COMMENTARY
GRAB YOUR BIBLE

Hebrew: Yehudah = Judah, Judas, (Jude)
The name literally means Judas, but to not connect any dots to Judas of Iscariot, his name in English translates to Jude. 

2 Peter Correlation

Verse 1

Jude is Jesus’ brother, and others call him “brother of the Lord,’ yet, Jude preferred ‘brother of James & servant of Jesus Christ.’ Becoming a Christian meant Jude also had to repent of his sins like anyone else. Jesus went from being his brother to his Savior. 

Bondservant (1401)
Greek: doulos (doo’-los) from 1210; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): — bond(-man), servant.

“He does not say, “and brother of our Lord,” for we know that James and Judas were both of them among the Lord’s kinsman according to the flesh; but now, after the flesh, knoweth he even Christ no more, but is content and happy to be known as “the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,” We have here a very blessed description of the whole work of our salvation, — set apart by the Father, joined unto Christ, and preserved in him, and then, in due time, called out by the Spirit of God.”

—SPURGEON

Notable bondservants 

• Moses (Dt 34:5; Ps 105:26; Mal 4:4)
• Joshua (Josh 24:29)
• David (2Sa 3:18; Ps 78:70)
• Paul (Ro 1:1; Phil 1:1; Titus 1:1)
• Peter (2Pe 1:1)
• James (James 1:1)
• Jude (Jude 1:1)
• Prophets (Amos 3:7; Jer 7:25).
• Ideally believers (Acts 2:18; 1Co 7:22; Eph 6:6; Col 4:12; 2Ti 2:24).

“Those who are called:” 
Jude is drawing a line from called & false prophets. Discernment is needed for this. Someone is a follower of the Lord, because He CALLED them. 

Verse 2

This verse is the only greeting in a NT letter that does NOT include “grace,” and is the only one that mentions “love.” Paul’s letters usually say, “Mercy and Grace to you.”

Verse 3 

Jude was a watchman, he would rather write a letter about “the salvation we share (common salvation),” but as good watchman does, he is instead sounding an alarm that wolves in sheep clothing are amongst them. 

Ezekiel 3:16-21 ‘Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.”’

Contend (1864)
Greek: epagonizomai (ep-ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee) from 1909 and 75; to struggle for: — earnestly contend for

1909. epi ep-ee’ a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.: — about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).

75. agonizomai (ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee) from 73; to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or genitive case (to endeavor to accomplish something): — fight, labor fervently, strive.

This word group gives us our English “agony” suggesting pain too intense to be borne! This describes Jude’s internal turmoil and consternation upon hearing of the  men who crept in Jude 1:4.

Note: Jude calls those who are Christians and set apart as “saints.” 

Saints (40)
hagios (hag’-ee-os) sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated): — (most) holy (one, thing), saint.

Hagios is literally a holy one and depending on the context refers to whoever or whatever is set apart (sanctified) for a special purpose.

Verse 4

Correlating verse: 2 Peter 2:1, 3

Jude comes out and says it: certain men have crept in — False Teachers. Peter had warned that men like these were coming. How could false brethren get into true assemblies of the saints? The soldiers had gone to sleep at the post! The spiritual leaders in the churches had grown complacent and careless. This explains why Jude had to “blow the trumpet” to wake them up. Our Lord and His Apostles all warned that false teachers would arise, yet the churches did not heed the warnings. Sad to say, some churches are not heeding the warnings today.

Discernment is needed here for the church to realize and fully see who the false teachers are. They did not show up in black robes or with flashing lights above them saying who they truly were. They blended in like chameleons and inter folded amongst them without noticed. Dangerous. Sharpen your eyes saints.  

“Crept in unawares” (3921)
pareisduno. from pará = beside, at the side of + eisdúo = enter in <> eis = into + dúo = go down, sink) is a vivid verb which means “to go down into and alongside of” and settle down alongside those already there; STEALTHILY. 

“The Greek (pareisduno) is a very expressive word. It is used of the spacious and seductive words of a clever pleader seeping gradually into the minds of a judge and jury; it is used of an outlaw slipping secretly back into the country from which he has been expelled; it is used of the slow and subtle entry of innovations into the life of state, which in the end undermine and break down the ancestral laws. It always indicates a stealthy insinuation of something evil into a society or situation. Certain evil men had insinuated themselves into the church. They were the kind of men for whom judgment was waiting. They were impious creatures, godless in their thought and life. Jude picks out two characteristics about them.”

-BARCLAY

Verse 5, 6, 7

Correlating verses: 
vs 6 — 2 Peter 2:4
vs 7 — 2 Peter 2:6

Jude compares the false teachers to 3 examples  of OT sinners whom God judged.

1. Vs 5 — Egypt — APOSTATE ISRAEL
2. Vs 6 — The Fallen Angels — APOSTATE ANGELS 
3. Vs 7 — Sodom & Gomorrah — APOSTATE CITIES

Verse 5

The main point of the account is that privileges bring responsibilities, and God cannot lightly pass over the sins of His people. If any of Jude’s readers dared to follow the false teachers, they too would face the discipline of God. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall”

—WIERSBE

Verse 6

I love how through this book, Jude, didn’t hold back bringing up weird facts from the Biblical history. This is one of them. This verse calls from the book of Enoch regarding the Watcher angels who left their estate in Heaven and defiled themselves with woman. Also, referring to the account in Genesis 6:1-4. The sin the angels committed was sexual intercourse with the daughters of men creating a giant race called the Nephilim. 

Verse 7

The destruction of these cities at the SE corner of the Dead Sea is used over 20x as an illustration of God’s judgment during the days of Abraham and Lot. It occurred about 450 years after the flood, 100 years after Noah’s death, and while at least one of Noah’s sons, Shem, was still living. Sodom & Gomorrah had given themselves over to fornication, resulting in the judgement of God to fall upon them. 

ekporneúō (1608)
Greek: (ek-porn-yoo’-o ) to go a whoring, “give one’s self over to fornication,” to be utterly unchaste 

In Jude 1:7 it reads — 'as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.'

They had given themselves over to fornication. Which is this word: ekporneúō.  The EK of ekporneuo = OUT and depicts the Sodomites as giving themselves up utterly to fornication. The people of these cities have made an “out” and “out surrender to” extravagant sexual lust. Ge 19:5-9  portrays the sin of the Sodomites as homosexuality. THEY CAME OUT !!!! BY THE LITERAL DEFINITION OF THE NAME. 🤯 In today’s time fornicators say they are “coming OUT.”

Verse 8

Correlating verse: 2 Peter 2:10

Dreamers (1797)
Greek: enupniazomai (en-oop-nee-ad’-zom-ahee) to dream:—dream(-er).

In Acts 2:17 the word is used to describe dreaming activity that God is the source. In Jude 8 the emphasis is upon the “dreamers” who had crept in “unawares” and who defile their bodies, defy their Creator, and deride the angels.” 

“These dreamers” =  filthy dreamers, phony visionaries, Satan’s lies

In this verse, Jude, applies the 3 examples in verses 5-7 with 3 ways the false dreamers are sinning:

1. Pollute the body
2. Reject authority 
3. Abuse angels 

They based their behavior on visions/ dreams they had received. 

Verse 9

Correlating verse: 2 Peter 2:11

Apostates speak contemptuously and spiteful against authority. Their language is the exact opposite even to that of  an Archangel. Michael spoke  judicially without corrupting himself in speech.

Here is another out there quote Jude is giving, and I love it. This passage Jude is speaking on, according to most modern authorities, is to be quoted from the apocryphal Assumption of Moses. We know from Deuteronomy 34:5-6 the Lord himself buried Moses’ body. 

So Moses, the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows the grave to this day

“We believe it, and learn from it that, when an archangel disputes with the devil, he does not use hard words even against him, for hard words are an evidence of the weakness of the cause which they are used to support. Hard arguments softly put, are the really effective weapons, but it takes some of us a long time to learn this; and generally, in our younger days, we wear away our own strength by the violence with which we use it.”

—SPURGEON

Verse 10 & 11

Correlating verses:
Vs 10 — 2 Peter 2:12
Vs 11 —  2 Peter 2:15

The way of life the false teachers lived was to give way to the values of their flesh. Their thoughts became actions and their actions defiled them. 

Sow a thought, and you reap an act;
Sow an act, and you reap a habit;
Sow a habit, and you reap a character;
Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.

—Samuel Smiles

Sin will take you further than you ever intended to stray.
It will keep you longer than you ever intended to stay.
And it will cost you more than you ever dreamed you would pay.

—R Zaccharias

Verse 10

Jude recalls from the 3rd way the false teachers are sinning: they slander what they don’t even understand, and their sexual desires are way out of control. They carry no moral compass like that of irrational beasts. They are ultimate religious hypocrites who profess to have deep religious insights when in reality they are led about by the natural sense and cravings rather than by Biblical truths.

Verse 11

“Woe to them!!”

Woe (3759)
Ouai (“oo-ah’ee) a primary exclamation of grief. expressing an outburst of emotion, a cry of intense distress, displeasure, pain, sorrow or horror. An exclamation denoting pain or displeasure.

Jude again list another 3 examples of who they false teachers are emulating: 

1. The way of Cain
Greed, Covetousness, Rejection of God, Refused to submit to the authority, Murder, After own will

2. Balaam’s error
Gone astray, False teacher, Unrighteousness, Greedy, Lead others astray , Heart problem

3. Korah’s rebellion 
Refuses to accept authority, Lust for things they have no right to, Defying , Rebellion

Verse 12 & 13

Correlating verses: 
Vs 12 — 2 Peter 2:13, 17
Vs 13 — 2 Peter 2:18

Jude adds to the examples in verse 11 to how the false teacher are sinning. They are like:

1. Blemishes at your love feasts
They are hypocrites, like Judas at the passover. Judas ate with Jesus while also selling him for 30 pieces of silver. 

These Love Feasts or Agape Meals (fellowship meal before the Lord’s Supper) mentioned were a mutual sharing of food and love. Everybody brought what they could, like what we’d call a pot luck in America. They were apart of this like a true follower of God and joined in WITHOUT FEAR. 

2. Shepherds who feed only themselves
Shepherds are to unselfishly tend to the sheep. They were feeding only themselves and doing right in their own eyes, not the Lords. Self-pleasing, Self-interest, Self-serving — WITHOUT FEAR

3. Clouds without rain
They offered hope without being able to bring the rain. There was no spiritual  liberation happening with the Lord within them. They promised freedom while they themselves were in bondage. They attracted attention but carried no promise. 

4. Autumn trees without fruit and uprooted
They had no fruit, no produce to show, they’re barren.  Along with no fruit, they are rootless. They are not even able to carry any fruit because they are really not even rooted in the word. They are like fake trees we use for decoration, they may look pretty but they’ll never grow. They don’t have to be cut down and brought in and watered because they’re not even real to begin with. They’re useless ornaments with no sustainable live force in them. They’re dead twice, physically and spiritually. 

5. Wild waves of the sea
They were unsettled, vicious, restless, untamed.
Foaming up their shame:” what they show is valueless and is because of their own shame. They revealed the evidence of their carnal desires wherever they went. 

6. Wandering stars 
They are like the fallen angels in Genesis 6. They are kept in darkness because of their disobedience. They have left their first estate and have wondered aimlessly in orbit. 

Verse 14 & 15

Enoch:
He was an early descendant of Adam and great grand father to Noah. Enoch is mentioned in Genesis 5 and Hebrews 11. The quote: ”the seventh from Adam” comes from the non canon Book of Enoch.

The Book of Enoch: 
This book was known to the fathers of the second century, was lost for some centuries with the exception of a few fragments, and was found complete in a copy of the Ethiopic Bible in 1773. 

The Book of Enoch contains unique material on the origins of demons and Nephilim, why some angels fell from heaven, an explanation of why the Genesis flood was morally necessary, and prophetic exposition of the thousand-year reign of the Messiah. 

“Tertullian tells us that the book of Enoch’s prophecies were preserved by Noah in the ark, and that they continued and were read until the times of the apostles. But because they contained many famous testimonies concerning Jesus Christ, the Jews out of malice suppressed and abolished the whole book.” 

—TRAPP

The Apostle Paul also quoted non-Biblical sources on at least three different occasions (Acts 17:28, 1 Corinthians 15:33 and Titus 1:12). 

Jude explains the purpose the Lord 2nd Coming:
To execute judgement upon all.  In this quotation from the book of Enoch Jude emphasized the words all and ungodly. God is coming to judge all of the ungodly.

Execute (4160)
Greek: Poieo (poy-eh’-o) cast out, cause, execute, exercise, fulfill, gain, lighten the ship, ordain, perform, provide

Judgement (2920)
Greek: Krisis (kree’-sis) decision, (subjectively or objectively, for or against); by extension, a tribunal; by implication, justice (especially, divine law):–accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment.

Ungodly (763)
Greek: asebeia (as-eb’-i-ah) from 765; impiety, i.e. (by implication) wickedness:—ungodly(-liness).

(765)
asebes (as-eb-ace’) from 1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of 4576; irreverent, i.e. (by extension) impious or wicked:– ungodly (man).

Verse 16, 17, 18, & 19

Correlating verses:
Vs 16 — 2 Peter 2:18
Vs 17—  2 Peter 3:2-3

Verse 16
Grumblers and complainers, sounds familiar, like the Israelites in the wilderness. This doesn’t necessary mean they were loud and boisterous, but they were people of deception. They murmured in the crowds, complained under their breath, and discontent. I can see them sitting in a crowd with their arms crossed unrighteously judging others while puffing their chest out that is swelling with pride and arrogance only to be carrying a heavy plank in their own eye. They were people without substance yet had a lot to say. 

They are smooth talkers, good at flattery. They’re the type of people who can sell you a popsicle stand without ice in the July heat and make you believe not one popsicle will melt on your bright white suit. Or that is how I would describe them. Stay clear of these types. 

Verse 17
Beloved, you must remember the words!! Recollect your thoughts, now. Think again. Be mindful of the words spoken by Jesus’ apostles. They foretold of just this. Fix your mind on this.

Words (4487)
Greek: Rhema (hray’-mah) an utterance, spoken words, a message delivered

Verse 18
There will be those who mock what you do, for following the spirit of holiness. There will be those who mock the idea of Jesus’ return. There will be those who mock you for not traveling the same path they are on in this fallen world: the blind trying to lead a tribe. 

Mockers (1703)
Greek: Empaiktes (emp-aheek-tace’) a false teacher, scoffers 

Greek: Empaizo to play, dance, mock, deride, scoff 

“The word of God is always the answer to dangers in or out of the church. The apostles had warned that just these things would happen; and even more so as the day approaches: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

—GUZIK 

“I read somewhere that the Great Wall of China was penetrated at least three times by the enemy, and each time the guards were bribed! A strong defense depends on strong people, and this applies to spiritual battles as well as military contests. If the church is to oppose and defeat the false teachers, then all of us in the church must be strong and able to “stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph 6:11). There is always the danger of stumbling (Jude 1:24) and a stumble is the first step. Be Alert (2 Peter; 2 & 3 John).”

—WARREN WIERSBE

Verse 19
Bottomline, these men were not of the spirit. They were living by whatever felt good to them. It reminds me of a quote from the famous occult leader and church of Satan, Aleister Crowley:

“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.”

Verse 20, 21, 22, & 23

A call to persevere. God keeps Christians, and they must also keep themselves in God. As believers we have a responsibility to keep our fire going in our altars unto the Lord. We must persevere. We must be alert, and on active duty for the Lord. 

Verse 20-21
Mount up on wings of Eagles!! You’re saved – Jesus did the work now do your part, work out your salvation:
1. Build yourself up
2. Pray in the spirit
3. Stay in God’s love
4. Be alert for his return 

Building up (2026)
Greek: Epoikodomeo (ep-oy-kod-om-eh’-o) to build upon, to rear up, placing of one layer upon another

Verse 22-23
First group:
There some teetering on the line of being in and out because of the false teachers, be merciful to those who doubt, show them compassion. Be patient not everyone is where you are in your walk. Show mercy, love, grace, walk in the fruit of the spirit in their lives. Love them anyways. Approach them with wisdom. 

Second group: 
These needed to be confronted a little stronger. They have traveled down the road a bit further than the 1st group. They’re in a building on fire and 911 needs to be called and someone to snatch them out of the building. 

Salvation is the work of the cross, but bringing the word to those in the burning building  is the work of the saints. We are to deliver them by the power of the Almighty. We aren’t called to sit idly by. We gear up, go in hot, evacuate them.. immediately before they’re set ablaze. 

Verse 24 & 25

Jude has sounded the alarm. He has removed the veil that was cast over the others eyes. The false teachers have been exposed. Jude ends the letter with a doxology.

Doxology:
A brief praise to God

 “Revolve in your mind that wondrous word, “faultless!” We are far off from it now; but as our Lord never stops short of perfection in his work of love, we shall reach it one day. The Savior who will keep his people to the end, will also present them at last to himself, as “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but holy and without blemish.” All the jewels in the Savior’s crown are of the first water and without a single flaw. All the maids of honor who attend the Lamb’s wife are pure virgins without spot or stain. But how will Jesus make us faultless? He will wash us from our sins in his own blood until we are white and fair as God’s purest angel; and we shall be clothed in his righteousness, that righteousness which makes the saint who wears it positively faultless; yea, perfect in the sight of God. We shall be unblameable and unreproveable even in his eyes. His law will not only have no charge against us, but it will be magnified in us. Moreover, the work of the Holy Spirit within us will be altogether complete. He will make us so perfectly holy, that we shall have no lingering tendency to sin. Judgment, memory, will-every power and passion shall be emancipated from the thralldom (state of being a slave) of evil. We shall be holy even as God is holy, and in his presence we shall dwell for ever. Saints will not be out of place in heaven, their beauty will be as great as that of the place prepared for them. Oh the rapture of that hour when the everlasting doors shall be lifted up, and we, being made meet for the inheritance, shall dwell with the saints in light. Sin gone, Satan shut out, temptation past for ever, and ourselves “faultless” before God, this will be heaven indeed! Let us be joyful now as we rehearse the song of eternal praise so soon to roll forth in full chorus from all the blood-washed host; let us copy David’s exultings before the ark as a prelude to our ecstasies before the throne.”

—SPURGEON

 “In a few words Jude describes the totality of time pertaining to the past, the present, and the future. With our finite minds we are unable to comprehend eternity and accordingly must express ourselves in generalities. The writer of Hebrews uses common terms when he describes time in relation to Jesus. He says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever””

—KISTEMAKER