“…they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage…” Jude 16b
Welcome back. We continue with Jude’s description of false teachers:
4. Though evidently these false teachers had not reached Rome yet, Paul issues a similar warning to the Roman disciples:
“Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Jesus Christ but of their own appetites; and by their SMOOTH AND FLATTERING SPEECH they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” (Romans 16:17-18 emphasis mine)
The false teachers, needing to gain the trust of Jesus’ unsuspecting bond servants, used flattery to entrap them. A review of Proverb will show you how the enemy uses flattery to deceive people.
Along this same vein, Dear Reader, be very careful of those who try to make the gospel mysterious by talking about this mystery and that mystery, making themselves out to have some deep private revelation, drawing people to themselves instead of Jesus, and complicating the gospel with their great swelling words.
“But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your mind should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” 2Cor. 10:3 emphasis mine
Carl
Psalm 119: 38 