“But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.” Jude 1:10-11

The Way of Cain

Cain represents the person who sacrifices falsely. They are the kind of servant who offers God offerings and sacrifices according to their own will, and not as God wants. To the human eye, these so-called “servants” do the work correctly, but their intentions are not right before God. They don’t think about or sanctify the name of the Lord, because everything they do is for their own vanity and glory. Moreover, they are envious and don’t rejoice when they see that someone is successful in their work.

Just as God was not pleased with Cain or his offering, neither is He pleased with these lying servants, who go to the altar to teach His word but don’t live what they preach.

Balaam’s Reward

Balaam was a corrupt prophet who sold his soul in exchange for gold and silver. He represents the kind of servant who uses God’s name and word for their own benefit. They couldn’t care less about the condition of the people, nor do they care about the fate of those who die without salvation. What matters to these false prophets is material profit, so they exploit people’s feelings and pain to achieve their fraudulent and selfish goals.

Korah’s Contradiction

Korah rejected God’s authority over Moses. This same spirit of rebellion has been seen in many who rise up against the spiritual authorities established by God. Just as Korah tried to corrupt others with his pride and vanity, this is the same with many who have gone out into the world spreading their deadly poison that has destroyed many lives. We mustn’t forget that Satan’s principles were vanity and pride, which is why he rebelled against God.

“These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” Jude 1:19