Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Jude 1:11

"Woe unto them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah." — Jude 1:11 (ASV)

Again Jude turns to the OT—this time for another triad of examples. Because of their coming judgment, he pronounces “woe” on the false teachers, just as Jesus did on the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:13, 15–16, 23, 25, 27, 29).

(1) The false teachers have “taken the way of Cain.” Cain’s way was the religion of his own works without faith (Hebrews 11:4) and led to the hatred and murder of his brother . Like Cain, these men belong to the evil one, manufacture religion, and kill the souls of other people by error.

(2) They have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error (cf. comments on 2 Peter 2:15–16). Balaam was the prototype of all greedy religionists who lead God’s people into false religion and immorality (cf. Numbers 31:16–19). The false teachers were wholly consumed by their love of money.

(3) “They have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.” The OT tells of the drastic punishment inflicted on Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and 250 other rebels against Moses’ authority (Numbers 16:1–35). So, with a bold disregard of anachronism, Jude includes them in the destruction meted out there. It is a striking way of saying that their doom is certain and settled.