not, that you be not judged, you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but not the log in your own eye.
Ahhh… Thank you, both! Well said!!
Isn’t it comforting to know that the sense of right and wrong that God places in our heart is correct? I also find that there is relief in knowing it is not my job to pass judgment on others for what I see as right and wrong. Instead, as Ron points out, there is plenty in my own life to judge and correct.
Amen. I appreciate the testimony Ron.
👍🏻