Jude
Joyce Webb 2019
Introduction and verses 1-11
Introduction:
Jude is one of Jesus’ brothers.
Jude was really a “half-brother” because Jesus and Jude had 2 different fathers.
Jude’s father was Joseph. Jesus’ father was God. He was born because the Holy Spirit made the baby grow in Mary.
Matthew 13:55 tells of Jesus’ brothers—James, Joses, Simon, Judas and it says he had sisters but did not name them.
Mark 15: 40 speaks of Mary, the mother of James, Joses, and Salome.
Matthew 12:46 tells his mother and brothers came to speak to him. See also Mark 3:31. Mark 6:3 John 2:12 Mark 3;32
Jude writes this short letter to warn believers about false teachers.
Vs. 1 This letter is from Jude. He calls himself a “slave” of Jesus Christ, and a brother of Jesus.
Jude said: I am writing to all who are called to live in the love of God the Father and the care of Jesus Christ.
(When Jesus began his ministry—-his brothers did not believe he was God’s Son. John 7:3,4,5, They showed some mocking of Jesus.
I am sure that they knew about how their mother Mary was visited by an angel and was told her would have a baby.
I am sure they heard how the shepherds and the wise men came to visit.
They saw many of Jesus’ miracles.
But it seems that they did not believe he was really God’s Son until after he died on the cross and then rose up from the dead.)
The Bible does not tell if all of his brothers came to believe—-we know that some of them did.
When Jude calls himself a “slave”—-it is like Paul called himself a “slave” of Christ.
It was a word, that showed that they had given themselves completely to serving Jesus and to preaching about him. They were willing to give their lives completely to doing God’s work.
Vs. 3 Jude begins by saying that he planned to write to them about the salvation they had in Jesus—–but that he has decided to write about standing up for the true teachings of Jesus.
Vs.4 Jude is writing this—-because some people have come into their group—these people are saying things that are not true.
They are saying that God’s forgiveness—lets us do sins and live in a sinful way.
Vs.5 Jude tells them to remember what the Old Testament told them about the people of Israel. God saved them from slavery in Egypt and led them out to a new land.
But later, when the people of Israel did not obey what God told them to do—–God let another nation come in and take them away to another land. That nation also killed many of the people of Israel.
Vs. 6 Jude also told them to remember—that the angels in heaven who joined with Lucifer–later called Satan—–were thrown out of heaven.
These fallen angels are held in the deep places of the earth, waiting until someday they will be judged.
The towns of Sodom and Gomorrah—-were destroyed—because of sexual sins (fornication—having sex with someone you are not married to)
and perversion (meaning a changing and twisting of normal sex to something God did not intend it to be)—–the King James Version of the Bible says “strange flesh“.
Those towns were destroyed by fire. All who do evil will be destroyed by fire (in hell).
Vs.8 These people who teach these things—”dreamers” —live in sin—-Jude could mean that these people say they have “dreams” that tell them what they are doing is okay.
They hate authority—- these people are not willing to obey the teachers of the gospel that have been teaching the truth for years.
They speak against “dignitaries”—-this word usually means those in high authority—spiritual authority—-perhaps angels.
Vs. 9 In the Old Testament, when Moses died, the archangel Michael—–had to fight against the devil, Satan—for the body of Moses—-after Moses died.
Michael—-was an archangel—-the highest kind of angel—yet with all his authority and power—–he did not rebuke (speak against the devil–Satan, or scold Satan—-or blame him) .
Michael said—-”The Lord rebuke you.” to Satan. Michael called on God to put Satan in his place—-to put Satan down—to stop him.
( From this verse, it seems that when Moses died—-Satan wanted to get his body and put it somewhere. God wanted to bury Moses’ body where no one would find it.
If Moses’ body had been found, the people probably would have done something with it and then would have worshipped it.
There is a church group today, that has body parts of the disciples and they put them in special boxes and cases to be seen—-people
think they are holy.
God did not want that to happen to Moses’ body, so he hid it and no on could find it. Michael was sent to hide the body. Satan wanted to stop it from being hidden.
Michael is a very powerful angel, yet he did not try to speak against Satan and say words of blame to him. Michael let God do that.)
Vs. 10 Jude said—these people do not know the power of the things they are speaking against.
(Like a foolish person who speaks sass words or swear words to a person who has authority and power to kill them or put them in jail.)
Jude says—these people let their desires make them act like animals—-just doing what ever their flesh wants.
By doing these things—they “corrupt” themselves—they make themselves dirty, rotten, bringing death.
(We do know that there are about 30 or more kinds of sexual diseases. They all can bring death—-most of them we have medicine for now—-but many have no cure—they are just controlled.
Sin of any kind—brings spiritual death.)
Vs. 11 They follow the example of Cain–who killed his brother.
Like Balaam they will do anything for money.
Like Korah, they refuse to obey spiritual rules God has made.