Bible Commentaries
Jude 1

Verse 1

JUDE - THE PARTICULAR EPISTLE

The book of Jude was written by him to a particular fellowship of sanctified believers. It concerned problems that had arisen among them and offered warnings, instructions, and admonitions concerning such problems. The letter may be considered a general epistle only in the sense that the truths set forth in the book apply to any local congregation or fellowship, that then or might thereafter have similar problems or needs. The teachings were, in a special sense, warnings set forth that might apply to like people in any area and any era of Christian history, but in a restricted sense at that time, the letter was particular, evidently to a local congregation in Asia Minor.

WRITER: JUDE was the brother of James "the less", little of stature, "the just" who was also pastor of the Jerusalem Church, (James 1:1, Galatians 2:9; Galatians 2:12; Matthew 4:21.)

Jude, same as Lebbaeus, surname Thaddaeus, son of Alphaeus

(Cleopas) and Mary, this Mary was a sister of Mary the mother of our Lord, John 19:25, Matthew 10:3, Luke 6:16.

DATE: About A.D. 66

TO: Sanctified, preserved, and called

THEME: The common salvation - contending for the faith – recognizing and resisting wrongdoers, their sure judgement, and self-perseverance of believers, causing havoc.

OCCASION: Moral and doctrinal apostates had crept in among the sanctified assembly of believers, causing havoc.

Part I IDENTITY AND GREETING

1) Jude was the brother of James the less - (Little of stature) (Mark 15:40; James 1:1). He was also a brother of the same James, pastor of the Jerusalem church and one of the three disciples who "seemed to be pillars", Galatians 2:9-12; Acts 15:13. He was the son of Alphaeus (Cleopas) and Mary, sister of our Lord’s mother; John 19:25. He is also believed to be the Lebbaeus, surname Thaddaeus of Matthew 10:3; Luke 6:16.

2) "To them that are” (a present state or condition) sanctified," (Greek, egape menois) (made holy, loved, set apart) by God the Father. This identifies the persons of address as saved persons who were set apart from the world - world order - to live an active life of service to God, 1 John 2:15-17; Colossians 3:1-2. The saved are responsible for acts of voluntary will. Those sanctified having been loved, in salvation are to sanctify (set apart) themselves from unholy things to holy living and service. 1 Peter 3:15; 1 Timothy 4:5; 2 Timothy 2:21.

3) "To the preserved in Jesus Christ" means to be secure, to be safe, in Jesus Christ. The gift of faith that brings salvation and sanctification to the penitent believer also brings Christ life which the Father gave Him - eternal life, life without end, without cessation. (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:11-12; John 5:26; John 1:4; John 10:27-28; John 5:10-13).

4) "To the called in Jesus Christ" the called" (Greek Kletois - called ones) in Jesus Christ identifies the sanctified and preserved as those "in Jesus Christ," a present state or condition of being, who "were called" to Jesus and had "come to him" for salvation and rest. Proverbs 1:24-25; Isaiah 65:12; Romans 10:21; Matthew 11:28; John 6:37. The called in Jesus Christ are those once out of Jesus Christ - unsaved, but who in time, gave heed to the call of His Word and His spirit and came to Him, at His call and drawing – Romans 10:17; Hebrews 3:7; Hebrews 4:7. God still calls the lost, the prodigal, to personal salvation in Jesus Christ - all unsaved; the whole world has a general call to salvation and a personal, particular call through the Spirit, but only such as have personally chosen, received Jesus by faith-are "the called", in Jesus Christ. To such was this book of Jude written.

Verse 2

1) "Mercy to you" - Jude’s Christian greeting to the sanctified opens with an expression of the Divine attribute of mercy - compassion, longsuffering, or goodwill which he desired from God upon the sanctified believers - The merciful are to obtain mercy from God, and show mercy to men. Matthew 5:7; 2 Corinthians 1:3; God is rich in it, Ephesians 2:4. We should show it – James 2:13. See also Micah 6:8.

2) "And peace to you" - Jude desires, for the believer, abiding peace from God, thru His Spirit, John 14:27; John 16:33; Romans 5:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:13. Believers are to be at peace among themselves and pursue it with all men. Hebrews 12:14.

3) "And love to you" - These three Divine attributes, mercy, peace, and love - Jude desired to increase, to multiply, in and among God’s sanctified, preserved, and called ones in Jesus Christ - It is a good thought that the older each Child of God grows the more the virtue, the attributes of mercy, peace and love can and should grow, multiply and increase in his life. As one grows in each of these attributes he becomes more like Jesus, sanctified and fit vessel for His service. John 13:34-35; John 14:15, Romans 12:9-10.

Romans 13:8 "Owe no man anything, but to love."

Romans 13:10 "Love worketh not ill.-

2 Corinthians 5:14 "The love of Christ constraineth us."

Hebrews 13:1 "Let brotherly love continue."

1 John 4:19 "We love Him, because He first loved us."

ILLUSTRATIONS:

MERCY

Edmund Spencer 1550-1599 wrote:

"Who Will I not mercy unto others shew, How can he mercy ever hope to have?"

PEACE

Aesop - Floruit 550 B.C.

"Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear"

- The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse.

LOVE

Attributed to Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The Sweetest lives are those to duty wed, Whose deeds, both great and small, Are close-knit strands of an unbroken thread, Where love ennobles all.

Verse 3

PART II. OCCASION FOR THE LETTER Covert Apostasy (Verses 3,4)

1) "Beloved" - (Greek - agapetoi) term of Christian affection and endearment.

2) "When I gave all diligence to write unto you" Jude wrote after prayerful, deliberate consideration not impulsively.

3) "Of the common salvation" - is a phrase used which was once to refer to things and conditions of being and behaviour that concern the life of the sanctified, the saved person, Romans 1:16.

4) The term "it was needful"- affirms existence of conditions and circumstances that fully warranted or merited Jude’s giving his time, attention, and advice in writing to the brethren.

5) "And exhort" - (Gr. - parakalon) you" - -in this inspired letter, Jude, in the spirit of the Lord encouraged, besought, and admonished these sanctified, preserved, and called brethren regarding their common (common experience) salvation. Hebrews 3:13 "Exhort one another daily" 2 Timothy 4:2 "Exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine". Hebrews 10:25; Exhorting one another, as ye see the day approaching.

6) "Ye should" - a recognized obligation or duty.

7) "Earnestly contend" to speak out earnestly -to join issue with, to oppose with strong conviction, moral or doctrinal wrong. James 4:7-8; 1 Peter 5:8-9. Jesus did – Matthew 4:1-25; Paul did – 1 Corinthians 15:32; 2 Timothy 4:7-8.

8) "For the faith" - system of teachings, body of principles – Galatians 3:26; Philippians 1:27.

9) "Once (for all) delivered" - by our Lord and by Inspiration – 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 11:2 "Keep the ordinances as I delivered them to you", 1 Corinthians 11:23. I received of the lord that which I also delivered to you (1 Corinthians 15:3.)

10) "To the Saints" (Greek hagiois, holy ones) -The New Testament or new covenant Church in particular, Matthew 28:18-20, John 20:21; Acts 1:8; John 17:17; Romans 10:17; Revelation 1:1; Revelation 1:3; Revelation 2:1; Revelation 22:16 - "to testify unto you these things in the churches" – Revelation 22:17, The Bride says come.

Verse 4

1) "For" (Greek gar) - the reason or occasion for writing, as follows -

2) "There are (exist) certain men" - "certain" meaning specific men and certain meaning kind of men.

3) "Crept" - (Greek pareiseduesan) meaning sneaked in, stole in, stealthily infiltrated in - with ulterior motive "in sheep’s clothing", like wolves jackals coyote , and vampire bats, creatures of the darkness. "Unawares" - at first unnoticed, unrecognized, in sheep’s clothing. Of such Matthew 7:15 warns "beware" – Acts 20:29-32 cautions, "grievous wolves shall enter" and admonished, "watch and remember." Avoid these and expose them when they arise among your fellowship - practicing worldly things and speaking evil of great doctrines. 2 Peter 2:1-10; 2 Peter 2:12-14.

4) "Who were before of old ordained (set in order) to this condemnation." Moral and doctrinal wrong, when embraced, from the fall of Satan and the fall of man, have had penalties of Divine judgement pronounced, fixed for the doers of wrong. When Lucifer fell, he did it by disobedience and presumptive imposition against God’s law for him - Likewise Adam and Eve had received the condemnation (ordained) set in order by the Lord - But this does not mean each was not a creature of accountable will or volition for choices and actions, Isaiah 14:12-17; Genesis 2:16-17. Satan, like his followers, sneaked into the fellowship of God’s sanctified human family and garden and started peddling lies, discord, division and death. Genesis 3:14; Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23.

5) "Ungodly men" (Greek - asebeis) professed religious people can be ungodly, impious. -

a) Cain was, killed his brother – Genesis 4:3-8

b) Baal’s false prophets were – 1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 18:40

c) Nebuchadnezzar was - required worship of a statue – Daniel 5:19-23.

d) Herod was - slew James, Acts 12:1-4; Acts 12:22-23.

6) "Turning" (Greek - metatithentes) diverting the grace of our God - the person of our sanctified fellowship "into lasciviousness" - loose immoral conduct and behaviour - these were Iiving Iives that contradicted the principle of saving, (delivering) grace - which teaches to deny one’s self of the practice of ungodliness, immoral behavior, Titus 2:12.

7) "And (Greek Kai) denying”- by manner of life.

8) "The only Lord God" there is but one true Lord (Greek - kurios - Master) - our Lord Jesus Christ – Acts 4:12; He is the one Saviour and one (only) Lord, true trustworthy, to be obeyed - who said "follow me" Matthew 4:19; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:5-6. When religious "creeps" enter by covert means among God’s flock, let them be manifest by shining the light of the Word on them for what they are, as moral and doctrinal wolves, jackals, coyotes, vampire bats, and nocturnal creatures who feast in lust, lasciviousness, worldliness and oppose "the faith".

INFILTRATION

1 ) Like the subversive Greeks who gained entrance into Troy by hiding in a hollow wooden horse, religious creeps sneak in unawares to subvert the people.

2)Like Judas Iscariot - lied to get in - to be ordained etc.

Verse 5

PART III. HISTORICAL EXAMPLES OF APOSTACY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES (Verses 5-7)

1) "I will therefore put you in remembrance" -Memory of past examples of rebellion of angels and men against God’s will and ways are called to mind. Jude would have these sanctified brethren of the faith to recall and recognize that immorality, selfishness, and rebellion against God portends Divine disfavor and Divine judgement on those who do not resist the wrong.

2) "Though ye once knew this" - indicates that lessons learned can be forgotten, must be recalled by God’s children, fallible men, lest they fail in benefits of truth they have been taught. 1 Corinthians 10:12 "take heed lest ye fall", heed to things, truths formerly taught. 2 Peter 1:12-13.

3) "How that the Lord . . . destroyed (Greek apolesen) them that believed not" (brought to great loss and suffering).

a) When Israel was saved (delivered) out of Egypt safely . . . though God’s chosen, elect people,(race), they were still creatures of responsible volition or will, responsible for decisions to obey or disobey God.

b) For actions of obedience to God they were individually and nationally blessed. For actions of disobedience they were individually and nationally punished, destroyed, or brought to great loss or suffering. For instance . . .

Individually - Moses was blessed in meekly enduring the unjust criticism against his leadership, day after day, after he had led them out of Egypt’s bondage - he was also punished for striking the rock instead of speaking to it, the second time. Numbers 20:11-12.

Aaron and Miriam were blessed - he as God’s spokesman for Moses, and Miriam as the leader of a musical band, but Miriam was also stricken with leprosy for joining in complaint against Moses, God’s leader over them, Exodus 4:14-16; Exodus 4:27-28; Exodus 15:20-21; Numbers 12:1-13.

The two faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb, were blessed with long life and the honor of leading Israel from the wilderness, after forty long years of judgement, into the promised land - Each of the other ten spies, Elders of Israel, were not permitted to go in because they believed not, trusted not God, and discouraged the hearts of Israel. Numbers 14:27-45; Hebrews 3:17-19.

Nationally - All of Israel’s family that put the blood on the door posts and lintels, girded themselves aright, and gave heed to God’s men (Moses and Aaron) were led out of Egypt’s darkness safely, fed on heaven’s manna and received water from the rock - they were nationally delivered and blessed in their acts of obedience to God’s call.

All were judged of the Lord, chastened, suffered because of their later distrust, unbelief, doubt in, and complaints against His will, His voice, and His leaders. Not only were many killed on special occasions for rebellious acts but also because of gross unbelief all the grown men, 20 years of age and up, who came out of Egypt wandered in the wilderness until they died, and went not with their younger family members into the promised land. This is Jude’s first example of the kind of certain Divine judgement ordained to fall upon dividers of God’s people, carping critics, and immoral religious apostates, Numbers 14:29-35; Numbers 26:63-65.

Verse 6

1) "And the angels" Jude’s second example of God’s certain judgement on the apostate rebellious involved angels, created servants of God.

2) "Which kept (Greek teresantas) (guarded) not their first estate" - this identifies the angelic creatures of specific rebellion and their judgement as those who kept not or guarded not their (Greek archen) own estate locale of dominion or jurisdiction.

3) "But left (deserted) their own habitation" -turned their backs on their own (Greek oiketerion) homes like deserting guards - betrayed their captain.

4) "He (the Lord) hath reserved ’ (Greek telereken) held in abeyance.

5) "in everlasting chains under darkness" in a fixed, set, or sealed sentence of dark, weighty, pending punishment or retribution.

6) "Unto the judgement of the great day" When the devil and his angels shall be cast into hell with all who forget God. (Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4).

7) A record of the angelic rebellion and fall, directed by Lucifer, is recounted in Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Luke 10:18; 2 Peter 2:4. Revelation 12:7-12 describes the final day of Satan and his angelic (demon) band in mortal array - (battle) against Michael and his angels, as Satan and his angels assault the throne for their last time, to bring accusations against the redeemed on earth, before they are debarred from ever approaching the throne of God to accuse the brethren any more.

As God the Father prepares for setting of the Judgement Seat of Christ and the marriage of the Lamb he bars heavens doors from Satan and demonic entrance anymore, restricting their area of work to the earth, where Satan and his hordes spew forth their demoniac fury knowing that their time is short. Revelation 12:9-12; Job 1:6-12.

Today, Jesus, the believer’s advocate, attorney, defender, intercessor, sleeps neither day nor night, "ever living to make intercession for us", the redeemed, defending us against just and unjust charges, assaults and accusations hurled before Jesus and the Father, (Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2).

Because of both God’s past and certain pending, coming judgement against these rebellious demoniac angels, Jude assures the sanctified brethren that God will also surely send judgement upon the wicked, religious, sneak-thief rebels that have infiltrated their fellowship. God will bring every work with every secret thing into judgement. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Verse 7

1) God’s judgement of Sodom and Gomorrha are used by Jude as a third specific example of Divine judgment that falls upon the presumptuous wicked. As Israel and the fallen angels received judgment for rebellious and presumptuous sins against God, so did Sodom and Gomorrha. And just as all three-of these did not escape Divine punishment for their sins, neither, (Jude asserts) shall these immoral, degenerate, racket-raisers who entered to sabotage the fellowship of the sanctified believers.

2) "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them ", indicates a broad area of large cities and small cities, inhabited places.

3) "In like manner" refers to similar disregard for the preeminence of God’s law, shown by Israel and fallen angels - was also embraced by these territories of judgment.

4) "Giving themselves over to fornication", illicit and immoral sexual relations of men with women -outside the pledge of espoused matrimony.

5) "And going after (wandering around after) strange (Greek heteras - another kind) of flesh, “ (1) man with man, sodomy and (2) woman with woman, lesbianism - etc., condemned of the Lord, Genesis 9:24-25; Genesis 19:5-8; Leviticus 18:22-23; Romans 1:26-27; Romans 1:32.

6) "Are set forth for an example” of what awaits these lascivious, ungodly infiltrators, among the sanctified to whom Jude wrote with all diligence, (Judges 1:3-4).

7) "Suffering the vengeance of eternal fire". Jude simply asserts that just as Divine fiery judgment fell on the lascivious, fornicating, practitioners of sodomy and lesbianism in Sodom and Gomorrha and the cities, suburbs around them, so shall eternal fiery vengeance come upon these religious degenerates who had crept in under false colors among the sanctified.

8) Holiness and separated living are standards to be followed by every believer, God’s sanctified –Matthew 5:48; Mark 8:34; Hebrews 12:14.

Verse 8

PART IV. APOSTATE TEACHERS EXPOSED (Verses 8-19)

1) "Likewise also these filthy dreamers" (Greek enupniazomenoi) these Sodomites, lesbianites, and fornicators, who continually day-dream and night dream of filthy practices.

2) "Defile the flesh" - live the way they day dream and night-dream, degenerate lives (Greek miainousin) to defile, stain, tinge or color – they live the checkered life of a speckled bird.

3) "Despise dominion" they take lightly, deride, criticize and snipe at divinely appointed leadership -they attempt to set aside, ignore (Greek athetousin) church discipline and order.

4) "And speak evil of dignities" - they blaspheme,(Greek blasphemousin) blab evil things against teachers, officers, deacons, and pastors, those holding church elected positions of leadership. Having crept in under camouflage, as apostles of Satan, making

themselves to appear as angels of light; these serpentine zealots set about in pious talk, raising questions against the church elected leaders and program of worship. Such do not respect our Lord’s rule for greatness, Matthew 20:25-28.

a) Satan entered Eden under false pretense, Genesis 3:1-5

b) Satan tempted Jesus under false pretense, Matthew 4:3-11

c) Jesus warned of these religious cannibals- Matthew 7:15-23.

d) Paul warned of them – Acts 20:28-31; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

e) Peter described them – 2 Peter 2:1-3

f) John exposed them, 3 John 1:1; 3 John 1:9-10 as desirous of preeminence in the church.

ILLUSTRATIONS:

1) DECEIT

Deceivers are the most dangerous members of society. They trifle with the best affections of our nature, and violate the most sacred obligations.

- Crabbe

2) HYPOCRISY

The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul, producing holy witness, is like a villain with a smiling cheek; a goodly apple rotten at the heart.

- Shakespeare

3) Straight Mouths and Crooked Hearts

There are many words which cause Bible translators difficulty when translating them into the languages of tribes and nations. There is one word, however, which presents no difficulty to the translators, and that word is hypocrisy. The hypocrite is found everywhere. The Indian tribes in Latin America have various ways to denote the -hypocrite. They designate him as "a man with two faces," "a man with two hearts," "a man with two kinds of talk," "a two-headed man," "a forked-tongue person," "a two-sided man," and "a man with a straight mouth and a crooked heart."

-W. B. K.

Verse 9

1) “Yet Michael the archangel.” Michael the archangel is the Chief or ruling angels who heads the angelic protectorate host over God’s people. He is mentioned five times in the Scriptures; each time he singularly or with his angelic host is set to protect or defend God’s children – Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:21; Daniel 12:1; Judges 1:9, Revelation 12:7.

From this angelic dominion each Child of God has an eternal angelic protector watching, guarding, protecting him by day and by night through life. Psalms 34:7; Psalms 91:11-12; Acts 27:22-25; Hebrews 1:13-14.

2) "When contending with the devil he disputed”

- contending (Greek diakrinomenos) differing in judgment view - or conclusion - disputing reasoned.

3) "About the body of Moses" - whose it was -to whom it belonged - Deuteronomy 34:4-6. Since the Lord buried Moses, kept the devil from getting his body, circulating it as a trophy of defeat, it appears that Michael was that angelic personage God used to preserve the body, direct the burial of Moses, who later appeared bodily in transfiguration with our Lord and Elijah – Matthew 17:1-6.

4) "Durst not bring against him (the devil) a railing accusation" - Michael did not dare or presume, (Greek etolmesen) a blasphemous judgment opinion to bring against or "pin on him". Michael did not attack the character or judgment of the devil - he contended, reasoned objectively, that the right to the body of Moses belonged to the one he served - the Lord. This was objective reasoning and contention, the kind that prevails.

5) "But said, the Lord rebuke thee" - Michael contended with the devil by no claim of his own right to, or strength, to have the body of Moses - his final rebuttal was in the name of the Lord -(Kuriso) the Jehovah – Zechariah 3:1-2; of such Colossians 3:17 admonishes ’Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" - not in your own name; even Michael dared not subjectively to oppose the devil, but objectively, "in the name of the Lord".

Verse 10

1) "But these speak evil of" - these base, filthy, degenerate, agents of the devil, who came in among the sanctified believers, speak blasphemously - find fault With, scoff, snipe and deride.

2) "Things which they know not", they blab buckets, baskets, and barrels of verbosity, with not a thimble full of fact or truth - They try to explain things they can not comprehend - like morons who can give the answer to any question before they hear what the question is, or the solution to any problem before they hear what the problem is. Solomon observed:

Proverbs 26:12 - "Seest thou a man wise. in his own conceit?"

He added: Proverbs 18:13 "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame to him." Ecclesiastes 5:3 reads, "A fool’s voice is known by multitude of words".

The wise, the sanctified, should beware of these yowling jackals and howling wolves that creep in among them in sheep’s clothing.

Proverbs 10:19 "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin."

3) "But what they know naturally " The kind of things that they know by their fleshly impulses -fleshly minds (Greek phusikos).

4) "As brute beast " - (Greek hos ta aloga zoa) as irrational, or non-reasoning animals.

5) "In those things they corrupt (or putrefy) themselves." Jude simply asserts that these self-esteemed, self-appointed, pious infiltrating, domineering loud-mouthed hypocrites lived lives that would make a dog ashamed that he was a dog, a hog ashamed that he was a hog, or a monkey ashamed to be associated with his filthy and boisterous behaviour.

Let it always be recognized that the unsaved, the natural man, no matter how educated and pious, is still a fool, a moron, in all his pious prating against God, lacking divine wisdom, following only his animal-like, flesh impulses, Proverbs 1:7; 1 Corinthians 2:14. To defy the word of God is the way of a fool, Psalms 14:1.

Verse 11

1) "Woe unto them" (Greek onai) interjection of denunciation, indicating coming of calamity or judgment on sinister apostates.

2) "For they have gone in the way of Cain". (Greek hoti - because) they had gone, of their own natural covetous, presumptuous will in the ways of Cain. Cain believed in God, but he ignored God’s will and pay of a blood sacrifice testimony. Of his own rebellious will he substituted an offering of the fruit of the Ground, Genesis 4:1-5. Jude asserts that the trouble-makers among the brethren were demanding substitutes in worship for what God had ordained Such continues today. Some would substitute:

a) Water instead of blood for remission of sins.

b) Church membership instead of repentance and regeneration.

c) Sprinkling and pouring instead of immersion.

d) These are examples of "The way of Cain".

3) "And ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward" - they in error of judgment pursued, chased after the reward, recompense, or kind of pay Balaam had coveted, the praise, applause, and popularity of the masses. Back-slapping popularity seekers are of Balaam’s descent. True believers should mark such behaviour and avoid it.

Three evil, wicked characteristics of Balaam’s heritage to be avoided are:

a) His error of covetousness for praise of men-like Pharisees who loved the praise of men more than the praise of God – Judges 1:11; John 12:43.

b) His way - loved the wages or pay of unrighteousness, Numbers 22:5-7. He was an hireling prophet who loved money, would sell out for it. He did not love his flock, would not protect them against the wolves – John 10:12-13 1 Timothy 6:10.

c) His doctrine - his teaching or doctrine was wrong because his heart was wrong, loving the praise of men preeminently and working as an hireling, shepherd or prophet who cared only for his own carcass. Balaam’s example of self will versus God’s command, Numbers 22:12; Numbers 22:20, led to Israel’s cohabiting with the Moabites. Balaam led this social and religious integration movement which brought God’s judgment, Numbers 25:1-18. He taught them to offer sacrifices to idols and commit fornication with the Moabites, Numbers 31:15-16.

4) "And perished in the gainsaying of Core” And these sneaky false prophets who had crept in among the sanctified, to whom Jude wrote, had not -only acted like Cain and Balaam at their worst but also like Core in his rebellion against God’s divinely appointed leadership of Moses and Aaron. Numbers 16; Numbers 26:9; Numbers 27:3; 1 Corinthians 10:8.

The term "perished" (Greek - apolonto) means to be brought to great loss or suffering.

The term "gainsaying" (Greek antilogia) means to oppose or resist the Word or order or procedure of God. This is what Korah led a mass of people to do. It brought a calamity of Divine chastisement and judgment upon them. Jude certifies these apostate infiltrators among the sanctified will come under the vengeful judgment of God for their dissension raising among the sanctified.

RETRIBUTION

Retribution is one of the grand principles in the divine administration of human affairs; a requital is imperceptible only to the wilfully unobservant. There is everywhere the working of the everlasting law of requital: man always gets as he gives.

- J. Foster

God is a sure paymaster. He may not pay at the end of every week, or month, or year, but remember He pays in the end.

- Anne of Austria.

Verse 12

1) "These are spots in your feasts of charity" -these infiltrating apostates when attending love-feasts of social fellowship among the sanctified were "spots" - (Greek spilades) sunken rocks - "party poopers", throwing rocks, wet blankets on the spirit of social Christian fellowship, not satisfied to disturb worship, they also dampened the spirits and disheartened the people of God in hours of social feasting and fellowship. They would sink the ship of fellowship by disheartening words and actions. They attended the feasts to feed their own ego. 2 Peter 1:13-14.

2) "Feeding themselves without fear" -they were like shepherds who fed themselves not fearing (Greek aphobos) what became of the flock - not interested in others, covetous; of such Paul also warned, 2 Timothy 3:2-5.

3) "Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds", these unstable religious apostate fakes bounced around, drifting, shifting, spiritually empty like clouds with outward show and promise of rain, but gave no water. They even made loud noises, offered fleshly hopes like empty thunderclouds that give no rain, leave the beholder disappointed, 2 Peter 2:17.

4) "Trees whose fruit withereth" autumn trees with nothing more than dried, withered, and rotten fruit to offer - any fruit they might seem to offer is of a cheap kind.

5) ’Without fruit- twice dead" "twice dead" means fiat barren or empty through fruit producing time to autumn; second they were like a tree "plucked up by the roots", beyond hope of ever bearing fruit for God - false apostles; bad trees never produce good fruit. Of such our Lord warned in the Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 7:16-20. Because their root stock, their nature, was not Divine their fruit of life was evil, vain, spiritually dead or barren.

HYPOCRISY

It is hard to personate and act a part long; for where truth is not at the bottom nature will always be endeavoring to return, and will peep out and betray herself one time or another.

- Tillotson

Verse 13

1) "Raging waves of the sea" (Greek kumata agria thalasses) waves wild of the sea - high, furious, uncontrolled, bouncing, dashing, rolling, tumbling.

2) "Foaming out their own shame" These religious saboteurs could not control their tongues, temperaments, passions, and spirits because they were slaves of demon spirits. Like white caps of waves in a storm, like a glassy-eyed mad-dog with foaming phobia snapping at everything that moved before them, these pious do-gooders, once in the flock of God, showed their colors by their evil and vicious words. They were like the raving lunatic of the insane asylum, the demented, the deranged. Paul wrote "The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets". 1 Corinthians 14:32. It is only prophets of the devil, demon possessed prophets, who cannot control themselves -foaming out their own shame. This is why John wrote, "Try the spirits . . . because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1.

3) "Wandering stars" (Greek planetai) meaning stars "unstable", that move about, guide no mariner, or help no traveler, unstable, undependable, that can’t be trusted, either for light or guide. They soon burn out, fade away, leaving the world little better than before.

4) "To whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever" These unstable stars are demon spirits personified in the living flesh of the apostate men who crept in among the sanctified to whom Jude wrote. These unstable stars seem to be demons embodied in false prophets, whose destinies are already sealed, Matthew 25:41. They dart from one human to another, seeking a dwelling place; they have a (Greek tereov) - guarded or reserved doom of eternal darkness to which they are chained or fixed, (Revelation 20:10). Until that hour of final concealment in hell, however, it is a sobering and fearful truth that Christians must encounter these wandering, unstable stars, demons, and resist them in wicked religious and irreligious men (Revelation 12:4; Revelation 12:7-9; 1 Timothy 4:1-2).

Verse 14

1) "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam" -The Enoch who was translated, 7th generation of the Godly human family from Adam, "also" prophesied of God’s decreed judgment against demon-led men who rebelled against God, God’s people, and God’s ways – Genesis 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5.

2) "Prophesied of these" foretold the demonish deeds, powers, behaviour and doom of fallen angels in leading men to oppose the people of God and the work of God.

3) "Saying, Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints". This prophecy of Enoch envisioned and foretold that time of our Lord’s return to the earth with his saints, to begin consummating judgment, the final roundup of the wandering, fallen stars, when they shall be turned into hell, the Lake of fire and brimstone, Revelation 20:7-10.

Verse 15

1) "To execute judgment upon all" (Greek -krisin kata panton) to do judgment against all.

2) "And to convince all that are ungodly among them" - to convince (Greek elegksai) to convict -all those "ungodly ones" (Greek asebeis) those who have never had spiritual union with God. "Of them" or among them - those who had crept in among the sanctified.

3) "Of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed." - of or (Greek peri) concerning their ungodly works - deeds of the flesh -which they did in their unregenerate tirades in life against the believers. Then shall they bow, confess but too late. Romans 14:12-14.

4) "And of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."

a) Concerning all the hard (Greek - skleron) scandalizing, scoffing, deriding speeches.

b) Which mark missing (Greek hamartoloi) persons out of spiritual union with God have delivered (Greek kata) against him. Psalms 1:1; Psalms 1:5; Luke 23:35-37; Matthew 5:11-12.

c) Jude affirms again and again that pay-day, though delayed, not executed speedily, is surely ahead for every ungodly one. See Galatians 6:7-8; Ecclesiastes 8:11.

Verse 16

1) "These are murmurers" - (Greek goggustai) meaning grumblers, whisperers, muttering in a low key confidential impostor intonement - goose jabbering.

2) "Complainers, walking after their own lusts" -(Greek mempsimoimoi) discontented, complainers, queers, puttering around according to their own lusts, cravings of the old nature, finding pleasure in faultfinding.

3) "And their mouth speaketh great swelling words" With their hypocritical hearts their hypocritical mouths spill forth (Greek huperogka) boastful, flattering, immoderate things. Judgement awaits the blown-up exaggerated boasting of men, men of egotistic self esteem or who exaggerate praise to others, flatter them to gain their following, Psalms 49:5-7; Psalms 94:4-6. They boast in the law; salvation by good works is their theme. Romans 2:17. But God’s way excludes it. Romans 3:27. See also Luke 12:16-21; the boastful barn builder - fool - boasting in himself.

4) "Having men’s persons in admiration" having or holding continually men’s persons in admiration -"name droppers" of continual praise and flattery, fishing for personal approval, hungry for approval and praise of men. John 12:43.

5) "Because of advantage " (Greek opheleias) profit or advantage. (Greek charin), because or for the sake of profit or advantage. To summarize, note:

a) These apostate creeps, among the sanctified fellowship, first came as deceivers, liars, as Satan entered Eden – finding fault, sniping against, cutting down positions and persons among the leadership of the sanctified -they murmured, complained, grumbled and nit-picked trying to weaken the confidence of the weaker Christians.

b) Second they boasted of their own broad knowledge and resorted to name-dropping and flattery, continually, to influence and scatter and isolate and devour the lambs and weaker among the sanctified - the very method of the wolfish devil himself.

Let it be remembered that the wolf and the lion stalk, sneak, cunningly to their own advantage, as they seek their prey -so do the agents of the devil. 1 Peter 5:8-9; James 4:6-7.

Verse 17

1) "But, beloved remember ye the words", In direct affectionate appeal, as (Greek agapetoi -beloved ones), in spite of the apostate creep problem, Jude focused memory of the sanctified believers on words and warnings of God, formerly spoken by men of God. He who does not learn and chart his course of life and warfare in relation to former experience of recorded truth is not wise.

FOR EXAMPLE

a) The Passover was a memorial of remembrance, of deliverance, Exodus 12:13.

b) The Brazen Serpent was a memorial of remembrance of judgment for complain and deliverance from venom – Numbers 21:8.

c) The Lord’s supper is a memorial of remembrance of His broken body and shed blood, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25.

d) Remember words of warning to Israel - are for our admonition, 1 Corinthians 10:10-11; Romans 15:4.

e) Remember always warnings of false brethren, wandering stars, wolves in sheep’s clothing, and false prophets and deceitful workers as follows:

2) "Which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ." Jude focuses attention on the merit of spoken warnings by the apostles, taught and sent out by the Lord Jesus Christ. What they said was as true as if the Lord -had spoken it himself.

a) Matthew recounted his warnings of wolves in sheep’s clothing – Matthew 7:16-20; of the hypocrisy of boastful prayers of Pharisees and their deceitful behavior, Matthew 6:2-8; Matthew 16:12; Matthew 23:1-36.

b) Paul warned of false brethren Acts 20:29-34; Galatians 2:4-5; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.

c) Peter – 2 Peter 2:1-19; 2 Peter 3:1-4.

d) John – 1 John 2:18-19; 1 John 3:10; 1 John 4:1-4; 2 John 1:7-11; 3 John 1:9-11.

THEY SAY, BUT DO NOT

Ye call Me Maker, and obey Me not. Ye call Me Light, and see Me not. Ye call Me way, and take Me not. Ye call Me Life, and desire Me not. Ye call Me Wise, and follow Me not Ye call Me Fair, and love Me not. Ye call Me Rich, and ask Me not. Ye call Me Eternal, and seek Me not. Ye cal I Me Gracious, and trust Me not. Ye call Me Mighty, and honor Me not. If I condemn you, blame Me not. John 15:14 reads, "ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you."

Verse 18

1) "How that they told you’ - in sincerity personally byword of mouth.

2) "There should be mockers in the last time" -those should arise speaking like gods, with presuming super-intelligence, like the devil himself, sniping and scoffing at Divine order and orders - the "last time" indicates the Gentile dispensation, as it moves to its end – 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; These kind of degenerate, unregenerate, intellectual, pin-head religious snobs shall mock, ridicule, and deride the idea of the personal return of Jesus Christ, that Blessed Hope of the redeemed and the church – 2 Peter 3:1-4; Titus 2:13.

3) “Who should walk after their own ungodly lusts". Their walk or daily course of life is geared to the unregenerate flesh impulses (Greek epithumias) of ungodliness (Greek - asebeion) deeds and thoughts of one out of spiritual contact with or relation to God. Jude is declaring that "by their (daily) fruits ye shall know (or recognize) them", Matthew 7:20.

As surely as fire burns, bees sting, and rattlesnakes bite, religious, immoral, faultfinding, apostate creeps are dedicated enemies of sanctified believers. Let us recognize and resist and avoid and withdraw ourselves from these emissaries of Satan.

Verse 19

1) "These be they who separate themselves" -these whom Jude had described "separate themselves: (Greek apodiorzontes) meaning to separate off into parties, to whisper, to huddle in serpentine hissing, and whispering sessions; as the serpent to Eve, and as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes, so often huddled and hissed over the method they would use in attacking our Lord. Matthew 21:25-27; Matthew 22:15-22; Matthew 22:34-40.

2) "Sensual” (Greek psuchikoi) meaning natural animal like huddles, as wolf-packs huddle, as wild hogs huddle, and rove to attack their prey by animal instinct.

3) "Having not the Spirit’ (Greek echontes) means to have, hold, or possess (Greek "me" not) "the Spirit" (pneuma). Romans 8:9 declares, "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his." Jude therefore asserts and concludes that those infiltrating, licentious, lustful, worldly minded persons who had crept in among the sanctified believers and then separated themselves into whispering huddles of scoffers and faultfinders were unsaved, unregenerate, and did not have the Spirit of Christ.

4) "Let it also be concluded" that demon spirits still reign as moving stars, moving from one person to another, to inhabit one’s body, to cause him to whisper, snipe, scoff, deride, and act as a talebearer and discord sower among the sanctified. (Read Proverbs 16:28; Proverbs 18:8; Proverbs 20:3; Proverbs 20:17; Proverbs 20:19; Proverbs 26:17; Proverbs 26:20; Proverbs 26:22; Proverbs 26:27; Ephesians 4:30-32; Ephesians 5:1-17).

ON CRITICISM

Disraeli wrote, "it is much easier to be critical than to be correct." Homer added, "The man who acts the least, upbraids the most." A very old proverb reads, It everyone can keep house better than her mother till she trieth - "

HOW CRITICS TURN OUT

A little seed lay on the ground,

And soon began to sprout;

Now, which of all the flowers around

It mused, Shall I come out?

The lily’s face is fair and proud

But just a trifle cold;

A rose, I think, is rather loud

And then, its fashion’s old.

The violet is all very well

But not a flower I’d choose;

Nor yet the Canterbury bell -

I never cared for clues.

And so it criticized each flower,

This supercilious seed,

Until it woke one summer morn,

And found itself - a weed.

-copied

Verse 20

PART V- THE SANCTIFIED ADMONISHED AND ASSURED

1) "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves" Jude turns from a scathing identity, exposure, and condemnation of the apostate infiltrators to a kind and firm admonition and assurance of the sanctified believing brethren. The term (Greek epiokodomoun tes heautous) means to build up, figuratively as here used, to edify, to advance, spiritually, yourselves.

2) "On your most holy faith " - since every sanctified, redeemed believer has the gift of faith, (1 Corinthians 13:13; Ephesians 2:8-9) each is charged to advance or edify or build himself up, to make himself mature in that holy foundation faith. Since this holy faith comes by hearing, by the Word of God, Romans 10:14, Jude, like Paul, (Acts 20:32) and Peter (2 Peter 1:5-8), would have each add to his life the Christian virtues that would make him a fruit bearer and able to give a reason to any who asked of the holy faith he held, 1 Peter 3:15.

3) "Praying in the Holy Ghost” to pray in the Holy Ghost, (Greek proseuchomenoi) is to follow our Lord’s pattern of prayer from his baptism, first act of His public ministry. Luke 3:21-22 reads, Jesus also being baptized, and praying (Greek proseuchomenou) - the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him." Paul too admonished brethren to take hold of the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, always in the Spirit of prayer and watching with perseverance – Ephesians 4:17-18. Thus Jude and Paul harmoniously joined hand, and heart in instructing the sanctified how to grow, mature, and resist Satan in the power of the Spirit, the Word, and Prayer.

Verse 21

1) "Keeping yourselves" - (Greek teresate heautous) means to watch, to guard, to reserve or protect with care ones own self or being. Each sanctified believer is a creature of his own volition, will, or choice and is divinely admonished to keep or guard his life - his behaviour - his conduct - in an holy way. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

2) "In the love of God" - in the realm of (Greek agape theou) the attribute of God’s high, holy, spiritual love or affection for the world. John 3:16; Romans 5:8.

3) "Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ" Looking for, (Greek prosdechomenoi), anticipating the mercy of Jesus Christ. Each who keeps or guards his behaviour in a holy way may anticipate the mercy of the lord thru all life’s trials. Such as do not so behave may look for heavy chastisement. Luke 12:47.

4) "Unto eternal life" - (Greek - eis zoen aionion) meaning into, with reference to eternal life, looking for, anticipating life eternal in the body, in the personal fellowship of Jesus Christ. Each sanctified believer is admonished to watch, guard, or keep his course of life’s actions and thoughts in the area of God’s divine love and mercy. Note: every time eternal life is directly or indirectly offered to the believer, in future tense, it refers to the eternal life of the body - the kind the inner man, new man, already possesses. For example - the adoption, that is the redemption of the body to eternal life, is future -

a) Romans 8:23-25 In hope of redemption of the body to eternal life we wait in patience.

b) Titus 3:7 "to the hope of eternal life."

c) 1 John 2:25 "this is the promise - he hath promised us eternal life."

d) Hebrews 5:9 "Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him".

e) Mark 10:30 "In the world to come eternal life" – Redemption of body, Ephesians 1:14; Ephesians 4:30. Until the day of his meeting the Lord each child of God should glorify God in his body and spirit, which are the Lord’s by the seal of His Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

MY HOPE

I hope to live till Jesus comes

Back to this earth again,

To catch away his chosen bride,

A thousand years to reign,

But if I die before that time,

I know this clod of clay

Will be caught up to meet the Lord, I’ll be there - anyway!

Verse 22

1) "And of some have compassion", of some believers, sanctified, the weak, disturbed by the clacking of false prophets among them, have or hold compassion, (Greek eleate), or pity - try to rescue them from the wolf-pack. Galatians 6:1.

2) "Making a difference". (Greek diakrinomenoi) means a difference in judgment, discretion, must be used in seeking to rescue lambs led from the flock by the jackals and wolves of false prophets ... some must be rescued slowly, gently, with pity and compassion - others snatched suddenly, shockingly, or, firmly as follows:

Verse 23

1) "And others save with fear" - the term save (Greek sozete) means to rescue, as a drowning man gone overboard, or being swept toward a waterfall. Or rescue as an unconscious person from the flames of a burning building, unconscious of his nearness to death. James 5:19-20.

2) "Pulling them out of the fire" (Greek harpazontes) means to snatch with haste and firm grip -out of the fire - relates to engulfed danger surrounding the weak, among complaining separated packs, and huddles formed by false brethren who had crept in among the sanctified. Misled children of God have different temperaments. The more reasoning deliberate thinker may be rescued by gentle, slow compassionate, reasoning, pity. The more impulsive, emotionally constituted, however, must be rescued by the sanctified by the more sudden, shocking, seizure, snatching, and shaking of strong rebuke, reproof, etc., lest their life’s work and influence should be burned by fire, at the Judgement Seat of Christ, 1 Corinthians 3:13-15; 2 John 1:8 "lose not - but receive a full reward."

3) "Hating even the garment spotted by the flesh". (Greek, misontes) means to hate, hold with holy disapproval, the very specks, spots, and blemishes of the flesh, outer garment of the soul, the old man in which the inner man, the new man, new creature, dwells. Jude was saying, watch that donkey nature in you, bridle it, control it, subject it to the will and work of God. Galatians 5:22-25. Evil deeds, words, and thoughts cast their shadows on, in, and through the flesh, like running sores. Jude admonishes that the sanctified should first, keep themselves from such, and second by pity and in fear snatch others, the weaker, from ruined lives for the Master’s sake.

Verse 24

1) "Now unto him who is able", Jude turns to the final salutation, not in his own name, but in the name of life’s central dynamo of life, light, and self-existing power to, (Greek to de dunameno), meaning, "the able one", Hebrews 7:25. He is the one who is able to guard, defend, and save to the uttermost, who ever Iives, never sleeps at the throne, as advocate, attorney, defender, intercessor for the redeemed, till Satan and his horde of demon accusers are cast out – 1 John 2:1-2; Revelation 12:9-10.

2) "To keep you from failing", (Greek phulaphasi) to guard - (autous) them, the weak among the sanctified, (aptaistous) away from stumbling, pitfalls - He guards by His word, His Spirit, and His shepherds – Psalms 119:105; Psalms 119:111; Psalms 119:130, Psalms 23:4. Follow these and stumble not as he guards.

3) "And to Present you faultless, before the presence of his glory." (Greek stasai) to set forth or present them, even the weaker among the sanctified, (Greek katenopion) "face to face" with his glory, as (Greek amomous) meaning without blame, blemish, or spotless. This he can do because he has his own atoning blood which he offers before the throne as he makes daily intercession for all his children. Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 9:22-24; Hebrews 7:25.

4) "With exceeding joy ’. (Greek en hagalasei) meaning jubilant, victorious joy! This means to cause to leap up and down. What a day! What a day! When Jesus presents us to the Father in all His Glory presence with life’s journey ended and sin’s scars all gone. What a graduation day, all because of Him -until then let each sanctified one, each saint seek to give Him honor, and glory, and service in the Church. Ephesians 3:21.

Verse 25

1) "To the only wise God our Saviour", all gods, except our Saviour - the (Greek - sopho mono theo) only wise God, are foolish gods. And more foolish are they who follow them. Psalms 115:3-8 dumb, blind, lifeless, helpless are they. Wise, alive forevermore, is our (Greek soteriemon) Saviour, deliverer, intercessor, and Guide, Acts 4:12.

2) "Be glory and majesty, dominion and power". Glory, greatness, jurisdiction, and authority in heaven and earth are innate, self existent in our Saviour, the only Saviour. Paul desired that in all things he, (Christ) might have the preeminence, Colossians 1:17-19. May we, let us even now, say, 0 Lord thou art worthy! To thee I give my life my all Revelation 5:9-10.

3) "Both now and ever." "Amen" (Greek Kai nun) means "even now", the kind of now with continuity of duration, without cessation, into all of the ages, (Greek - aionas). So mote it or may it ever be, world without end.