Jude v11

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11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, have plunged into Balaam’s error for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

2 Peter and Jude: An Introduction and Commentary e. Three More Old Testament Examples (11–13)

11–13 as a substantial repetition of the charges he has already made in his first three examples, apart from the fact that now he concentrates on three individuals, not, as before, on three groups.

Groups- Sodom/Gomorah - Israel in wilderness- Fallen angels of Genesis 6
Cain, Balaam and Korah’s rebellion

By the first century, the biblical story of Cain (Gen 4:1–16) became allegorized so that it became a stereotype of certain vices and heresies. Cain is best known as the man who hated his brother and slew him (T. Benj. 7:5), and so became the archetype of jealousy and envy (1 Clem 4:7). Philo interprets his name (“Possession” [Cher. 52; Sac. 2; Josephus, Ant. 1:52–53]) to mean that Cain incarnates possession or avarice (Cher. 64–66; Det. 103; Josephus, Ant. 1:53). As regards heresy, Philo and certain targums to Gen 4:8 label Cain an “atheist” (Det. 103, 119; Post. 42) and “godless” person (Det. 50; Post. 12, 38). Because Cain’s offering was not accepted, nor does Genesis indicate why, Cain is portrayed as denying a just universe. Hence, he denies that God judges, that there is postmortem existence and rewards and punishments then (P. Grelot, “Les Targums du Pentateuch—Etude comparative d’après Genese IV.3–16,” Semitica 9 [1959]: 59–88). Thus, Philo calls him “self-loved” or self-seeking (Sac. 3, 52; Det. 32, 68; Post 21). But Cain’s secrets are uncovered by God (Jub 4:6; Josephus, Ant. 1.55), and he is cursed by God (Jub 4:5; Philo, Post. 12; Josephus, Ant. 1.57). This portrait, admittedly a stereotype, fits Jude’s opponents in many ways: (1) they too seek possessions and profit (v 16); (2) like Cain, they are godless (vv 4, 16); (3) they deny the Lord (v 4), presumably spurning judgment after death; (4) he perceives them as hostile to his position (v 8); and (5) like Cain, they are accursed (“woe,” v 11).

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain
Genesis 4:1–16 CSB
The man was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the Lord’s help.” She also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” Then he said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! So now you are cursed, alienated from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed. If you work the ground, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” But Cain answered the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear! Since you are banishing me today from the face of the earth, and I must hide from your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me.”. Then the Lord replied to him, “In that case, whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” And he placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him. Then Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Cain- agriculture
Abel- flocks
Genesis does not dictate that God wanted a blood offering as a gift offering.
Insinuation is that Cain gave his gift to God begrudgingly and without gratitude for what God has given him

The first sin of Cain is envy for his brother Abel. Cain refuses God’s suggestion to do better with a new offering

Old Testament 4:1-16: Cain and Abel

4:1–7. sacrifices of Cain and Abel. The sacrifices of Cain and Abel are not depicted as addressing sin or seeking atonement. The word used designates them very generally as “gifts”—a word that is most closely associated with the grain offering later in Leviticus 2. They appear to be intended to express gratitude to God for his bounty. Therefore it is appropriate that Cain should bring an offering from the produce that he grew, for blood would not be mandatory in such an offering. It should be noted that Genesis does not preserve any record of God requesting such offerings, though he approved of it as a means of expressing thanks. Gratitude is not expressed, however, when the gift is grudgingly given, as is likely the case with Cain.

God also a loving God gave Cain opportunity to repent and to get it right, showing God’s grace in the OT.
It made me think about these great orators and speakers who have a gift of words, or charisma, or whatever and lead the people astray mishandling the gift God gave them.
Do we give our gifts back to God without gratitude or begrudgingly?
For some of us time and time again God has asked us to utilize our gift for His glory but we do everything else.
Are we the type of people that when we see others blessed that we become jealous or even prideful that God should accept my offering
What does giving a weak sacrifice look like?
Even with all this 1 Sam 15:22
Hebrews 9:22 CSB
According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Leviticus 17:11 CSB
For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement.
When Adam and Eve sinned God killed two animals to make atonement for their sins Gen 3:21, this was for the forgiveness of their sins
Do we notice something when it comes to Cain’s sin?
Cain never gets to give a sacrifice for the forgiveness of his sin? Dies this mean that God never forgave his sin?
Questions
What should have been Cain’s response?
Why would Jude use Cain as an example of the false teachers?
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