November 16, 2025
How to Spot a False Teacher
Jude is about protecting “the faith once for all delivered to the saints.”
Actions, not words, show you if it’s the real thing.
Jude warns us that immorality, not poor theology, is the clearest mark of a false teacher.
Jude tells us:
1. How to Spot a false teacher
2. How to guard our own hearts from becoming like them.
Jude 5-16
3 Old Testament examples of divine justice
1. Israel >> Unbelief – Numbers 14
2. Angels >> Rebellion – Genesis 6 & 1 Enoch*
3. Sodom and Gomorrah >> Immorality – Genesis 19
When you reject God’s authority, judgment always follows.
Jude shows us that false teachers don’t just mislead you with words; they mislead you with their lives. Here are the patterns that drive them.
False teachers … (Jude 8)
Rely on their dreams – elevate personal feelings and experiences above Scripture.
Defile the Flesh – dishonor the physical body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Reject Authority – disregard of the Lordship of Jesus
Blaspheme the glorious ones – show amazing arrogance (Jude 9)
Abandon reasoning and are driven by greed. (Jude 10)
Rebels corrupted by greed (Jude 11)
1. Cain – Envied his brother and murdered him (Genesis 4)
2. Balaam – Would do the wrong thing for the right price (Numbers 22-25 & Numbers 31:16)
3. Korah – Rebelled against authority (Numbers 16)
Rebels corrupted by greed (Jude 11)
1. Cain – Envied his brother and murdered him (Genesis 4)
2. Balaam – Would do the wrong thing for the right price (Numbers 22-25 & Numbers 31:16)
3. Korah – Rebelled against authority (Numbers 16)
False teachers are …
Dangerous
• Hidden Reefs – False teachers will sink you.
• Selfish Shepherds – False teachers will let you starve (Ezekiel 34:2)
Empty
• Clouds without rain – False teachers promise refreshment but leave you high and dry. (Proverbs 25:14)
• Strong winds – False teachers will take you off course violently (Hebrews 13:9)
• Fruitless Trees – False teachers wont produce good in your life (Matthew 7:17-20)
Lifeless
• Twice Dead – False teachers are already dead spiritually.
• Uprooted – False teachers never want you to be planted by a stream of living water. (Matthew 15:13)
• Wild Waves – False teachers will drown you in the same sin patterns they are drowning in. (Isaiah 57:20)
• Casting up the foam of their shame (2 Corinthians 4:2; Philippians 3:19)
Lost
• Wondering Stars – False teachers keep you wondering and never finding your way (Isaiah 14:12)
• Gloom/Darkness – False teachers have reserved their spot in gloom and utter darkness apart from God and they want you to join them. (2 Peter 2:17)
If you want to know what’s really inside someone: watch how they treat people.
False teachers … (Jude 16)
Are grumblers – They complain about everything; nothing is ever good enough.
Are fault-finders – They live dissatisfied, always blaming others for what’s wrong instead of taking responsibility or trusting God.
Follow their own sinful desires – They chase what feels good instead of what is right, led by appetite, not by the Spirit.
Are loudmouthed boasters – They talk big to make themselves look bigger or more important
Show favoritism to gain advantage – They flatter people for what they can get, not for who they can serve… relationships are a means to self-promotion.
Remember: The gospel is not ours to edit; it’s ours to guard and live.
Jude’s not just warning the church of False Teachers. He’s calling us to action. Guard your heart and mind from these sinful patterns.
Actions, not words, show you if it’s the real thing.
Does what a person say, match with how they live?
In public and in private?
Challenge of modern day: How can I really know what this teacher is like?
1. Reason: Is this teaching lining up with Scripture?
2. Be intentional about learning from someone whose life bears good fruit.
“Beloved, be sure you have the real thing.”
Accept Jesus as Savior and surrender to Jesus as Lord.
Assurance of salvation comes as you make Jesus Lord of your life.
Loving Jesus = Obeying Jesus
Believe in Jesus and follow Jesus.
Who you follow will form your life.
*Why does Jude quote from extra-biblical books?
These books are in a collection of ancient literature often called the Apocrypha (Deuterocanon) and Pseudepigrapha, which were respected in the Jewish tradition and considered helpful, yet not the ultimate authoritative words of God. Just because Jude quotes from 1 Enoch or the Assumption of Moses does not necessarily mean he regarded these writings as being at the same authoritative level as the Old Testament; He is using it as supplemental teaching. Just as we use movies, or modern stories to help us understand truth, Jude uses stories familiar to the original audience.
