Introduction

James’ brother, Jude, warns believers about false teachers.

Verses
1Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:
2Mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied.
3Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about 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.
4For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.
5Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn’t believe.
6Angels who didn’t keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgement of the great day.
7Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, having in the same way as these given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are shown as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.
8Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings.
9But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”
10But these speak evil of whatever things they don’t know. They are destroyed in these things that they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason.
11Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion.
12These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.
14About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,
15to execute judgement on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
16These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage.
17But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
18They said to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.”
19These are those who cause divisions and are sensual, not having the Spirit.
20But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.
21Keep yourselves in God’s love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
22On some have compassion, making a distinction,
23and some save, snatching them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
24Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy,
25to God our Saviour, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

Questions

1. What was Jude’s motivation for writing this letter?

v 3 ... I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

2.  What sort of people, did Enoch say, will be judged by the Lord?

v 14 and 15 ... Enoch ... prophesied, saying, “Behold,the Lord came ... to execute judgement on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 

3. What warning does Jude give about murmurers and complainers?

v 16 These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage.

Summary Points

  • v 1 to 4 Jude wants to write about their common salvation, but finds he needs to warn them about people corrupting God's message
  • v 5 to 13 He likens the ungodly people who are creeping in, to those rebellious people in the past who were condemned and destroyed
  • v 14 to 16 Jude quotes from the book of Enoch (not in the Bible) to illustrate God’s judgement on these wicked people
  • v 17 to 23 He reminds his readers that the apostles foretold these happenings and encourages them to keep the true faith and help others to do the same
  • v 24 and 25 Prayer and praise to God whose plan is to save us
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