Jude 1

Jude 1 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

Jude was one of four half-brothers of Jesus. In the Greek, the name Jude was synonymous with Judas.

“Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

Matthew 13:55 NASB

False Teachers

If you study 2 Peter alongside Jude you begin to understand the chronology of events. 2 Peter warns us that false teachers will come. Consequently, Jude deals with their arrival. In this way, Jude is a very practical book for our current time.

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,

2 Peter 3:3 NASB

But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,  18  that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.”

Jude 1:17-18 NASB

Jude 1:3 writes that the church must “contend earnestly” (NASB) for the faith which comes from a Greek word with meaning ‘to agonize’ over the faith. Such strong language indicates that Jude (and others) believed these false teachers to be skilled, deceptive chameleons. They had “slipped in” among the believers, disguised themselves, and were slowly changing the core doctrines in order to lead people away from Christ.

What kind of qualities marked these false teachers? A key theme that sweeps over this chapter is the rebellion of authority. False teachers want you to submit to them, not God. Of course, they don’t come right out and say it. It’s subtle. Jude gives three examples of this kind of behavior using Cain, Balaam, and Korah. I want to focus on Korah for a moment.

A consistent theme I have seen with false teachers is that they deflect their own sin by accusing others of the very thing they are doing themselves! Remember the phrase, “It takes one to know one?” Korah accused Moses and Aaron of having too much authority and rallied the people to try and overthrow them. He actually asks Moses, “Why do you exalt yourselves over the assembly of the Lord?”

Uh… well… because God told Moses he was in charge!

False teachers hate authority… unless, of course, they possess it. Korah’s real issue wasn’t Moses or Aaron. He was mad at God because he wanted a position of leadership and didn’t get it. The irony is that because false teachers do not bow their knee to God, they make themselves the authority and expect everyone else to fall in line. They can be pushy, arrogant, and demonstrative in order to try and prove they possess authority. But this is simply a facade that proves they do not possess a spiritually renewed mind.

“The false teachers do not know the truth of the gospel. They speak on matters that they do not understand, as natural people and not as spiritual people (1Co 2:14). They have understanding not of the Spirit of God, but only of what they share in common with the animal world, things far less than God’s intent for His human creatures.”

Nelson’s New Illustrated Commentary

Paul accurately contrasts true disciples with false teachers in Titus.

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,  2  to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.  3  For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

Titus 3:1-3 NASB

Jesus’ Bro

Jude is a fascinating example of a testimony. You would think that growing up around Christ, and knowing him so personally, that he would have followed him wholeheartedly. This was not the case. In fact, none of his brothers believed in Him initially.

For not even His brothers were believing in Him.

John 7:5 NASB

However, most agree that after the resurrection, all his brothers converted. Of all the issues Jude tackles, I love his phrase in verses 20-21 the most.

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,  21  keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

Jude 1:20-21 NASB

Build faith. Pray in the Spirit. Keep yourselves in His love. Really, this book comes back to the foundations we have known for so long. Stick to the Word, pray often, and obey Jesus. We can only do these things through a loving, obedient relationship with our Savior!