INTRODUCTORY GREETING. ‘Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called ones, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ.' Jude writes as a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. A similar approach is found in James' letter, where James describes h... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied.' The threefold description of their state (called, beloved and kept) is followed by a threefold prayer for mercy, peace and love to be multiplied to them. This idea of the multiplication of God's blessings is found also in 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:2. ‘M... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write to you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.' ‘Beloved.' A common address also used by Peter, John and Paul, etc. Love was at the... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDE'S REASON FOR WRITING (JUDE 1:3). Jude had seemingly intended to write a letter dealing with the question of ‘our common salvation', but apparently he had received news about the evil behaviour of people who had come into the church surreptitiously, and were justifying lives of lasciviousness a... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For there are certain men crept in surreptitiously, even they who were of old written of beforehand to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.' Note the suggested insidiousness of their movements. They did... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now I desire to put you in remembrance, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed those who believed not.' His first example is of an Israel who had been ‘saved' out of the land of Egypt. He wants them to remember w... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And angels who kept not their own original status (or ‘principle rank'), but left their proper habitation, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.' The second incident involves the angels who sinned in the times of Noah. ‘The sons of God (or ‘of the eloh... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.' The third incident cited is the case of the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah,... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Yet in a similar way these also in their dreamings defile the flesh, and set at nought dominion, and rail at dignities.' Note his reference to their ‘dreamings'. This may simply be indicating their folly in the same way as we say, ‘dream on'. Or it may have in mind the taking of drugs in order to... [ Continue Reading ]
A FURTHER INDICATION OF THE HERESY IN WHICH THE GODLESS MEN WERE INVOLVED (JUDE 1:8). Jude now describes in a threefold way the folly of the ‘ungodly persons', and points out that their attitude conflicts with the known realities. They defile themselves by sin, they set God (or the Devil) at nought... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you”.' But they are being very foolish, for if they would but remember it, even Michael the Archangel did not dare to rail... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But these rail at whatever things they know not, and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed.' But these foolish people, unlike Michael, think that they can treat the Devil lightly, because really they are ignorant of what they are deal... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEIR PATHWAY LEADS TO WOE (JUDE 1:11). Jude now calls God's ‘woe' (compare Luke 6:24; Matthew 23:13; Isaiah 5:8) down on the ungodly persons and introduces three illustrations which he applies directly to them, describing the way that they were taking. This is in the form of a progression. Firs... [ Continue Reading ]
‘These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you; shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS VIVID DESCRIPTION OF THEIR SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY (JUDE 1:12). Jude now vividly pictures their spiritual bankruptcy by means of vivid metaphors, and cites a well known prophecy from the Book of Enoch demonstrating the judgment that is coming on them. It should be noted, however, that he does not u... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And to these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have wrought in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which un... [ Continue Reading ]
‘These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaks great swelling words), showing respect of persons for the sake of advantage.' He closes off the passage with another list of their failings. They are murmerers and complainers, they follow eagerly their own lusts a... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But you, beloved, remember you the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they said to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.” ' They need not be disturbed by these false and ungodly people who have come amon... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING EXPOSED THE UNGODLY JUDE NOW TURNS TO THE GODLY AND SEEKS TO ENCOURAGE THEM AND GIVE THEM GUIDANCE (JUDE 1:17). He first reminds God's true people that what is happening is in full accord with the warnings given by the Apostles, that mockers would come who followed their own evil desires, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
‘These are they who make separations, sensual, having not the Spirit.' And these people who thus mock God are causers of division and examples of sensual behaviour, who attract others into the same. They are wholly devoid of the Spirit, for whatever they appear to offer, it is not of God. This was... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.' Jude now seeks to turn their minds from all the error and from all the distraction that he has been d... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ATTITUDE THAT THOSE WHO ARE FIRM IN FAITH SHOULD TAKE TOWARDS THE WAVERERS (JUDE 1:22). Jude now reminds them that while the building of themselves up is of prime concern, that should also lead to showing concern for those who appear to be falling short. It is, however, to be done with discrimi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FINAL ASSURANCE (JUDE 1:24). Jude closes his letter with an assurance to all true believers that they need not fear what the future may hold, because in the face of all that they are dealing with, the one and only God their Saviour is able to bring them through safely into His presence free fro... [ Continue Reading ]