Jude, verse-by-verse

Jude 17-19 | A Reminder Concerning Mockers

• Verse 17 —

  • Since Jesus was a minister of the circumcision for the truth to God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers (Rom. 15:8) then a right divider should recognize that the instructions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ would also be related to Israel.

    
    Of what words of warning does Jude refer? Verse 18 tells us that the warning is about the last days. While we do not know for sure, the Apostle Peter spoke of the commandment of us the apostles (2 Peter 3:2), namely, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts (2 Peter 3:3). It seems that the apostles had a well-known warning of last days events, no doubt expecting them in their own day since they did not (early on) know of the mystery that would be given to Paul and the age of grace that would cause delay.
    

• Verse 18 —

  • The phrase the last time is repeatedly used in the New Testament in similar forms. It refers to the expected Day of the Lord (a day of destruction and judgment) and the Second Coming of the Lord to establish His Kingdom.

  • The dispensation of the grace of God (Eph. 3:2) in which we live has no prophetic events which give an indication of its conclusion, so for those of us who live in the age of grace, knowing whether we are in the last days is fraught with challenges. The apostles were not talking about our dispensation but rather about the days prior to the Second Coming.

    
    The apostles warned that there will be mockers in the last time who will walk after their own ungodly lusts. Since the last days will be days of lack of morality, this will become characteristic of the age.
    

• Verse 19 —

  • The mockers in the last time (v. 18) are they who separate themselves. While Israel was instructed to come out from among them, and be ye separate (2 Corinthians 6:17, quoted from Isaiah 52:11) these mockers are separating themselves from Israel and her God rather than from the world. Therefore, the appropriate comparison would be Ezekiel 14:7.

    
    The men are called sensual. The Greek word is ψυχικός [physicos]. That is, they focus on the physical, natural world rather than that which is spiritual, thus having not the Spirit.
    

    Jude 20-23 | Instruction to Faithful Israel

    
    

• Verse 20 —

  • On the foundation of their holy faith they are to be building up themselves. Jude lists four things (v. 20-22) that could be taken as separate matters but seem to be the elaboration on this building up statement.

  • First, praying in the Holy Ghost. This is the only time this instruction is given with this precision. Bullinger (The Companion Bible) argues in his Appendix 101 (101, II, 14) that the lack of a definite article in Jude 20 (pneuma hagion) (found in v. 20 and 51 other times in the New Testament) means that the reference is to the gift and not the Giver“praying in the holy spirit that is a gift from God." The same would “in" the Holy Ghost, only “in the spirit which comes from the Holy Ghost."

    
    

• Verse 21 —

  • Second (continue from v. 20), faithful Israel is to remain in the love of God. Can Israel (or anyone) remove themselves from God's love? Clearly it would be a ridiculous instruction if not keeping yourselves in God's love was an impossibility. John 15:10 says that to remain in God's love Israel must keep His commandments.

    
    Third, faithful Israel is to be looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. This looking for mercy is something that Israel has done since its earliest days (see Job 14:14, my conviction being that Job represents Israel in her tribulation). This mercy is ultimately the resurrection and establishment of the promised theocratic Kingdom.
    

• Verses 22-23 —

  • Fourth (continued from vv. 21-22), faithful Israel is to have compassion, making a difference. However, only of some. The some is not necessarily exclusionary, but discretionary. It goes with and others“some this and some that." The making a difference clause in the middle of the two *somes* could actually be the connecting point. Faithful Israel is to discern the difference between those who should be treated with compassion and those whom they should save with fear. Both are targets of kingdom salvation, but some in mercy and others in fear, done while hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

    
    

    Jude 24-25 | Doxology

    
    

• Verse 24 —

  • Jude closes with a note of praise to God the Father, celebrating two praises. First, He is able to keep you from falling. Since this is not related to our dispensation, it is not talking about loss of salvation as we understand it. The Greek word is related to stumbling“fall from grace" theology and terminology, but we do not interpret Scripture based on modern Christianity.

  • Second, He is able to present you faultless before the presence of his glory. The word present is ἵστημι [histami], *to stand*. Thus, falling and standing are contrasted in the Greek text, though this does not come through in English.

    
    

• Verse 25 —

  • Finalizing his doxology, Jude ascribes four things to God. First, glory, coming from δόξα [doxa], from which we get doxology and orthodox.

  • Second, majesty, from μεγαλωσύνη [megalosune“everything that is mega."

  • Third, dominion. The word κράτος [kratos] is a power word. All of our English words ending in -cracy are based on this word, such as democracy, aristocracy, bureaucracy, theocracy, gerontocracy (rule by old men), gynocracy (rule by women). All kratos* *ultimately belongs to God, who has vested it in Jesus Christ.

  • Finally, power. The word ἐξουσία [exousia] "based on property" and is power due to ownership. The word is sometimes translated authority.

  • These four things are ascribed to God both now and ever. Amen.