FIGHT FOR THE *FAITH! JUDE _HILDA BRIGHT_ WHAT THIS LETTER IS ABOUT Jude wrote the letter to warn his readers against false teachers. These teachers claimed to be Christians. But they were being a great danger to the *faith. PLAN OF THE LETTER Verses 1-2 Greetings Verses 3-16 Jude writes ab... [ Continue Reading ]
At the time of the *New Testament, most people understood the *Greek language. Jude’s letter follows the usual *Greek custom (as in most *New Testament letters; see also Acts 23:26). The letter begins with three details: (1) The name of the writer (Jude). (2) Those people to whom he sends the letter... [ Continue Reading ]
God delights (is very pleased) to show *pity (Micah 7:18). Christ himself is the Christian’s great *calm (Ephesians 2:14). The Holy Spirit is the agent of love (Romans 5:5). • Jude’s prayer is of permanent value for all whom God calls. That is, for believers in every age. All Christians constantly... [ Continue Reading ]
False teachers are trying to upset the *faith of Jude’s readers (see verse 4). So Jude is writing urgently to remind his readers to hold firmly to God. In particular, they need more of God’s love and sympathy. That love will keep them close to God and to each other. It will help to protect them agai... [ Continue Reading ]
The *New Testament often uses the form of words ‘certain … men’ to refer to a particular group. (It is like when someone today says, ‘You know whom I mean!’). Teachers that travelled from one place to another often caused trouble in the first churches. Jesus himself warned the people who followed h... [ Continue Reading ]
Of course, the *Israelites were glad to be free. And God promised them their own country. But the inhabitants of the country that God promised them were vast in number. And they were powerful. And they lived in strong cities. The *Israelites did not trust God to help them to overcome the inhabitant... [ Continue Reading ]
The Book of Isaiah mentions some proud *angels who refused God’s arrangement for them (Isaiah 24:21-22). God punished them severely. In their case, their terrible fate was to suffer in permanent fire (Matthew 25:41). • The ancient Book of Enoch (not in the *Old Testament) also tells about *angels t... [ Continue Reading ]
Jude has reminded the false teachers about these terrible examples from the past. But the false teachers refuse to listen. They continue with their wicked behaviour. • The *Greek word for ‘dreamers’ appears only once more in the *New Testament. In Acts 2:17, the word refers to a gift of the Holy Sp... [ Continue Reading ]
The *Old Testament does not refer to Michael’s argument with Satan. Deuteronomy 34:6 simply says that God buried his servant in the country called Moab. But nobody knows where. God did not want the *Israelites to put an *idol on that spot. • In the *Hebrew language, ‘Satan’ is not a personal name.... [ Continue Reading ]
The false teachers show by their attitude that they do not understand *spiritual matters in general. Nor do they understand God’s plan in particular (1 Corinthians 2:7-16). • The false teachers may say that they are very important. But in fact they are acting like cruel animals (2 Peter 2:12). To c... [ Continue Reading ]
• CAIN was the first person to kill someone. He killed his own brother (Genesis 4:1-15). The false teachers are ‘killing’ the belief of other people. Cain killed Abel. But God had already warned Cain about his anger. *Jews in *New Testament times therefore remembered Cain as someone who did not beli... [ Continue Reading ]
Jude has compared the false teachers with certain *Old Testament men who refused to obey God’s laws. Now Jude repeats his attack on the false teachers in colourful language. His word-pictures include the four regions of the physical world: clouds in the air, trees on the earth, waves of the sea, sta... [ Continue Reading ]
The *New Testament mentions Enoch in two other places. He appears in Luke 3:37 as an earlier member of the family of Jesus. And in Hebrews 11:5 as an extraordinary example of trust in God. • All those centuries ago, Enoch knew that one day the *Lord would return in *glory to this world. • Jude cal... [ Continue Reading ]
Several *New Testament passages say that a vast number of *angels will come with Jesus. These passages are referring to the future time when Jesus will return to this world (Matthew 16:27; Matthew 25:31; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; 2 Thessalonians 1:7). The *angels are not there with Jesus to give a colo... [ Continue Reading ]
Long ago the *Israelites were slaves. But God rescued them. Then the *Israelites complained because God led them into the desert. There was no water to drink (Exodus 15:24; Exodus 17:3; Numbers 14:29). Of course people need water to drink, especially in a desert! So the *Israelites complained: ‘God... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But, dear friends’ signals a pleasant change of tone. The false teachers are no longer Jude’s immediate subject. Jude now turns from his collection of *Old Testament references (verses 5-16). There are more recent people that warned about the *unwelcome arrival of false teachers in the church. •... [ Continue Reading ]
People who laugh at holy matters consider them a joke. Such people have no place for God in their lives. And they have little or no thought for other people. • Self-interest controls these men’s thoughts and actions. That means that they do not care about anyone else. They only care about themselve... [ Continue Reading ]
These men divide Christians in a church. They form groups that disagree with one another. They upset people. They offer no real *pity or love to anyone. ADVICE FOR JUDE’S READERS V20 But you are my *dear friends. So carefully develop your lives on the firm base of your most holy trust in God. And... [ Continue Reading ]
Jude’s readers are his ‘*dear friends’. The *Greek word means ‘those people whom God loves’. All true believers share the same *spiritual relationship with God. • The Bible meaning of ‘holy’ is ‘set apart (separate) because it is completely different’. The ‘most holy trust’ (that is, the Christian... [ Continue Reading ]
God’s great love was the reason why he originally called people to begin a life of loyal service (verse 1). • The false teachers do not have the Spirit (verse 9). So they have no love for God. And they have no thought of God’s love for them (Revelation 2:4). Neither do they care about other people,... [ Continue Reading ]
Jude has been urging his readers to develop their *spiritual life. And to make it strong. Now he discusses the practical expression of that life in the service of other people. • In particular, Jude has in mind those members in the church whose belief is now less sure. They have been listening to t... [ Continue Reading ]
Some people’s cases need more urgent action. Jude uses the picture language of someone who pulls a burning stick out of the fire (Zechariah 3:2). Rescue from total loss is still possible. • Loyal believers need great care not to find their own *faith in danger. It is like someone who catches a pati... [ Continue Reading ]
Most of Jude’s letter has been about the wicked behaviour of evil people. And about the danger that such people are to true believers. But now Jude ends his letter on a much happier subject. He reminds his readers that their God is always their *all-powerful guard. He will defend them against every... [ Continue Reading ]