Our lesson today is on the book of Jude. It is one of the smallest books in the Bible, only one chapter long, yet it has a very important message for believers. The author identifies himself as the brother of James, and a servant of Jesus Christ. The two men most likely to be the authors are *Judas, the apostle,(see Luke 6:16: the brother of James, NOT Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus) or *Judas, the brother of the Jesus. (see Matt. 13:55)
Of these two, the brother of Christ seems to be the most probable author. First, he does not claim to be an apostle, (vs. 1) and second, he tells his readers to remember the words of the apostles (vs.17) which had spoken in the past. Neither Jude nor James ever specifically referred to themselves as the brother of the Lord, perhaps being afraid their preachings might then be seen as merely nepotism. Others, however, did not hestitate to name them as brothers of the Lord.
* Language Note: "Jude" is a form of the name, Judah, a common and popular name among the Jews. The book of Matthew, which was written in Greek, used the Greek form of the name, Judas, as does Luke.
It is no coincidence that Jude is just before the last book in the Bible. The last book, Revelation, tells of the end times and the final battle between good and evil. Jude is the book just before Revelation, and gives a very strong warning of what believers need to watch for and guard against before the end times. This warning is of such importance that Jude instructs Christians to "earnestly contend" (i.e.--- strive for diligently, do your utmost to attain; fight for) for the faith.
What in the world was going on that the Christian was going to have to fight for the faith? Well, Jude tells us that certain men had crept into the church. (The church, is of course, the entire body of believers, not merely a building.) The members were not aware that these men were evil and ungodly, and that they were corrupting the church and perverting the Word of God to suit their own ungodly lusts. These false teachers were trying to convince believers that God's saving grace allowed them to do all sorts of immoral things, since their sins would no longer be held against them.
Like much that is written in the Bible, this book has both an immediate and a future fulfillment. These things were happening right then, during Jude's lifetime, and the immediate purpose was to address that problem. But it is also a fore-shadowing of the future, or the time just before the end, when these things will be happening in even greater degree than during Jude's lifetime. Jude gives very strong warnings about the consequences of disobedience with three examples of divine judgment in verses 5-7:
These ungodly men infiltrating the early church were perverting God's word to allow immorality, and thus changing the direction of the early church. The ungodly men infiltrating the church today eventually succeed in changing the direction of the Christian's thoughts and actions. We need to constantly be on guard against changes in theological doctrine in our church, and in changes in our own thoughts and lives.
Jude gives three examples of what to guard against in verse 11. He prefaces these examples with the phrase Woe unto them!, a strong warning that judgment is forthcoming. The three things he warns his readers to guard against are:
Jude is warning of unrighteousness in our hearts, which is the cause of all selfishness, greed, hatred, and open rebellion against God and His laws. Does that sound like anything that is going on in the church today? Like Cain, we follow after our own selfishness and greed. Like Balaam, we refuse to listen to God, and do what we choose regardless of what God says. Like Korah, we rise up in rebellion out of selfish and unholy, self-serving desires and greed. Jude warns about the judgment to come with the words Woe unto them!
Jude wrote in verse 12 that these men feed only themselves. He is pointing out that although they may have risen to prominent positions in the church, they are not righteous. By contrast, Jesus told Peter three times to feed his sheep. (John 21: 15, 17) Ezekiel 34:1-10 tells the fate of false shepherds who take care of themselves at the expense of the flock.
Jude reminds his readers that the apostles had warned that these mockers would appear and would divide the church. He then gives instructions in how to protect against these ungodly influences:
Jude then gives two final instructions to believers:
Satan is smart; he was an angel in heaven, and leader of others. He stills leads his unholy followers today in rebellion against God's authority. He knows all the weakest points of humankind, and that is where he strikes, feeding our selfish and carnal desires. It is not coincidence that this warning is immediately before the final book of the Bible; the influences of Satan on the church will only grow more powerful as we near the final times. Jude warns Christians then and now to earnestly and carefully guard against the influences of Satan and the ungodly men he uses to try to destroy God's church.
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