Aug 5-11-07 Jude

Jude 1 MSG

I, Jude, am a slave to Jesus Christ and

brother to James,

Most scholars believe this Jude is the same

one mentioned in Matthew 13:55. In

13:54 Jesus is in His home town speaking.

Matthew 13:55 MSG But in the next breath they were cutting him down:

"We've known him since he was a kid; he's

the carpenter's son.

We know his mother, Mary. We know his brothers James and Joseph, Simon and

Judas.

It is believed Paul refers to Jude’s brother James

in Galatians 1:19 MSG Except for our Master's brother James, I saw no

other apostles.

This James was not one of the Twelve, but rose to great dignity and influence in the

church at Jerusalem.

He is called here "the brother of the Lord," to distinguish him from "James, the son of

Zebedee," and

"James, the son of Alpheus," who were of

the Twelve. (PNT)

There is evidence later in this letter to support the idea that Jude was

NOT an apostle.

If he was Jesus brother or not does not change the message contained

in this letter.

writing to those loved by God the Father,

called and kept safe by Jesus Christ. It is

obvious this letter is addressed to Christians.

It doesn’t seem to be directed to Christians living in any particular

location, but rather Christians everywhere.

Jude 2 Relax, everything's going to be all right;

rest, everything's coming together; open your hearts, love is on

the way!

3 Dear friends, I've dropped everything to write you about this life

of salvation that we have in common.

His thought was that when he proposed to

write diligently and carefully some need

impelled him to write at once, more briefly

perhaps than he had purposed. (PNT)

I have to write insisting--begging!--that

you fight with everything you have in

you for this faith entrusted to us as a gift to guard and cherish.

He exhorts to fight, contend for the faith

delivered once for all, the faith without

innovation, the gospel of the apostles in

distinction

from the adulterations of false teachers. The

doctrine of a progressive revelation

after the apostles is not found in the New Testament. (PNT)

4 What has happened is that some people have infiltrated our

ranks Men who have crept in without their

character being understood.

(our Scriptures warned us this would happen),

Their coming was predicted. who beneath

their pious skin are shameless scoundrels.

Their design is to replace the sheer grace of our God with sheer

license--Instead of self-restraint they live lascivious lives.

which means doing away with Jesus Christ,

our one and only Master.

5 I'm laying this out as clearly as I can, even

though you once knew all this well enough and

shouldn't need reminding.

Here it is in brief: The Master saved a people out of the land of Egypt.

Later he destroyed those who defected.

6 And you know the story of the angels who didn't stick to their post, abandoning it for other,

darker missions.

But they are now chained and jailed in a

black hole until the great Judgment Day.

Peter & Jude seem to have written parallel

letters. 2 Peter 2:4 MSG God didn't let the rebel angels off the hook, but

jailed them in hell till Judgment Day.

In order to show that judgments on these wicked teachers are

sure, Peter cites examples. Even angels when they sinned were

subjected to punishment.

Jude 7 Sodom and Gomorrah, which went to sexual rack and ruin

along with the surrounding cities that

acted just like them, are another example.

For their lasciviousness terrible destruction

came upon them. (PNT) Burning and burning

and never burning up, they serve still as a

stock warning.

Utterly destroyed by fire they are an example

that points to the eternal fire. (PNT)

8 This is exactly the same program of these latest infiltrators: dirty sex, rule and rulers

thrown out, glory dragged in the mud.

2 Peter 2:10 MSG God is especially incensed

against these "teachers" who live by lust, addicted to a filthy

existence.

They despise interference from true authority, preferring to

indulge in self-rule. Insolent egotists, they don't hesitate to speak evil against the most

splendid of creatures.

Jude 9 The Archangel Michael, who went to the mat with the Devil

as they fought over the body of Moses,

wouldn't have dared level him with a

blasphemous curse, but said simply, "No you

don't. God will take care of you!"

Michael is brought forward as a contrast with those who speak

evil of dignities.

He is called by Daniel "the Great Prince," and here the archangel, or

head angel.

Yet in addressing the devil, a fallen angel, he did not rail at him, but

only said, "No you don't. God will take care

of you!"

The reference is not to a statement of the

Bible, but to a Jewish tradition which held that

the burial place of Moses was placed under the charge of

Michael. (PNT)

10 But these people sneer at anything they

can't understand,

Of spiritual and unseen things.

and by doing whatever they feel like doing--

living by animal instinct only--they participate in their own destruction.

By the natural senses. In these things they corrupt themselves.

11 I'm fed up with them! The denunciation of woes, common in the Lord's ministry, is only found here in all the

rest of the New Testament.

They've gone down Cain's road; they've

been sucked into Balaam's error by

greed; they're canceled out in Korah's rebellion.

Like Balaam trying to make a gain of

godliness.

12 These people are warts on your love

feasts as you worship and eat together. They engaged in revelings at

the Agape, the love feasts. (PNT)

They're giving you a black eye--carousing

shamelessly, grabbing anything that isn't

nailed down.

They're-- Puffs of smoke pushed by gusts

of wind; late autumn trees stripped clean of leaf and fruit, Doubly

dead, pulled up by the roots;

13 wild ocean waves leaving nothing on the beach but the foam of their shame; Lost stars in outer space on their way to the black hole.

2 Peter 2:13 MSG Their evil will boomerang on

them. Their destruction is the

legitimate reward of their own wrong doing.

(PNT)

They're so despicable and addicted to

pleasure that they indulge in wild parties,

carousing in broad daylight.

I believe that the idea is that, like dumb brutes

forgetful of coming destruction, they take

pleasure in carousal for a day, regardless of the

morrow. (PNT)

14 They're obsessed with adultery, Looking around with a lustful

appetite. compulsive in sin, seducing every vulnerable soul they

come upon.

Their specialty is greed, and they're experts at it.

Dead souls! 15 They've left the main

road and are directionless,

having taken the way of Balaam, son of Beor,

the prophet who turned profiteer, a connoisseur

of evil.

Balaam sold himself out to an evil cause for the

sake of gain. (PNT)

16 But Balaam was stopped in his wayward tracks: A dumb animal

spoke in a human voice and prevented the

prophet's craziness.

17 There's nothing to these people--they're dried-up fountains,

They promise much but disappoint.

storm-scattered clouds, These clouds promise

rain, but it fails to descend.

headed for a black hole in hell. For these

apostates the " black hole in hell is reserved."

(PNT)

Jude 14 Enoch, the seventh after Adam, To

the Jew there was a sacredness in seven.

(PNT)

prophesied of them: These blasphemers.

The prophecy is quoted. "Look! The Master comes with thousands of holy

angels

15 to bring judgment against them all, For a

general judgment. Convicting To convict

all ungodly men of their ungodly deeds.

each person of every defiling act of

shameless sacrilege, of every dirty word they have spewed of their

pious filth."

Scholars accept Enoch’s prophecy might

have been handed down verbally.

16 These are the "grumpers," the

bellyachers,

They murmur at God's providence and

complain of his laws.

grabbing for the biggest piece of the pie, talking

big, saying anything they think will get them

ahead.

17 But remember, dear friends, that the

apostles of our Master, Jesus Christ, told us this would happen:

Here is the indication Jude is NOT one of the

12 apostles. He doesn’t seem to include himself in the, apostles

of our Master, Jesus Christ

18 "In the last days there will be people who don't take these

things seriously anymore.

They'll treat them like a joke, and make a

religion of their own whims and lusts."

2 Peter 3:3 MSG First off, you need to know that

in the last days, mockers are going to

have a heyday.

Reducing everything to the level of their puny

feelings, 4 they'll mock, "So what's happened to

the promise of his Coming?

Our ancestors are dead and buried, and

everything's going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing's changed."

This question is asked by the mockers, as

though the coming of Christ was so long

delayed that all hope had ended.

They take advantage of the disappointment to

try to destroy faith.

Jude 19 These are the ones who split

churches, thinking only of themselves. There's

nothing to them, no sign of the Spirit!

20 But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this

most holy faith Instead of separating from the

faith

by praying in the Holy Spirit, pray as spiritual

men. 21 staying right at the center of God's

love, By holy lives and prayer.

keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of

our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the

unending life, the real life!

22 Go easy on those who hesitate in the

faith. The thought is to be very gentle and

pitiful to those disturbed by doubt. (PNT)

23 Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin

itself stinks to high heaven.

By snatching away from sin by the most

vigorous effort. By stern preaching.

24 And now to him who can keep you on your

feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh

and celebrating--

25 to our one God, our only Savior, through

Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory,

majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of

all time. Yes.