In today’s world, some so-called spiritual leaders make bold claims, but behind those claims often lies a dangerous deception. Jude’s warning about false teachers is just as relevant now as it was in the first century. These individuals speak against what they don’t understand, rely on their own instincts instead of truth, and follow the destructive path of Cain. Jude pulls back the veil on their arrogance, ignorance, and harmful influence—not to scare believers, but to strengthen them. In this episode, we’ll dive into how these behaviors manifest, why they’re so dangerous, and how we can stay anchored in truth when deception is disguised as spirituality. This week on Light on Life, we focus on How to Spot Rogue Teachers Who Threaten the Faith of Believers.

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You can view a basic transcript of this podcast at the bottom of this section.

Accept the Challenge

Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put into operation.
This weeks call is:

Stand in Truth. Walk in Light. Reject the Way of Cain.

This week, guard your heart by choosing humility over self-will.

When Scripture confronts you, don’t push back — lean in. Let God’s Word shape your instincts rather than letting instincts shape your theology.

You were made to walk in truth — not drift into deception.

Join the Conversation

Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony. Testimony is vital to a believers life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11).
This week’s question is:

Question: 

Where have you seen the “way of Cain” show up in modern life — arrogance, unbelief, or disregard for others?

Share:

Tell us one area where God is helping you grow in discernment or truth. Your insight may strengthen someone who’s facing confusion today.

Remember:

We are members of one another — your voice may be the encouragement another believer needs to stay rooted in truth.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 49 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. Both he and his wife Sharon of 44 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is both the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Podcast Notes:

• Well again, welcome.
• Let’s pray.

Father God, thank you for your mercies. They are new and fresh everyday. I never get tired of saying that you are good and your mercies endure forever. Oh my, where would we be without it? So Father as we get into today’s lesson, open our hearts and understanding so that we may be able to discern the true from the false. The real from the fake so that we might not lose ground from deception. I thank you for doing this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Rogue Teachers: The Link Between Blasphemy and Destruction

• We are back in the book of Jude.
• We’ve completed several podcasts already.
• We’re now about one third of the way through the letter Jude wrote to believers in the first century about 30 years after Jesus rose from the dead.
• We are down to verse ten and eleven.
• Jude writes.

Jude 10–11 (ESV) — 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.

• So here, in verse ten, Jude is still talking about rogue teachers.
• In one of the podcasts we aired, we called these kinds of teachers ‘seriously deceived.’
• We talked about seven traits Jude described that rogue teachers possessed.
• Trait number seven, the final trait, was the boldness of these rogue teachers to slander angels.
• What? Yes indeed.
• This was something that not even Michael the archangel did even in his dispute with Lucifer.
• So Jude, in verse ten starts with the words, ‘these people,’ referring to these ‘rogue teachers.’
• ‘These people’ — what a mess they are — they blaspheme what they do not understand.
• Rogue teachers do not understand the angelic world.
• They are devoid of understanding the world God created.
• They surely do not comprehend the spiritual part of that world.
• Now, people have written books some good God honoring books about angels.
• But, can I tell you that all the books that have been written don’t come close to grasping the angelic world.
• When we get to heaven and see God’s angels at work, you will understand the truth of these words, ‘Not even close.’
• So these rogue teachers, number one, blaspheme what they don’t understand.
• And because of that, they are destroyed by all that they, as Jude states it, ‘understand instinctively.’
• Jude compares their ‘instinctive understanding’ to ‘unreasoning animals,’ the ESV says.
• Wow, that’s a mouthful — what does all that mean?
• Let’s unpack it.

Rogue Teachers and Their Understanding

• So first, note that the word ‘understand’ is used twice in verse ten.
• Listen for it.

these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.

• So the word ‘understand is repeated but here’s the thing, they are not the same Greek word.
• The first word ‘understand’ means comprehension.
• The second word ‘understand’ means to know things as animals know them.
• So these rogue teachers blaspheme what they do not comprehend.
• They don’t get it because, if they did, they would keep their mouths shut.
• So, the bottom line is they don’t understand at all.
• And what they think they understand is a kind of knowledge that leads to destruction.
• So while these rogue teachers profess themselves to be wise they are, in truth, both ignorant and arrogant simultaneously.

The Woe of Rogue Teachers

• To show you how bad this is, Jude begins verse eleven with a ‘woe.’

Woe to them…

• Well that ought to tell you that they are in deep weeds.
• Being on the other end of God’s ‘woe’ is never good.
• You never want to be on the wrong side of ‘woe.’
• The Greek word ‘woe’ is what’s called an interjection.
• An interjection is an exclamation packed with emotion or cry of utterance denoting pain or displeasure.¹
• ‘Woe’ denotes grief, denunciation, intense hardship or distress.
• When you think ‘woe,’ think disaster.
• Jesus uttered ‘woes’ to both men and cities.

Luke 11:43–44 (ESV) — 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”

Luke 10:13 (ESV) — 13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

• ‘Woe’ is super bad news.
• Louw Nida says that in some languages there may not be a noun for ‘disaster,’ but one can express the meaning of the Greek term ‘woe’ as ‘how greatly one will suffer’ or ‘what terrible pain will come to one.’’²

Rogue Teachers and the Way of Cain

• Now, Jude continues the rhetoric on rogue teachers as if we haven’t heard enough.
• Jude already told us that they are ungodly people who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality.
• They deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ relying on their dreams as they basis for their authority.
• They defile the flesh, as well as reject authority.
• And, they blaspheme the glorious ones because they are both arrogant and ignorant.
• He is really driving the point home.
• Now Jude adds this: these rogue teachers walk in the ‘way of Cain.’
• What is the way of Cain?
• I’m glad you asked.

Rogue Teachers: What Is Walking Way of Cain?

• First, let’s look at the word ‘walked’: walking in the way of Cain.
• What does the word ‘walked’ mean?
• Well, it doesn’t mean here like your walking the dog or taking a walk in the park.
• The word ‘walked’ here implies conduct: How one conducts their life.
• So, walking in the way of Cain is conducting your life the way Cain conducted his life.
• A person who walks the way of Cain lives as Cain lived.
• So, to understand the way of Cain, we need to see, from the Word of God, how Cain lived.
• We need to see how he conducted his life.

Rogue Teachers: What the Way of Cain Is Not

• The story begins in Genesis four.

Genesis 4:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.

• Up to verse two, there’s nothing negative in Cain’s walk.
• The professions that both of these boys chose was different.
• Every child is different.
• One man was a herdsman, the other was a farmer.
• There’s no problem with these professions — Planet Earth needs both kinds of men.
• Now, some have thought and have taught that being a worker of the ground, because that’s where Cain’s offering that was rejected by the Lord came from, was a bad thing.
• That it implies ‘works’ or self-effort.
• There’s a problem with that line of thinking.

Genesis 2:5 (ESV) — 5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground,

• There was no man to work the ground.
• Cain, did just that, — he worked the ground.
• That’s what the Lord was looking for!
• God needs men to be farmers — to be involved with agriculture.
• You see God’s part is to provide the rain — man’s part is to work the ground because of the rain.
• Planet Earth needs men to work the ground.
• So, Cain’s occupation was just, righteous and not part of the ‘way of Cain.’

Rogue Teachers: Faith and the Way of Cain

• Now, when you get to verse three of Genesis four, it’s a different story.

Genesis 4:3 (ESV) — 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions.

• Here’s where things go south.
• You really can’t tell it by reading Genesis.
• You need the book of Hebrews to help you see that theres a problem.

Hebrews 11:4 (ESV) — 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

• Why was Abel’s offering more acceptable?
• I don’t know if you know that the Greek word ‘acceptable’ is not in the Greek.
• It was added by the translators.
• ‘More’ is the word we must focus on.
• The Greek word ‘more’ means greater in size or importance or degree.
• BDAG says the word pertains to being relatively large in quantity or measure.
• Abels’ gift was ‘more’ than Cains.
• It was greater in importance, size or degree than Cains.
• We know that because we read Hebrews eleven and verse four.

By faith Abel offered to God a ‘more’ sacrifice than Cain.

• I dropped the word acceptable because it’s not in the Greek.
• How did Abel offer this ‘more’ sacrifice?
• He did it by faith.
• Abel offered to God a ‘more’ sacrifice by faith.
• When you take this verse and combine it with Genesis, you can see that Cain did not offer his sacrifice by faith.
• The difference between these two men’s sacrifice is that five letter word ‘F-A-I-T-H.’
• So, dwell on the faith part for a moment.
• This is Genesis four.
• This was Adam and Eve’s time frame which is around 3900 B.C.
• Where was the teaching on faith up to this point in Genesis four?
• This is 3900 B.C.
• Hebrews eleven wasn’t even close to being written — we’re talking approximately 5572 years between Adam and the date Hebrews was penned.
• Now in the podcast notes for this episode, I am going to put a chart in that shows the timeline between Adam and Jesus.
• It’s a good reference tool — check it out.

According to the chronology of Hippolytus of Rome, the breakdown of the timeline is approximately:

From Adam to the flood: 2,242 years

From the flood to Abraham: 1,141 years

From Abraham to Joshua’s death: 501 years

Through the reign of Zedekiah: 958 years

From exile to Jesus’ birth: 660 years

From Jesus’ birth to passion: 30 years³

• So the definition of faith: the substance of things hoped for — the evidence of things not seen wouldn’t exist for thousands of years.
• The prophet Habakuk said the ‘just shall live by faith’ in 605 B.C.
• That’s 3200 years after Adam.
• So, how did Abel know that he was to offer unto God by faith?

Where Did Abel’s Faith Come From?

• So, where did his ‘faith’ come from?
• Well, we can back our way into that answer because here’s what we know what about faith.

Romans 10:17 (ESV) — 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

• So for faith to exist, there had to have been a ‘word from God.’
• That’s what generates faith.
• When did God give Cain and Abel a word?
• The word may have been spoken after God drove man out of the Garden and before the birth of Cain and Abel.

Genesis 3:23–4:2 (ESV) — 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. 1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.

• It could have happened somewhere in here.
• Now, we are talking at least several decades between the time Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden and this offering incident by the two sons.

Cain and Abel: What We Don’t Know

• So you see, there’s a lot of stuff left out.
• Like what kind of house did Adam and Eve build after they were driven from the Garden?
• Where did they build this house?
• Here’s a more basic question: how did Adam and Eve learn about reproduction?
• What kind of parents were Adam and Eve?
• There’s another question.
• What kind of home life did these two boys grow up in?
• What lessons about God did Adam and Eve teach their kids?

God’s Communication with Cain

• Now, here’s another question.
• We see in Genesis four that God is talking directly to Cain.
• How did God communicate with him and with Abel?
• It’s obvious that God communicated with these boys because Cain recognized the Lord talking to him.

Genesis 4:6–7 (ESV) — 6 The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

• And, later on, after Cain killed Abel comes this.

Genesis 4:9 (ESV) — 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”

• So they are talking rather freely to one another.
• The Lord is having a back and forth conversation with a murderer!
• Now it’s a strong straight-up in your face full of consequences, conversation.
• But, the Lord is still talking to a murderer.
• Does that surprise you?
• In fact, the Lord spends seven Bible verses talking to this cold-blooded murderer!
• How much time would you have spent talking to Cain?

Rogue Teachers: The Way of Unbelief

• So, what was the way of Cain?
• Well, we know now that it wasn’t the way of faith.
• There’s only one other option, the way of unbelief.
• You see, Cain’s offering wasn’t right.
• Abel got it right because he heeded instruction — some kind of instruction — some kind of Word of God that we don’t have record of.
• Cain got the same instruction as Abel and did not listen.

Rogue Teachers: The Way of Disobedience, Self-Will and Rebellion

• So, the way of Cain is not only the way of unbelief, it is also the way of disobedience.
• The way of Cain is the way of self-will.
• It’s the way of ‘I’m going to do things the way I want to do them.’
• The way of Cain is living life on your terms not what the Word says.
• So, the way of Cain is unbelief, and it’s willful disregard for God’s Word.
• It’s disobedience — it’s rebellion.
• But it’s even more than that.

Rogue Teachers: The Way of Cain Is Murder

Genesis 4:8 (ESV) — 8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

• The way of Cain is the way of murder.
• Murder is an evil way from and evil person.

1 John 3:15 (ESV) — 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

• So, the way of Cain is the way of disregard for human life.
• Does that sound familiar to you in today’s world?
• During World War II, the atrocities committed during the Holocaust serve as a haunting reminder of how the way of Cain — a disregard for human life can lead to unimaginable suffering.
• Millions were persecuted, their dignity stripped away and their lives extinguished.
• Can I tell you, the way of Cain is alive and well on Planet Earth?
• It is evident right now in Nigeria where thousands of Jesus’ followers have been slaughtered by Islamic militants.
* It’s evident in the some of the major cities in the United States — it seems like no big deal for someone’s life to be eradicated.
• What does the lack of outrage signify to you about the way of Cain?
• We’ve already quoted Genesis 4:9 where the Lord asked Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”
• That’s one person the Lord was concerned about.
• That’s one individual whose blood cried out to God from the ground.
• What do you think the cry sounds like today with 8 billion people on the Planet and approximately 52 people who are murdered globally every hour?
• That murder rate translates to about 1,248 murders that occur everyday on Planet Earth.
• The way of Cain is the way of murder and it’s very much alive today.

Rogue Teachers: The Way of Cain is the Way of Lying

• So again, Genesis 4:9.
• The Lord asked Cain, ‘Where is your brother?’
• Of course, this is God asking a rhetorical question because He is an all-knowing God.
• Cain’s response to God was “I do not know.”
• What is that?
• It’s flat lie is what it is.
• Cain lied right to God’s face.
• The way of Cain is the way of liars and lying.
• Can I tell you that’s what a rogue teacher is all about?
• They are liars.
• Now, the Bible has tons to say about the issue of lying and liars.

Exodus 20:16 (ESV) — 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Proverbs 6:16–17 (ESV) 16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue…

Colossians 3:9 (ESV) — 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

• Lying is the opposite of truth and God’s Word is truth.
• And with that thought, here is the Quote of the Day.
• This quote is from Charles Finney

“Understand now what lying is. Any species of designed deception. If the deception is not designed it is not lying. But if you design to make an impression contrary to the naked truth, you lie.”⁴

John 1:14 (ESV) — 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• Jesus was the Word made flesh.
• He was full of grace and truth.
• If you are full of truth, there is no room for anything deceptive.
• Can I tell what lying really is?
• It is moral suicide.
• Jesus was praying to His Father one day towards the end of His time on Planet Earth.
• We have the record of what He prayed in John seventeen.
• Listen to it.

John 17:17 (ESV) — 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

• Sanctify means to ‘set apart.’
• Jesus prayed for His followers to be set apart to truth.
• Truth that’s liberating — truth that brings freedom.
• Can I tell you that this is Jesus prayer for us today?
• Jesus is praying to God the Father for you today that you would be set apart to truth.

Rogue Teachers Are Not Their Brother’s Keeper

• Here’s the last trait of the way of Cain.
• We will back into it by going to Ephesians four.

Ephesians 4:25 (ESV) — 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

• Did you hear this last part? — we are members one of another.
• Is that how Cain felt about Abel?
• Cain said to God, ‘I don’t know where my brother is. Am I my brothers’ keeper?
• Brother’s keeper, members one of another — same spirit.
• Rogue teachers, who are full of the way of Cain, do not buy into the concept that we are members one of another.
• They do not live like they are their brother’s keeper.

What Does It Mean To Be Your Brothers Keeper?

• What does the phrase ‘I am my brothers keeper’ mean anyway?
• Well, first it means that you love your brother well enough to look out for him.
• Being your brothers keeper means you love your brother well enough to talk to God about them and for them.
• It means you care about their welfare and your desire for them is to do well in life — even better than you.
• Being your brother’s keeper means you are to be your brother’s ally and friend.⁵
• That means you do them no harm.

Romans 13:10 (ESV)— 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Conclusion: Rogue Teachers and the Way of Cain

• As we’ve seen, Jude doesn’t pull any punches.
• Rogue teachers aren’t just misguided — they embody the very traits that lead to spiritual ruin.
• They blaspheme what they don’t understand, trust instincts instead of truth, and walk in the ancient and deadly way of Cain — a path marked by unbelief, disobedience, self-will, hatred, lying, and a total refusal to love their brother.
• Now, here’s the good news: you don’t have to walk the way of Cain.
• The way of Cain is not your way.
• You don’t have to follow those who distort, deceive, or destroy.
• You can choose the way of Jesus — the way of truth, humility, faith, integrity, and brotherly love.
• You can say YES to Him.
• The Spirit of God is in you to empower you to discern the real from the fake, to recognize deception before it gains a foothold, and to stand firm when false voices rise.
• So as we close today, remember this: your walk matters, your voice matters, your discernment matters.
• Stay anchored in God’s Word.
• Stay yielded to His Spirit.
• Stay committed to loving your brothers and sisters well.
• And above all, refuse the path of Cain so you can fully walk in the life and truth Jesus has set before you.
• If this message strengthened your understanding of Jude’s warnings, consider sharing this episode with someone who may be wrestling with confusion or false teaching.
• Let’s help believers everywhere spot deception and stay rooted in the Word.

Now Father God, thank you for warning us. You did it because you love us and care about us. We thank you for being ever watchful in these matters in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

• How To Spot Rogue Teachers Threatening The Faith Of Believers.
• You guys have a great God week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

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