Cain, Balaam, Core (Jude 1:11)

2022-02-07

There are three types of false prophets in Jude 1:11: Cain (Genesis 4), Balaam (Numbers 22-24), and Core (or Korah; Numbers 16). “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core” (Jude 1:11).

Cain presented his own works to the Lord, thinking he would be accepted. He ignored the pattern of God’s shedding of blood to cover sins (Genesis 3:21), unlike his brother Abel. The ironic part is that his “good” works were actually evil: “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:12).

Balaam was a prophet who was after money. While he recognized that he could not curse God’s people, which was going past what the Lord had commanded, he found a way to hurt God’s people by enticing them to sin.

Korah wanted to be in charge. He rose and challenged Moses and Aaron, thinking he could be the leader, even though their positions were instituted by God.

In the modern church, we are promised infiltrators who are not real Christians who are motivated by works salvation, money, or power. That is the warning here.