"What Happened in Jude 9?"

“What Happened in Jude 9? Is this Michael, Devil, Moses Ordeal Mentioned Anywhere Else?”

Jude 9 (LSB)

9 But Michael the archangel, when he, disputing with the devil, was arguing about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

The Question Essentially is:

What in the World is this Talking about…

And Does the Bible Talk about Any of this?

Well, the Bible Does Speak of Moses’ Body

Let’s Start There

As Moses was Overlooking the Promised Land, We Read this:

Deuteronomy 34:4–6 (NASB95)

4 Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” 5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. 6 And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows his burial place to this day.

One Thing You May Immediately Notice is:

There is No Mention of Michael

There is No Mention of the Devil

Before We Go Any Further…

We Probably Need to Establish Who Michael is:

Michael is Only Mentioned 3 Times in the OT

All 3 Times are in the Latter Apocalyptic Section of the Book of Daniel

There He’s Described as the “Great Prince” & “Guardian” of God’s People

In the Apocalyptic Writings of the Bible…

We’re Given a Glimpse Behind the Curtain…

Into the Spiritual Realm

Where We See Politics & Nations Warring Against Each Other…

Prophets Like Daniel Show Us that Spiritual Forces are Behind it All

Michael is Also Mentioned in the NT Twice

Here in Jude 9 & in Revelation 12:7…

Where He is Said to have Warred with Satan in Heaven & Won

But None of that Gives Us Any Answers as to What Jude is Talking about

Obviously Jude isn’t Alluding to Anything in the 66 Books of the Bible

So Where is He Getting this Information…

About Michael Disputing & Arguing with the Devil?

This Story Comes from a Writing that No Longer Exists…

That was Written in the Intertestamental Times

Several Early Church Fathers Refer to it as:

“The Ascension/Assumption of Moses”

From the Details that have Been Gathered from Other Sources…

The Story Goes Something like this:

After Moses’ Death, God Sent the Captain of His Angels, Michael…

To Bury Moses’ Body

But then the Devil Shows Up…

And Argues that Moses’ Body should Be Given to Him Instead…

Because Moses was a Murderer (the Egyptian)

So, He Didn’t Deserve an Honorable Burial

Michael, Instead of Rebuking Satan Himself…

Called on God to Judge/Rebuke Satan

Then Satan Gave Up, Knowing God would Choose to Honor Moses

It’s an Odd Story from a Writing that Most of Us Know Nothing about

So, Why Did Jude Refer to this Random Story?

For the Answer to that, We Need to Look at the Context of Jude’s Letter

Originally, Jude was Going to Write to His Christian Recipients about Salvation…

But He Changed His Mind Because Some Very Ungodly People…

Had Secretly Infiltrated the Church

Let’s Read the Context

Jude 3–10 (LSB)

3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you exhorting that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5 Now I want to remind you, though you know all things, that Jesus, having once saved a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, having indulged in the same way as these in gross sexual immorality and having gone after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and blaspheme glorious ones. 9 But Michael the archangel, when he, disputing with the devil, was arguing about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these men blaspheme the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed.

These Ungodly Individuals Who have Infiltrated the Church…

Are Said to have Committed 3 Sins:

Defile the Flesh

Reject Authority

Blaspheme the Glorious Ones

Verses 9 & 10 Play Specifically Off of that Last One:

Blaspheme the Glorious Ones

They were Blaspheming Things Which They Don’t Understand

“Glorious Ones” is Possibly Referring to Angels (Good or Bad)

The Point Jude is Making is:

The Archangel Michael wouldn’t Even Dare to Do Such a Thing

Even When He was Arguing with the Devil Himself…

Michael wouldn’t Dare Blaspheme/Judge the Devil

He Knew that God is the Judge…

And that God is the Only One Who is Right Rebuke the Glorious Ones

If God’s Head Angel Won’t Blaspheme an Evil Angel…

Then These Ungodly Men have Absolutely No Right to Blaspheme Angels

2 Peter is Very Similar to Jude

We See the Same Idea Being Addressed to the Recipients of His Letter:

2 Peter 2:9–12 (LSB)

9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who go after the flesh in its corrupt lust and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they blaspheme glorious ones, 11 whereas angels who are greater in strength and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord. 12 But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, blaspheming where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed,

There were Ungodly People in the Church in that Time Period…

Who, in Some Way, were Blaspheming Angels

And Peter & Jude are Telling Them…

That the Angels wouldn’t Dare to Do Such a Thing

So They shouldn’t Either

So, By Referring to the Ascension/Assumption of Moses…

Is Jude Saying that Such Intertestimental Books are Inspired?

Not Necessarily

It could Just as Likely Be that Jude was Referring to a Popular Writing…

That His Audience would’ve Been Familiar with…

To Make a Point

We Use Uninspired Stories & Illustrations All the Time…

To Communicate Scriptural Truths

Paul Did the Same Thing in Athens & Some of His Writings…

When He would Quote Greek Philosophers & Poets

He was Drawing Inspired Truths…

From Uninspired Sources

Invitation

One of the Most Popular Topics in the Scriptures is:

Money & Our Relationship to Money

God Cares Deeply about Our Relationship to Wealth

(Read Conversation Card)

Paul has Something to Say to Both:

Those Who Want to Get Rich

Those Who are Already Rich

1 Timothy 6:8–11 (LSB)

8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evils, and some by aspiring to it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, O man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, gentleness.

For Those Who Want to Get Rich:

You’re Heading for a Trap that will Destroy You & Ruin Your Life

Run from that Temptation to Love Money

Instead, Be Content with What You have…

And Pursue a Life Dedicated to God

That Life will Make Your Much Happier…

And it’ll Lead to Eternal Life

1 Timothy 6:17–19 (LSB)

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

For Those Who are Already Rich:

Don’t Let Your Riches Make You Think You’re Better

Don’t Set Your Hope on Your Riches

They will Fail You

God Never Will

Use Your Riches to Do Good for Others

Be Generous to the Poor & Needy

That’s How You Store Up Real Riches for Yourself