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Verses 1-2 (author/recipients – note three-fold formula of greeting)

Jude, a servant of Messiah Yeshua and a brother of James, to those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Messiah Yeshua: mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

Almost certainly, this is Yehuda or Judas, Yeshua’s earthly half-brother, since he calls himself a brother to James, and from the list of Yeshua’s family members in Matthew 13:55, we find that two of his brothers were named Judas and James (or, Yehuda and Ya’akov). Add to that, the fact that Jude doesn’t mention which James he’s a brother to, leads us to conclude that it was the James – Yeshua’s earthly brother, who was the leader of the Jerusalem messianic community.

So, consider the profound implications of someone who had been part of Yeshua’s earthly family, and who, along with the other brothers, didn’t even believe in Him, now calling himself Yeshua’s ‘servant’ (or bond-slave). All previous earthly relationships are transcended, since Messiah has risen from the dead and been exalted to the highest place, at the right hand of God. So much for the reinvented “American, groovy Jesus” we hear about in shallow and unbiblical platitudes on Facebook. A closer look at the Gospels, and we find that Messiah Yeshua wasn’t the hip, laid back guy so many today want to believe. He was, and is, HOLY!

In this letter, we are going to find a number of triads, and it starts right here. Having identified himself, he now identifies his audience: those who have been called, who are loved, and who are kept (protected). Even his prayer wish for them is a triad: he asks for them to abound in mercy, peace and love.

Verse 3 (what the author wanted to do vs. what he felt it necessary to do)

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

This was not the letter that Yehuda wanted to write. Originally, he tells his hearers, he had hoped to write to them a letter of encouragement about the Faith. But there was an egregious situation happening in the churches, and Jude felt constrained to caution all believers about it. And it makes me wonder – how many good and wonderful things never get done, because those who would do them, instead have to put out ‘fires’ caused by trouble-makers? In this case, a serious threat to the well-being of the messianic community.

The problem, as we will see, was the infiltration of counterfeit believers spreading false and dangerous teaching into the midst of the assemblies. We will explore what that false teaching was in a few minutes.

Jude urges believers to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. The word for ‘contend’ is epagwnizesqai from the root agwnia. We need to know that, at times, contending for the Faith (not your personal beliefs, but the Gospel itself) is going to be extremely difficult – even agonizing; particularly when the threat arises from within the midst of your own believing community.

But I want you to take notice of something here in verse three. Jude describes it as the faith that was (past tense) once for all entrusted (past tense!) to the saints. The letter of Jude dates to between 65 and 80 AD since it bears striking similarity to 2 Peter, which was most likely written prior to the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD (since there’s no mention of it), and since Clement of Rome quotes from it in the year 96 AD. What that means is that the complete and authoritative apostolic teaching was already in place well before 80 AD.

As of the date of this letter, then, the Faith was complete. There was nothing to be added, nor anything needing to be ‘restored’ as Latter Day Saints, or Mormonism wrongly claims. The New Testament is inspired, intact, and inerrant. It also puts to silence the claim by Islam that the Gospels were corrupted. We have the Gospels today substantially as they were written.

Verse 4 (identifying the people against whom they must be on guard)

For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Messiah Yeshua our only Sovereign and Lord.

Here’s where we find out who these men were, and the nature of the falsehood they were spreading. First of all, Yehuda tells us that wicked people like this were prophesied about in ages past (when we get to verse 9, he’ll make reference to a prophecy outside of Scripture, but one commonly known at the time). Therefore, this trouble ought not to have come as a surprise to anyone.

From this verse we glean that there was a false teaching going around, to the effect that one could be a follower of Messiah Yeshua, AND feel free at the same time to indulge any and every deviant sexual impulse, since, after all, aren’t we saved by grace and not by works? He describes them as godless, and as changing the grace of God into a license for immorality. In so doing, he says, they have effectively denied Messiah Yeshua, which means that unless there is genuine repentance, they are on a trajectory to Hell and the Lake of Fire.

We also learn that this patently false and deadly teaching was being advanced by stealth! He says that these certain men have secretly slipped in among you. Isn’t that the way Satan does things? Seldom is evil spread by frontal assault. More often than not it is accomplished through secrecy and subtlety. This is why we must be cautious and discerning, and immersing ourselves in the Scriptures. It’s harder to pass off a counterfeit on someone who knows the real thing. An alarm should go off inside you when somebody privately tells you that they have a better teaching or greater insight, and, lucky you – you are the ‘special’ person to whom they wish to impart it. Get far away from such men.

Verses 5, 6 and 7 (three-fold example of God’s judgment)

Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered His people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home – these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the Great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

If you think just because one day a long time ago you prayed a prayer, that you are now immune to deception, you need to take heed from these examples of those who fell. Israel witnessed God’s signs and wonders when they left Egypt, but only two men of that generation ever made it to the Promised Land. Many perished in the aftermath of the Golden Calf debacle (which involved a riotous orgy), and many more as a result of the sexual perversion at Baal Peor. The rest perished in the wilderness for their unbelief.

Yehuda next references certain angels who abandoned their own home and by this he is most likely referring to Genesis 6:1-2 where these angels are called ‘sons of God’. In what is arguably the most perverse thing in Scripture, these fallen angels desired to have sexual union with human women. It was consummate wickedness and these angels forever forfeited their heavenly home and are now being held in custody, awaiting eternal judgment.

Finally, Sodom and Gomorrah are named, which were condemned and destroyed because of their own sexual perversion. Jude, by the way, dismantles the claim made by liberal scholars and homosexual activists claiming to be Christian, that the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah was for lack of hospitality, not homosexuality.

You might be asking, “Wait, how does all this square with Calvin’s teaching that one can never lose their salvation?” It is true that Messiah Yeshua will forever keep secure those who are His. But those who are so easily led astray into false teaching, sexual immorality and disloyalty to Messiah probably never were His.

Verse 8, 9 and 10 (in utter arrogance, they haven’t learned from history, but imitate those evildoers, and have no clue about heavenly powers/authorities)

In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals – these are the very things that destroy them.

This passage is tied to the previous verses with the words “In the very same way”. These deceptive and destructive men haven’t learn a single thing from all of the Bible’s examples and warnings.

Here is another triad. These wicked men are characterized by sexual immorality (they pollute their own bodies), defiance (they reject authority) and irreverence (they slander celestial beings). Rabbi Loren likes to say (and I like that he says it), “Things go with things.” Often, the sexually perverse become brazen about it, and that goes hand-in-hand with defiance toward any kind of authority, and with blind arrogance toward the things of God and the entire spiritual realm.

Then Jude expands on the third one: the slandering of celestial beings. He references something we don’t find elsewhere in Scripture: an exchange that took place between Michael the Archangel and the devil about the burial of Moses. An oral tradition within Judaism existed about this, and it apparently was found in the pseudepigraphal book entitled The Assumption of Moses. But it’s possible that Jude also had in mind Zechariah 3:2, where the devil isn’t directly rebuked, but instead the appeal is made, “The Lord rebuke you!”.

The Jewish view, and it is a biblical view, is that angels were the arbiters of divine revelation. Angelic agency was involved in the giving of the Torah at Sinai, to which Stephen alluded in his great speech in Acts 7, and to which Paul refers in Galatians 3:19. Angels announced the Incarnation; the birth of the Messiah. Thus, we were to have a measure of reverence for angelic authority. But not these guys – they think nothing of slandering celestial beings in order to flaunt their autonomy.

The author writes, … these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; They have no idea who and what they’re messing with. And they don’t even care – that’s the degree of their arrogance! But in behaving this way, Jude compares them to animals; devoid even of the power to reason, much like Nebuchadnezzar was, for a time, reduced to animal-like status, until he humbled himself and acknowledged the Most High.

Verse 11 (three-fold example of the manner and depth of their wickedness)

Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.

The way of Cain? Balaam’s error? Korah’s rebellion? I hate to say it, but I have a feeling that many church-goers today, who rarely if ever read their Bibles, have no idea what Jude is talking about. But he presumes (rightly!) that his First-Century Jewish audience will know exactly what he means. And they didn’t have access to the Scriptures the way we do. So, if we don’t know who these men were and what they did, I guess it’s shame on us.

The “Way of Cain” is to be resentful, unrepentant and impulsive. When his offering was rejected by God, he became resentful of his brother Abel, whose offering had been accepted. Even when God appealed to him to do better, and cautioned him against sin, he rejected that wisdom and chose bitterness. It led to the very first murder in human history. Cain represents unbelief, cynicism and defiance.

Balaam was a ‘for-profit’ prophet. His greed and ambition put him in opposition to God, who had blessed Israel. He sold himself to do evil. Though God did not permit him to pronounce a curse on Israel, Balaam found another way to earn the treasures Balak had offered him. He recommended that the Moabites send their prettiest girls out to entice Israel to join them in sacrificing to Ba’al. That’s what happened, and many thousands of Israelis died in the judgment against that. Balaam represents greed and foolishness – the folly of defying God.

Korah and his three friends led a wicked and foolish rebellion against Moses. Many were destroyed for following his lead. Korah represents raw, wicked ambition.

Yehuda compares the false teachers to these three infamous men, pronounces a woe against them, and this is how he is warning us; that if we fall for their deception, we are being defiant, disloyal and selfish, and we will likewise perish.

Verses 12 and 13 (comparing them to all things lamentable, even dangerous)

These men are blemishes/hidden reefs at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm – shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted – twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

I prefer the translation “hidden reefs” because it lines up with the approach these false teachers take. They acted by stealth. They knew full well their views on sexual freedom wouldn’t hold up in the light of day, so they lobbied from the shadows against the leadership in the early Messianic Community. And those who followed their lead suffered terribly for it. Many an ancient seafaring vessel broke up violently by hitting an unseen coral reef.

He compares them to wicked shepherds, using the same terminology found in Ezekiel 34. He compares them to aimless clouds blown about, providing no rain and to autumn trees without fruit: they make empty promises. He describes them as twice dead. Their shameful brazenness is like wild, uncontrolled waves, and they are destined for outer darkness forever.

Verses 14 and 15 (a reference to an ancient, now obscure writing)

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Jude again references something we don’t otherwise find in Scripture: a prophecy contained in the Book of Enoch. It was never received as Scripture, but the Book of Enoch was respected in Judaism and by the early Jewish believers, who would have been perfectly comfortable referencing it. In this case, a prophecy of the judgment to take place against just such wicked men, who promote sexual deviancy, at the End of the Age. The point is, that this kind of scheming behavior, the advancing of false teaching, and defiance against God shouldn’t surprise us. It was known from ancient times.

Verse 16 (recognizing these evil men by their actions)

These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

This is their “M.O.” They take you aside privately and complain that things aren’t right. They manage to find fault with anything they can in order to undermine the leadership. Meanwhile, they flatter you, to make you feel special and that you are someone they feel they can confide in. They make it appear that they are just genuinely concerned, but all the while it is all about themselves. This was going on in the early Church, and it’s still going on today. Be on your guard against those who privately confide in you, flatter you, and attempt to raise doubt and suspicion in your mind about those who lead and teach the Word of God in your assembly.

Verses 17, 18 and 19 (none of this should surprise us; we were warned)

But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

Jude reminds us that Messiah warned us about these divisive men. We may not have these exact words recorded in the Gospels, but there are many miracles that Yeshua performed, and many other things He taught that for the sake of rapidly publishing the Good News, didn’t necessarily get included in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. But the general tenor of Yeshua’s teaching in Matthew chapter 24 is consistent with this. Men like this, against whom Jude is cautioning us, may have the appearance of wisdom, but they are driven by personal ambition, and they are not acting in accord with the Spirit of God. Paul also warned Timothy about these kinds of people.

Verses 20 through 23 (Stay strong in the Lord, and stay humble)

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

“But you…” He has confidence that the hearers will take this warning to heart, and have nothing to do with any teaching that deviates from our calling to be holy, and that includes sexual purity before marriage, and sexual fidelity in marriage.

We are awaiting Messiah Yeshua’s return to Earth, and the way to be in readiness is to study the Scriptures, pray, assemble and encourage each other, AND… to shun those who attempt to divide us with false teaching! But at the same time, we need to be gentle and merciful to those who are vulnerable and are doubting.

Verse 24 and 25 (closing blessing/doxology)

To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Messiah Yeshua our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

This is such a beautiful doxology (doxa = glory, splendor, praise). Messiah is able to keep (preserve) you – and without fault, and with great joy! Some of this, however, depends on you exercising wisdom. Know who to steer clear of. Immerse yourself in the Scriptures and in prayer, so that you will have discernment and not fall prey to schemes and schemers.

The author of Hebrews wrote,

Yeshua, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross…

You, for the joy set before you (eternal life), stay steadfast in the faith… the Faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.