Jude Goes Old School

“Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion” (v11).

Everybody loves the classics. Classic rock. Classic cars. Classic movies. But here Jude uses classic villains of the Old Testament to describe the false teachers he’s warning about. Jesus’ kid brother goes old school because their sin is old school. They’re just like Cain, the first killer. They’re just like Balaam, the profitable prophet. They’re just like Korah, leader of the coup to overthrow Moses. These religious con artists are bad news to the Good News. Their sin is of biblical proportions. So Jude goes old school.

This isn’t the first time Jude has flipped through the pages of the OT to warn believers about this crew of hucksters. The false teachers are weaseling they way into local churches and dispensing a perverted message (Jude 4). He reassures us that God knew how to handle the rebellious Israelites (Num 14:22-23, 29-30, 35,37; Jude 5), the renegade angels (Gen 6:1-5; Ezek 28:14-17; Jude 6), and the Twin Sin Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:20-33; 19:1-14, 23-28; Jude 7). He’ll certainly take care the false teachers.

Before turning the the OT triple play of Cain-to-Balaam-to-Korah, Jude lets us know just what a kind of disaster is going on. “Woe to them!” (v11). By saying “woe,” the author uses the Greek word (Gr. ouai) that means disaster, calamity, horror, and distress. It describes how awfully one will suffer and what terrible pain will come. Remember the infamous words Kurtz in the classic film “Apocalypse Now.” “The horror…the horror!” Jude is letting us all know just how horrible it will be for these con artists once His big Brother gets ahold of them! Jesus had identical dire warnings for those who were spiritually arrogant (Mt 23:13, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29). Forget any movie by George Romero. This is a real horror story. This is an epic disaster. Yeah, it stinks to be them!

He compares them to three big time bad guys from the OT. Cain, Balaam, and Korah. Leading off is Adam and Eve’s oldest. He’s the first murderer to walk the planet. You’ve probably heard the story (Gen 4:1-15). Apparently Cain brought God leftovers as an offering while his kid brother Abel was eager to give the Creator his first and best. When Yahweh didn’t think much of Cain’s offering, he blew his top. Instead of taking this up with God, he took it out on his little brother. Cain mugged and murdered Abel when they were out on the farm. The Apostle John says that if you’re looking for examples from Scripture, we need to steer clear of Cain. “We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous” (1Jn 3:11-12). Jude tells us that the false teachers “walked in the way of Cain” (v11). We don’t know if they were stingy givers or murderers. Whatever the case, it’s never a good thing when someone writing a book of the Bible slaps the Cain label on you. Jude goes old school because their sin is old school.

If that’s not bad enough, these false teachers have “abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s” (v11). They’re out to make a fast buck at the expense of others. They’re just like Balaam, the profitable prophet. You can read all about this spiritual hired gun in Numbers 22-25. His soothsaying services were available to the highest bidder. If you’ve got the cash, he’s got your prophecy. The leader of the apostles also compares these shysters to the prophet-for-hire. “Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing” (2Pet 2:15). 

“Balaam-itis” spreads from church to church like a cancer. The resurrected Jesus told his buddy John to write a letter to the church in Pergamum warning them that “you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam” (Rev 2:14). Jesus tells John that they’ve caused believers to trip and fall by eating food used in pagan worship and hop in the sack with folks other than their own spouses. There was a strong sexual content to the teaching of the false teachers that Jude warned about (Jude 4, 7-8). That’s because sex sells, even in the church. ESPECIALLY in the church! Like Balaam, the false teachers know that there’s no business like God’s business. One of God’s prophets drops the hammer on preaching for profit among the people of God. “Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the LORD and say, ‘Is not the LORD in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us’” (Mic 3:11). Preaching for profit is an age old problem. Jude goes old school because their sin is old school.

Jesus’ little brother completes the triple play by comparing the false teachers to the rebel leader who attempted to take over from Moses. We’re talking about “Korah’s rebellion” (v11). Korah clearly thought he could do a much better job of leading God’s people than the Big Mo. There was only one little problem with that. God handpicked Moses to be their leader. The writer of Numbers spends an entire chapter on this failed coup (Num 16). Korah rallied a team of 250 Jewish top dogs to challenge Moses’ leadership. Yeah, this didn’t end well for the rebels. The ground underneath the feet of Korah and his fam “opened its mouth and swallowed them up” (Num 16:31). Moments later fire rained from heaven to kill Korah’s 250 coconspirators (Num 16:35). You would think that would have put an end to the revolution. But the very next day every single Israelite whined and complained to Moses and his brother Aaron about what had just happened. As a result, God sent a plague to put down another 14,700 people (Num 16:41). 

There are a handful of huge lessons to learn from Korah and his failed rebellion. First, be very, very careful when you challenge those in authority. We’re called to live in submission (Eph 5:21). We’re called to live under authority. Second, remember that God has placed every leader where they are (Rom 13:1). Protesting against our leaders may actually be a protest against God (Rom 13:2). Third, rebellion comes at a cost. There’s collateral damage. Korah’s failed coup didn’t just cost him his life. It’s cost him the lives of his family. It cost the lives of the 250 rebels. It eventually cost the lives of another 14,700 sympathizers. And don’t miss Jude’s point that the false teachers have also “perished in Korah’s rebellion” (v11). Their rebellion has sealed their fate. Once again we see that these con artists aren’t up to anything new. Jude goes old school because their sin is old school.

We each need to be careful not to fall into this age old trap. At all costs, avoid following Cain’s example. Failing to give God our first and best can lead to jealousy…and MUCH worse! Don’t fall into the money pit of Balaam’s blunder. Money is a blessing from God. But it can be a curse if we worship the gift more than the Giver. Don’t get caught up in Korah’s mutiny. Challenging God’s authority will never end well for you and me.

Knowing When to Shut up

“But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively” (v10).

Some people just don’t know when to shut up. They simply don’t have a clue when keep their trap closed. I know this from personal experience. That’s because I like to talk. I like to talk too much. WAY too much. So as Jude writes about these false teaching motor mouths, it hits a little too close to home. These knuckleheads run their yappers non-stop, especially when it comes to stuff they know nothing about. When it’s all said and done (and they will certainly have a LOT to say!), they’ll destroy themselves with their own words. They simply don’t know when to shut up.

Jude is writing to warn believers about a crew of con artists who are sneaking into local churches and tearing them apart from the inside out (Jude 4). They pervert the grace of God into a license to do whatever they want. They even go so far as to scoff at the idea of Jesus being the long-promised One and Lord of all. Jesus’ kid brother digs into the Old Testament and compares them to three evil examples. The rebellious Israelites (Num 14:22-23, 29-30, 35,37; Jude 5), the renegade angels (Gen 6:1-5; Ezek 28:14-17; Jude 6), and the Twin Sin Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:20-33; 19:1-14, 23-28; Jude 7). The false teachers are executing their three point plan to perfection (Jude 8). Sexual sin. Authority rejected. Dignitaries dissed.

These spiritual snake oil salesmen specialize is talking non-stop about stuff they know nothing about. But they don’t just yammer on and on to make you think they’re experts on complicated topics. Oh, if they would just stop there. If they can’t wrap their brains around something, they run it down. They trash it. Jude uses the Greek verb blasphemeo. It means to speak against someone or something. They slander. They insult. They defame. This is the third time in three verses that our author uses a form of this word. The false teachers “blaspheme the glorious ones” (Jude 8). That’s unlike the archangel Michael who never stooped “to pronounce a blasphemous judgment” even against Satan (Jude 9). They are more than happy to trash someone’s reputation, especially if they don’t have a clue who they are or what they’re talking about. 

Like I said, this hits just a little too close to home. I like to hear myself talk. And I like to make myself look good. In other words, I have this nasty habit of being my own PR machine. The spin never stops. I’m constantly cranking out crap to build myself up in the eyes of others, even when it means cutting someone else down. Maybe I’m the only one out there with this problem. Something tells me I’m not. If you’re a member of this not-so-exclusive club, let me offer a couple of items for your “to do” list. Step one: shut up. Step two: admit you don’t know it all. Solomon was all over that as wrote the book of Proverbs. “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Prov 10:19). 

Jude tells us that these know-it-alls are really know-nothings. He goes so far as to compare them to “unreasoning animals” (v10). The original text uses the adjective alogia, which literally means “without words.” It describes a lack of capacity to think properly or something irrational. When King Agrippa asked Governor Festus for his advice on what to do about Paul, he said it didn’t make a lick of sense to send the apostle to Rome without some idea of the charges against him. “For it seems to me unreasonable (Gr. alogia), in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him” (Acts 25:27). The boys behind the King Jimmy call them “brute beasts” (v10 KJV, NKJV). When it comes to the false teachers, they don’t make a lick of sense. Their message is ridiculous and absurd. 

Jesus’ kid brother is on the same page with the leader of the apostles. Peter wrote a very similar letter warning about the impending arrival of these religious hucksters. “But these, like irrational (Gr. alogia) animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction” (2Pet 2:12). Just like animals, the false teachers simply do what they feel like. There’s no thought behind what they do. They’re driven by their instincts. And that’s eventually going to do them in. “They are destroyed by all that they…understand instinctively” (v10). In other words, they will eventually self-destruct. Just get out of the way and watch them go down in flames of their own creation.

You see, some people just don’t know when to shut up.

Ancient Arch Rivals

“But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you’” (v9).

Duke and Carolina. The Yankees and Red Sox. Frazier and Ali. Every one of these is a bitter rivalry. But they don’t hold a candle to the supernatural showdowns between the archangel Michael and Satan. These two squared off more than once for epic knockdown-dragout slobberknockers. Just how big? Let’s just say they were of biblical proportions. Jesus’ kid brother looks back on these ancient rivals and reminds us that the lead dog of the angels kept his battles in perspective. He didn’t take it personally. Michael knew he was on assignment. Michael knew he was representing God.

Let’s get a couple of things straight right out of the chute. First of all, don’t forget the whole reason Jude is writing his short but power-packed epistle. It seems a posse of false teachers have weaseled their way into local churches with a corrosive message (Jude 4). The author sounds the alarm and reassures us that His big Brother has our back (Jude 24). He compares these con artists to three infamous examples from the OT: the rebellious Israelites (Num 14:22-23, 29-30, 35,37; Jude 5), the renegade angels (Gen 6:1-5; Ezek 28:14-17; Jude 6), and the Twin Sin Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:20-33; 19:1-14, 23-28; Jude 7). The false teachers execute their three point plan to perfection (Jude 8). Sexual sin. Authority rejected. Dignitaries dissed.

The second point is about this specific showdown between Michael and the devil. We don’t know exactly when and where this went down. As a matter of fact, we don’t know much beyond what Jude jots down here. It has something to do with Moses’ body. The Big Mo died on Mt. Nebo just after seeing the Promised Land. He and God were so close that the Almighty personally attended to his buddy’s funeral arrangements (Dt 34:6). Apparently there was some sort of metaphysical cage match between the archangel and the Prince of Lies around that time. Honestly, that’s about all we know. 

Jude wants us to know that the mighty Mike never loses his perspective when it he dukes it out with the devil. He always remembers his position. He always remembers that he’s a soldier in the army of the Lord. He never talks smack to his evil opponent. Let’s face it, if there’s never been a being that deserved it more. Our author calls him by the Greek word diabolos. He’s diabolical. It literally means false accuser, slanderer, or liar. One look at this name let’s us know that Satan certainly never keeps his demonic trap shut when it comes to talking trash. He lies. He accuses. He slanders. It’s part of his game. 

Michael doesn’t stoop to name calling. He doesn’t get dragged down to the devil’s level. While Satan lets the smack fly, the archangel does not “pronounce a blasphemous judgment” (v9) back at his enemy. Check out how some of the other translations describe this same phrase. He “durst not bring against him a railing accusation” (KJV). “He did not dare to bring a condemnation of slander” (NRS). He “did not dare to bring up an evil-speaking judgment” (YLT). He “did not dare accuse Satan of blasphemy” (NLT). One way to translate this from the original language is, “he did not take it upon himself to bring a charge of blasphemy” against the devil. 

The mighty Mike provides us with a great example of how we’re to deal with the evil one. Remember, this is in contrast to the false teachers who “blaspheme the glorious ones” (Jude 8). Jude is NOT saying that Satan should be worshiped for his glory. What he is saying is that we need to remember something that the spiritual hucksters failed to do. One, the devil is an angel. A fallen angel, for sure. But an angel. These supernatural beings are fearsome. One look at one of these heavenly warriors would send us to our knees in terror. Jesus and His army have whooped Satan and his rebellious horde once and for all. But we need to be careful if and when we ever have some sort of demonic showdown. Let’s simply follow Michael’s lead. Let Christ’s words be enough, “The Lord rebuke you” (v9). 

Michael and Satan have, shall we say, a history. Their rivalry goes way back. When God appeared to Daniel on a Persian riverbank, He told the prophet how Mike was “one of the chief princes, came to help Me” as God did battle against the prince of demons (Dan 10:13). Yahweh tells Daniel that when it comes to fighting the evil one, Michael is a rock star. “There is none who contends by My side against these except Michael, your prince” (Dan 10:21). Later, God reveals to Dan that the archangel will play the role of personal bodyguard over His people during God’s grand finale (Dan 12:1). Jesus pulls back the heavenly curtain to show the Apostle John how Michael played a key role in tossing Satan’s sorry carcass out of heaven after defeating the dragon-lead rebellion (Rev 12:7). So yeah, they have a history.

Despite their epic and bitter rivalry, don’t miss two important points. First of all, Michael never lost. The archangel was a perfect 3-0 according to the Bible. It doesn’t mean these weren’t brutal throw-downs. But Satan never came out on top. Ever. And Jesus makes sure that His number one general will never lose. Ever. Second, the mighty Mike clearly understood Whom he was fighting for. These are actually God’s battles. These are actually God’s victories. Eugene Peterson captures the essence of this verse in his paraphrase. “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!’” (v9 The Message). And did He ever.

The Terrible Triple Crown

“Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones” (v8).

Baseball has the Triple Crown. That’s when a player leads his league in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in. Horse racing has a Triple Crown. A thoroughbred must win the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes, and the Preakness. Both are historic achievements. Both are rare. But Jude tells us that there’s another Triple Crown. An unholy Triple Crown. A team of false teachers have pulled off the sinful big three. They defile the flesh. They reject authority. They slander VIPs. This is one Triple Crown you never want to win. Ever.

Jesus’ kid brother is sending out an all points bulletin for believers to be on the lookout for a posse spiritual hucksters. They’re traveling from city to city, weaseling their way into local churches, and then destroying them from the inside out with their deceptive message (Jude 4). He flips back to the Old Testament and compares them to three different bad examples. Jude makes the side-by-side comparison when he writes, “Yet in like manner these people also” (v8). The false teachers are just like Jude’s OT examples of the rebellious Israelites (Num 14:22-23, 29-30, 35,37; Jude 5), the renegade angels (Gen 6:1-5; Ezek 28:14-17; Jude 6), and the Twin Sin Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:20-33; 19:1-14, 23-28; Jude 7). The hucksters’ sin is so historic that it can only be compared to previous Triple Crown winners.

So just where are these false teachers getting their whacked out lesson? Not some ancient manuscript. Not a certain spiritual guru. Not even the internet. These knuckleheads are “relying on their dreams” (v8). Okay, we’ve all had dreams that seemed real. But these dream weavers are have apparently based their entire message on stuff that they see after they put their heads on the pillow and close their eyes. That’s not to say that God can’t speak in and through dreams. Just ask folks like Jacob (Gen 28:12) and Joseph (Gen 37:6-7; 40:12-13; 40:25-36). But we need to be careful and make sure our dreams line up with God’s Word. He never contradicts Scripture. EVER. Relying simply on our dreams will end up being a nightmare.

By basing all of their teaching on their dreams, we see accomplish the first leg of the terrible Triple Crown. First of all, they “defile the flesh” (v8). These hucksters have no moral seat belt. As a result, they corrupt and contaminate their lives and those under their influence. This happens through sexual sin. Remember, Jude compares these bozos to the sinful citizens of the greater Sodom and Gomorrah metroplex. They have absolutely no restraint when it comes to sex. Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime. Marriage doesn’t matter. Gender goes out the door. Paul wrote to his protege Titus about some folks just like this on the island of Crete. “To the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works” (Titus 1:15-16). Here’s the deal. God is VERY pro-sex. Hey, He invented it! But He gives us guidelines for sexual intimacy to protect us from ourselves. These con artists run right through God’s sexual stop sign.

The false teachers knock off the second leg of the Triple Crown when they “reject authority” (v8). The Greek verb here (Gr. atheteo) actually means to set aside. They don’t believe anyone has the right to tell them what to do. Not you. Not me. Not Jude. Not even his big brother. A big part of the reason they give God a spiritual stiff arm is because He makes it very clear who we should sleep with. As a result, power can’t be trusted. Power must be rejected. They declare any authority outside of themselves as invalid and unworthy. They fight the power. That’s what we all do before coming to Christ. We do what we want. Nobody, but NOBODY is going to tell us what to do! That includes God. We see Him as cosmic killjoy. We think He’s holding out on us. That’s the lie our first parents believed when they listened to a satanic snake (Gen 3:4). What He’s really doing is protecting us from ourselves. The glorious irony that we only experience true joy and absolute freedom when we’re under His authority.

The spiritual infiltrators achieve the final portion of the Triple Crown when they “blaspheme the glorious ones” (v8). Because they laugh in the face of anyone in a position of power, they openly talk smack about dignitaries and VIPs. Jude gives us a clue as to the “glorious ones” in the very next verse. In describing the story of the Archangel Michael’s fight with Satan over Moses’ body (Jude 9), the author seems to be talking about angels. Despite being in a position of authority as top dog among all the angelic beings, Michael just delivers God’s message of judgment by announcing to the leader of the fallen angels, “The Lord rebuke you” (Jude 9). Mike simply delivers God’s mail. Doesn’t talk junk. Simply talks truth. Don’t run down anyone in authority, no matter who they are. Including angels.

The false teachers have executed their three point plan to perfection. Sexual sin. Authority rejected. Dignitaries dissed. I love what the Message says here. “This is exactly the same program of these latest infiltrators: dirty sex, rule and rulers thrown out, glory dragged in the mud” (v8, The Message). What these con artists have done is nothing new. As a matter of fact, they’ve used a pattern that’s historic. Historically sinful, that is. They’ve made history in the process. Add their names to the list of winners of this terrible Triple Crown.

Too Big for Your Britches

“And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, He has kept in eternal chains until the judgment of the great day” (v6).

Success is intoxicating. At some point, we start believing our own press. At some point, we begin to believe all of those great things people say about us. And why not? We’ve done some pretty sweet stuff. We get proud. We get cocky. As my grandma would say, we get too big for our britches. Jude lets us in on the fact that his big Brother had to deal with the same stuff. Not in Nazareth, but in heaven. There was a crew of angels that started believing their own press. And why not? They were hot stuff! They were fearsome, powerful beings that spent time serving the King of Kings. He would handpick them special assignments. The angels were His go-to guys. There’s only problem. One very BIG problem. They forgot who was really in charge. They certainly had authority. But they wanted more. In the end, Jesus handled it. He gave the rebel angels the boot from paradise, slapped them in cuffs, and tossed them in a holding cell until judgment day. These angels got too big for their britches. 

Let’s remember the entire reason Jude is jotting things down. He’s writing to fellow believers and warning them about a posse of spiritual hucksters invading local churches. They’ve infiltrated congregations and pervert the Good News into a you-can-do-anything-you-want-now card (Jude 4). For instance, wanna sleep around? Go for it. They go so far as to tell folks that Jesus isn’t in charge. They say He’s not our Master. He’s not our Lord. Jude’s purpose isn’t to give us a wanted poster so we can chuck these knuckleheads out the front door (that certainly doesn’t sound like such a bad idea!). What he’s doing is reassuring us that as our true Senior Pastor, Christ Jesus can and will handle it. Remember who Jesus is. Remember what He’s done for us. Keep our eyes on Him. Our job is to contend for the faith (Jude 3). Don’t worry so much about fighting AGAINST the false teachers. Contend FOR our faith in Jesus. Our Chief Shepherd will protect His flock. He’ll handle the pest control and rid the joint of these prowling wolves.

Jesus’ kid brother warns about the same ideas as Jesus’ number one apostle. Peter writes, “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment…then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment” (2Pet 2:4, 9-10). We’re not exactly sure of the connection between Jude and Peter, but they’re clearly singing from the same page of the hymnal. Jesus can handle folks when they get too big for their britches.

Folks get all hot and bothered trying to figure out exactly what sort of rebel uprising Jude’s talking about here. Is it that crazy story in Genesis where some sort of horrific sexual perversion was going down (Gen 6:1-5). Some people believe horny angels were jumping in the sack with the hottest chicks in town. Whatever it was, it was some pretty nasty stuff. It wasn’t long after that God decided to flush the toilet with the Great Flood and hit the reset button on His creation. Jude could be writing about that. Another possibility is Satan’s failed overthrow of God’s kingdom. Ezekiel pulls back the heavenly curtain for a moment on the day one of God’s personal bodyguard’s tried to seize power (Ezek 28:14-17). Jesus eventually quells the uprising and gives Satan the old heave ho from heaven. It could also be John’s version of the Archangel Michael kicking a little dragon tail (Rev 12:7-12). Mike whooped the devil and his evil rebel army and booted them out of the palace. In many ways, it really doesn’t matter which one he’s talking about. Each time, those angels certainly got too big for their britches. 

So just what do these rebel angels have to do with you and me? Glad you asked. You and I need to be very careful not to reject Jesus’ authority. He’s in charge. That’s what it means to be the Lord. When we see Jesus as Lord, we’re saying that we’ll do whatever He tells us to do. We can’t simply buy the fire insurance that He offers as our Savior. He’s the Lord. He’s the Boss. And our Lord calls us to submit to authority. To God. To others. To spouses. To the government. That’s because He’s ultimately in charge of everything. The big problem is that we want nothing to do with submitting to authority. We don’t like for anyone to tell us what to do. The rebel angels certainly didn’t. The false teachers certainly didn’t. Let’s be VERY careful. Let’s not get too big for our britches.

Creeps, Pervs, and Deniers

“For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (v4).

Creeps. Perverts. Deniers. Not the kind of language you would expect to find in the Bible, is it? Maybe your mom told you not call people names. Well, clearly God doesn’t have a problem with it when it’s true. Throughout the Bible, He uses strong language to make very strong warnings. A close look at God’s Word lets us know without a doubt that Scripture doesn’t pull any punches. And in this case, these folks are creeps, perverts, and deniers. Well, that’s EXACTLY the labels Jude slaps on the bad guys here in his letter. He warns the folks he loves that there are people out there doing a ton of damage to local churches. They creep in under false pretenses. They pervert the goodness of God. They deny the authority of Christ. So there you have it. Creeps. Perverts. Deniers.

In the previous verse, Jude encourages us to “contend for the faith” (Jude 3). We must be FOR Jesus. We don’t just simply fight AGAINST things. Be careful going around leading boycotts and fighting ungodly causes without telling folks Who and what you’re FOR. Let’s face it, the followers of Jesus have become famous for what we’re against and not Who we’re FOR. “Contend FOR the faith” (Jude 3, emphasis added). Contend FOR Jesus!

But to fight FOR something, you do have to fight against something or someone. Jude lets us know who those someones are. They are “certain people…ungodly people” (v4). These people don’t give a rat’s rear end about God. There is no awe of Him. There is no worship of Him. They are irreverent, unholy, profane, and ultimately godless. But don’t be to quick to throw these folks under the church bus. We need to remember that Jesus went to Calvary them too. We need to remember that we fit that label before Christ saved us from ourselves. “For while were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom 5:6). At one time, we were the “certain people.” Before Jesus got busy in our lives, we were the “ungodly people.”

Jesus’ kid brother says this particular godless gang is up to something. Something very devious. Something very destruction. They “have crept in unnoticed” (v4). This is all summed up when he uses the Greek verb pareisduo. It means to sneak in under false pretense, slip in unnoticed, or join secretly with evil intent. It’s a compound word that literally means to sink in next to something. They are infiltrators who worm their way into local churches to tear them apart from the inside out. This is spiritual espionage. They’re moles. Double agents. They use stealth to sneak in under the radar. They creep in. And if you creep in, you know what that makes you? A creep.

It’s not exactly as if this was a new tactic by the opponents of Jesus. Pete wrote a sequel warning of “false teachers…who will secretly bring in destructive heresies” (2Pet 3:1). It happened down in Galatia. Paul tips off believers about “false brothers…who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus so that they might bring us into slavery” (Gal 2:4). And 2,000 years later, it’s still going on. 

Jude tells us that his big Brother isn’t going to be caught off guard by this inside job. Jesus slapped the label of guilt on them way ahead of time. These folks were “long ago were designated for this condemnation” (v4). God knew this was going to happen a long, long time ago. He used His prophets and apostles to hang spiritual wanted posters for this godless gang. He put out a BOLO alert. Be on the look out for these moles. We can be absolutely sure that the infiltrators will get caught and punished. If you think Jack Bauer can take out the trash from inside CTU, wait until you watch our Savior go to work. The Apostle Peter made it very clear that the long range forecast for these creeps is going to be a hot one. “The heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly” (2Pet 3:7). Fire. Judgment. Destruction. Condemnation. Jesus will make sure these creeps won’t get away with it.

After these sneak inside our churches, they have one purpose. “Pervert the grace of our God into sensuality” (v4). They twist the truth of His overwhelming goodness into a get-out-of-hell-free card. They distort the Good News as the license to do whatever you want with whoever you want whenever you want. Make absolutely NO mistake here. This is NOT the overwhelming and abundant life that Jesus promises (Jn 10:10). The grace of Jesus isn’t a license to get away with sin. It’s freedom FROM it. Can we talk honestly here? We’re perverts too. We bend and contort the Gospel and to my advantage like a game of spiritual Twister. I tell myself that I can do this or that because I’m under His grace. But there’s a small problem with that view. THAT’S NOT GRACE! That makes God’s mind-blowing and overflowing goodness all about us. While His grace is certainly for you and me, it’s not all about you and me. Grace doesn’t put us on the throne. It focuses us on the lavish generosity of God. These pervs misuse, misapply, and misrepresent His grace. 

Just in case you think these false teachers aren’t THOSE kind of perverts, Jude lets us know that’s EXACTLY what they are. They corrupt the message for sexual pleasure and “sensuality” (v4). The author busts out the Greek word aselgeia. It means debauchery and lustful indulgence in general, and outrageous sexual behavior specifically. Paul makes it VERY clear that the followers of Jesus must not allow their libido behind the steering wheel. “Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in sexual immorality and sensuality (Gr. aselgeia)” (Rom 13:13). Sexual sin had done huge damage in the Corinthian church. Paul was concerned that his friends there had “not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality (Gr. aselgeia) that they have practiced” (2Cor 12:21). 

In the words of those great theologians Salt ’N’ Pepa, let’s talk about sex. Well, at least in how it relates to following Christ. Sin has completely corrupted our view of sexual intimacy. God’s original design is for a husband and wife to be hot and bothered for each other. But when we’re horny for someone other than our spouse, we do one of two things. First of all, we doubt God. Or in the words of Jesus’ kid brother, we “deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ” (v4). We don’t believe in Him because we don’t want to do what He says. Especially when He’s trying to keep me from a roll in the sack. We give Him the Heisman because He’s keeping us from sexual pleasure. Second, we pervert the Gospel as a license to shag. That’s what these creeps and pervs are up to. Don’t think that the first century false teachers cornered the market on sleeping around in the church. It still goes on today. God’s Word is loud and clear. “Flee from sexual immorality” (1Cor 6:18). Beat feet like our boy Joseph (Gen 39:12). It’s not like God is some sort of cosmic killjoy. He’s protecting us from ourselves. “The sexually immoral person sins against his own body” (1Cor 6:18). He knows the destruction it causes within us.

Jude tells us to be on the look out. Watch out for creeps. Watch out for perverts. Watch out for deniers. We should recognize them. They probably look a lot like us.

Faith worth Fighting for

“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for delivered to the saints” (v3).

I love sports. Absolutely love’m. Loved playing them when I was younger. Love watching them now that I’m older. My cranky hamstrings remind me that my days lacing up the cleats have long since rounded third and headed for home. But what if I’m sitting in the stands when my team suddenly needs me. The coach calls me out of the bleachers and onto the field. I’m no longer a spectator. I’m now a participant. Because of the situation, it’s time to buckle my chinstrap and get on the field. It’s time to play hard. It’s time to bust my tail for my team. It’s time to leave it all on the field.

That’s basically what Jude is telling his readers. He really had hoped to give them a pep talk about who Jesus is and what He’s done for them. Get everybody cheering and stoked about our Savior. But something’s come up. Something BIG. Instead of getting folks fired up, the author needs them to put down their pom pons and put on a helmet. They need to get in the game. It’s time “to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (v3). But Jude’s not just talking to Jesus’ followers in the first century. He’s talking to me. He’s talking to you. Consider all that our Savior has done for us. This is a faith worth fighting for.

Jude is writing to folks that he cares deeply about. This is the second of four times that he calls his readers “beloved” (v1, 17, 20). These are folks that he knows. These are folks he loves. These are also people that God loves and cares very deeply about. He lets us in on the fact that he was already planning to shoot them a note. “I was very eager to write to you” (v3). Jude was dying to talk “about our common salvation” (v3). He’s pumped about the life they share in Jesus. That’s because life in Christ is to be lived in community. We don’t do this on our own. We do it together. Salvation is a team sport. Are you trying to fly solo? Are you attempting to be some kind of spiritual Lone Ranger? Our enemy is licking his chops at that idea. He loves to set his satanic sites on a runaway sheep. We need to surround ourselves with other believers. We have a “common salvation” (v3) and it’s a team sport.

Remember who’s writing this little letter. Jude is Jesus’ kid brother. I don’t know about you, but I might be more than a little cocky if I’m the Jude dude. But not this guy. He’s loaded with humility. He never drops the hint about his big Brother. Jude might be Jesus’ kid brother but he needs a Savior just like everybody else. Just because you shared a bedroom with Son of God doesn’t mean you get a free pass. What’s that mean to you and me? Just because our mom, dad, brother, or sister has a relationship with God, doesn’t do a thing for me. I need to trust in Him myself. I need to realize that He’s done for me what I could never ever do for myself. He’s lived the perfect life that I’ve completely failed to do. He’s died the bloody death for my sin that I should have died. He rose to a glorious new life that certainly don’t deserve. Until I trust Him myself and know Him personally, I’m on the outside looking in.

While Jude really wanted to shoot them a note about the salvation they share, something more pressing has come up. Something more important has bubbled to the surface. Something’s happened. Jude sets down his original idea and sounds the alarm. “I found it necessary to write appealing to you” (v3). Instead of talking about all that they have in common in Christ, he needs to give them a pep talk about an issue that’s moved to the front of the stove.

Jesus’ kid brother calls us “to contend for the faith” (v3). He uses the Greek verb epagonizomai. It means to struggle in behalf of something or someone. To make a strenuous effort for a person, cause or idea. To struggle. To exert intense effort on behalf of something. If you look closely, you’ll see our word “agonize” smack dab in the middle. The root word here is actually an athletic term. It means to play hard. Leave it all on the field for your cause. We can’t be afraid to stand up for what we believe in. Better yet, we can’t be afraid to stand up for WHO we believe in. We can’t be timid when it comes to telling others about our Savior.

This is not so much about fighting AGAINST someone. We’re to bust our butts FOR what we believe. “Contend FOR the faith” (v3, emphasis added). One of my pet peeves is when Jesus’ followers spend all of their energy focused on what they’re against. They boycott this business. They picket that place. They make somebody the enemy. I’m not saying there aren’t times to do those things. But how about making it absolutely clear WHO were fighting for. Fight FOR Jesus. Fight FOR your who you believe in. “Contend FOR the faith” (v3, emphasis added). Remember, this is a faith worth fighting for.

Jude’s letting us in on the fact that following Jesus isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. Once He saves you, life on this side of eternity isn’t “easy peasy, lemon squeezy.” We need to be ready to give it everything we’ve got. No, not because we have the responsibility to stay saved. Remember, Jesus made sure the world new that He wrapped up the entire deal on our behalf when He yelled, “It is finished!!!” (Jn 19:30). That’s because Christ fought that fight and won that battle for us. Jude even goes so far as to say that his big Brother delivered it to us “once for all” (v3). We’re not fighting for our salvation. We’re busting our tails on behalf of what we believe and WHOM we believe in. The Apostle Paul encouraged his boy Tim to put up his spiritual dukes and “fight the good fight of the faith” (1Tim 6:12). And just before his own execution, Paul wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2Tim 4:7). Paul knew it. Jude knew it. This is a faith worth fighting for.

The Great Multiplier

“May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you” (v2).

There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who love math and those who don’t. There’s a couple of generations of folks who memorized our multiplication tables back in elementary school. Learning to multiply simple numbers wasn’t too bad. But calculating the answer when huge numbers are multiplied is hard. I don’t know about you, but there’s no way I can do the math in my head when I see 147,569 x 29,658 = ?. I could probably figure this one out with paper and pencil but would prefer a calculator. Well, I have some very good news for you. I can’t promise you there will be no math on the final. But I can tell you that Christ will handle all the arithmetic. You see, Jesus is the Great Multiplier.

Here in the second verse of his very short letter, Jude prays for his readers. He asks God to increase their “mercy, peace, and love” (v2). And when I say he asks God, I mean he asks his big Brother. Now I don’t know if Jesus’ helped his kid brother with his math homework. But it is clear that Jude knows that Jesus is great at multiplication. Maybe He learned from His adoptive dad that measuring and calculations are an important part of carpentry. You’ve heard the only saying, “Measure twice, cut once.” Whatever the case, Jude prays to His Brother that He would multiply these in the lives of his friends.

Jesus is the Great Multiplier.

The first request is for more mercy. This is the Greek word eleos. Generally, this is also withholding punishment that is deserved. Because of our rebellion against God, each one of us deserves to die a rebel’s death. That’s where Jesus steps in. He’s willing to step in and suffer the execution for our sin on our behalf. But the biblical idea of mercy is much deeper and richer than getting the divine punishment that we rightly deserve. It’s also compassion toward someone in serious need. It’s kindness, concern, and pity. It’s goodwill especially to the afflicted with the intention to do something to help. Jude prays that Jesus would demonstrate His incredible compassion to us in real and practical ways. I certainly won’t turn down God’s help. What about you? Yeah, I didn’t you would.

Jude goes to his Brother for mercy because He was on a mission of mercy. Time after time, Jesus dripped with mercy for the people He met (Mt 15:22). Christ drips with mercy because He’s God, and God is “rich in mercy (Gr. eleos)” (Eph 2:4). God promises a fresh batch of His endless mercy hot off the griddle each and every morning (Lam 3:22-23). You may be wondering where you can find a heapin’ helpin’ of His pipin’ hot mercy. So very glad you asked. The exclusive distributor for divine mercy is found at the foot of Jesus’ throne. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy (Gr. eleos) and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). Jude knows where to go.

Jesus is the Great Multiplier.

Next, Joe and Mary’s boy prays for our “peace (Gr. eirene)” (v2). This is so much more than a lack of war. When the writers of the Bible talk about peace, they’re talking about the great old Hebrew word shalom. It describes harmony, health, welfare, and freedom from anxiety. Peace is the original state of God’s creation. Everything working in perfect rhythm. Well, it didn’t take long for our first parents to toss that in the toilet. And we’ve been searching for peace ever since. Is your life jacked up? Need a little peace? Need a LOT of peace? Yeah, me too. The good news is that Jude knows a Guy. 

Because of what Jesus has done for us that we could never dream of doing for ourselves, “we have peace (Gr. eirene) with God” (Rom 5:1). The Apostle Paul prays for his friends in Rome, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace (Gr. eirene) in believing” (Rom 15:13). Don’t forget that peace is a big part of the delicious fruit God’s Spirit is growing in our lives (Gal 5:22-23). Jude’s brother is the source of this perfect rhythm. Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” (Is 9:6). Yeah, Jude knows exactly to ask for more peace. 

Jesus is the Great Multiplier.

If more mercy and more peace isn’t enough, the author doesn’t stop there. He pleads with God to shower us with more and more of His love. According to MacArthur, Jewish folks would greet each other by wishing peace and grace. Jude adds love to make this a distinctly Gospel cocktail (oops, sorry if I offended any of my friends who don’t drink alcohol with that one!). Jude prays for more of God’s “love” (v2). This is that wonderful Greek word agape. The problem is that we’ve so overused this term that it’s lost it’s flavor. Kinda like old chewing gum. And that’s a crying shame. Agape is a crazy word that describes a love like no other. It’s love in action. It’s love that does. It’s not just a warm fuzzy feeling toward somebody. It’s love demonstrated. It’s love accomplished. The Apostle John goes so far as to say “God is love” (1Jn 4:8, 16). God demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son on the greatest rescue mission of all time to save us. Talk about love accomplished! And once again, God promises to grow His love in our lives as juicy part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). 

Jesus is the Great Multiplier.

Christ’s kid brother doesn’t just as for a little more “mercy, peace, and love” for his friends. He gets a little greedy on our behalf. He begs for it to “be multiplied” (v2). Jude uses the verb plethuno. Here’s where the idea of math comes into play. It means to increase greatly in number or amount, give in abundance, and grow. His prayer isn’t just a wee bit more of the three. He asks our Savior to crank it up. Unleash the divine firehose of His goodness. More! More!! More!!! This isn’t addition. Nope, we’re talking multiplication. Jude knows just to ask for more mercy, more peace, and more love. 

Jesus is the Great Multiplier.

Called, Loved, and Kept

“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ” (v1). 

Have you ever been to a huge shindig and wonder why you were invited? You know, one of those parties for the pretty people. Limos. Red carpets. Flashbulbs. You continue to keep an eye out for security because you know that you’re not supposed to be here. My wife and I found ourselves in that situation several years ago. We were invited to a big wedding. No, it was a HUGE wedding. Actually, it was more like a coronation. The only thing missing was a military flyover when the couple exited the cathedral. One look around the church led us to wonder what in the wide world of sports are we doing here. We were surrounded by the rich, the powerful, and the famous. Let’s be very clear about one thing. We are none of these. Yet, we had an invitation.

In the opening verse of his letter, Jude writes “to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ” (1). We’ll see that God has extended an incredible invitation to the folks on the receiving end of his note. The only thing crazier is the fact that they’ve accepted! God invites them because He loves them. Because He loves them, He will protect them. Called. Loved. Kept. Jesus invites us to join Him for the most incredible throw down the universe has ever seen. He invites you because He loves you. And because He loves you, He will protect you. This is one invitation we just can’t turn down!

We’re called. We’re loved. We’re kept.

First of all, the Jesus’ kid brother sends his letter to folks who have already received an earlier invitation. “To those who are called” (v1). He uses the Greek adjective kletos. This is someone who has accepted and invitation, a member of a select group, or urgently summoned and welcomed. God has divinely selected you and me to be part of an exclusive club. Once we tear open the envelope, we need to RSVP to the Host. God’s invitation grants us incredible benefits. The invitation is useless if we don’t take advantage of the privilege. Don’t toss it in the trash like a piece of junk mail. Respond to His invitation. Attend the party. You don’t want to miss it.

The Apostle Paul knows all about being on God’s guest list. He describes himself to the friends in Rome as “called (Gr. kletos) to be an apostle” (Rom 1:1), serving those “called (Gr. kletos) to belong to Jesus Christ” (Rom 1:6), and writing to those “called (Gr. kletos) to be saints” (Rom 1:7). Later in that same amazing letter, the apostle blows the doors off the joint when he tells us what God promises to do for those who have accepted His divine invitation. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called (Gr. kletos) according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28). Yeah, don’t ignore God’s invitation. This is going to be one heck of a party.

Maybe you’re like my wife and me and wonder why in world anyone would request your presence at such an exclusive event. Well, Jude lets us in on why we’re invited. It’s because we’re “beloved” (v1). He tells us that our heavenly Dad is one doing the loving. We need to remember that the love of God isn’t simply a warm and fuzzy fondness for us. His love is never just an ooey-gooey feeling that He never expresses. His agape love is a love in action. It’s a love that does. It’s a love that can’t sit still. The Father has to do something about it. And He did. He proved His love for the world by sending His one and only Son for us. He sent Jude’s big Brother to live the perfect life that I completely failed to live. To die the bloody and brutal death for me that I should have died. To rise to a new life that I absolutely do not deserve. God loves us. And He proves it by loving us through His Son. He invites us because He loves us.

Third, Jude writes to those who are “kept for Jesus Christ” (v1). Jesus’ kid brother uses a verb (Gr. tereo) that means to watch over, preserve, guard, and protect. This exclusive party needs the best security. It doesn’t take too much squinting at the original text to read this as “kept by Jesus Christ.” So which one is it? I don’t think we have to choose. Jesus keeps us. And He keeps us for Himself. Once we RSVP to His loving invitation, the Son of God provides personal protection to each one of His guests. You can relax. Nobody’s getting in that He doesn’t allow in. Let’s be clear of one thing. His protection does NOT mean that His party will be all rainbows and unicorns. On this side of eternity, it’s going to get nasty at times. Jesus Himself promised that this world will be full of trouble. But we can be sure that our Savior has overcome our fallen world (Jn 16:33). Life may get hard, but Jesus reassures us that He’ll always be right there to the very end of the party (Mt 28:20). He invites us because He loves us. And because He loves us, He’ll protect us.

We’re called. We’re loved. We’re kept. Let’s make sure to RSVP to His invitation. 

Jesus' Kid Brother

“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ” (v1).

Ever wonder what Jesus was like growing up? You know, what kind of kid was He? The writers of the Bible don’t have a lot to say about those days. Wouldn’t it be great if we could hear from someone who knew Jesus back in the day? Someone who knew Him before there was all this crazy talk of being Messiah and the Son of God. Well, wouldn’t you know it, there are! His little brothers James and Jude actually wrote books of the Bible. These two guys grew up sharing the same bedroom with our Savior. And it took them a while to believe that Jesus is who He said He was (Jn 7:5; Mk 3:21). That didn’t happen until their big Brother walked out of the graveyard (1Cor 15:6). Brother Jim turns out to be a big dog in the early church in Jerusalem. Jude’s resume might not be as impressive as his other brothers, but he has some very important things to tell folks who follow Jesus.

First of all, Jude doesn’t play the “little brother of the Savior of the world” card. As a matter of fact, he simply says he’s “a servant of Jesus Christ” (v1). He only claims to be the “brother of James” (v1). His pen drips with humility. I don’t know about you, but if I’m Jude, I’m more than ready to drop this nuclear bomb of knowledge on everyone I meet. Comedian Brian Regan does this hilarious routine about what it must be like to be Neil Armstrong. No matter how anyone brags at dinner party, he can stop the conversation with, “Well, I walked on the moon.” Jude’s one of the few people in history who can top the first man on the moon. “I’m Jesus’ kid brother.” That’s when you drop the mic and walk off. And if there’s ever a time to do it, you’d think it would be in the opening lines of a letter to folks who’ve placed their trust in your big Brother as their Lord and Savior. But no. He’s simply a humble servant. 

So just where did this dude Jude learn to put others first? I’m guessing that’s also from watching his big Brother. Jesus told His own posse that while He might be Messiah, He didn’t come to be waited on. “Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28). The Apostle Paul wrote about the mind-blowing fact that Jesus isn’t just the King of Kings but the Servant of Servants. “Though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Phil 2:6-7). Jesus is God but didn’t put His kung fu grip on that truth when He became human. Instead He set His focus on serving others. The very night He was betrayed, Jesus went so far as to grab a towel and wash His disciples’ feet (Jn 13:3-5). If there ever was a time when our Savior could have been the guest of honor, it was that night. Instead, He served.   

Jude could have latched onto the fact that he was Jesus’ little brother and never let go. But he has the same humble attitude as Jesus. Jude is a servant. He’s here to help. Just like his big Brother.

Hey, Jude

Being a kid brother is hard. But what if your big brother is Jesus. We’re not just talking about following in the footsteps of the best kid in the family, but the sinless Son of God! Put yourself in Jude’s place for just a moment. One of four brothers. According to Matthew and Mark, Joe the carpenter and his wife Mary had four boys. Jesus, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3). Being the kid brother of Jesus would be tough enough. But one of your other older brothers ends up running the home office of the faith. James pastors the original mega-church in Jerusalem and writes a book of the Bible. If that’s not enough, your parents also gave you the same name (Gr. Ioudas) as the most notorious backstabber in the New Testament. That may explain why he now goes by the nickname Jude. Really, can you blame him? I mean how in the wide world of sports do you live up to all THAT?!?!

It would be easy to wallow in a pool of your own pity. But not Jesus’ kid brother. Not Jude. He places his trust in his Lord and Savior. That just happens to be the same boy you shared a bedroom with growing up in Nazareth. In many ways, this is one of greatest proofs of Jesus’ divinity in my mind. What would it take for you to think that your big brother was God? Yeah, see what I mean. Satan, perhaps. Certainly not God. And Jesus’ family wasn’t buying it in the beginning either. John tells us, “For not even His brothers believed him” (Jn 7:5). That would certainly include James and Jude. But in many ways, it was worse than that. Jesus’ family actually thought He was off His rocker. At one point, they tried to bring Him back home because, in their words, “He is out of His mind” (Mk 3:21).

But something changed. Something VERY big flipped the switch of faith for His family. We know that Jude, his brother James, as well as their mom Mary believed that Jesus was divine. Or should we say, IS divine. When Jesus walked out of the graveyard after His crucifixion and burial, it rocked James’ world. When you’re big brother is resurrected, it kinda changes everything. The Apostle Paul says brother Jim believed when he came face-to-face with the risen Christ (1Cor 15:6). The writers of the Bible don’t let us in on Jude’s conversion. Not hard to believe that happened after a chat with his brother Jim. 

You see, Jude isn’t trusting in Jesus his big brother. He’s trusting in the fact that He’s his Savior. He’s trusting in the fact that He’s his Lord. He’s trusting that Jesus lived the perfect life that Jude failed to live (again, who else is going to believe their big brother was perfect?!?). He’s trusting that Jesus died the brutal death for Jude’s sin that he should have died. He’s trusting that Jesus rose to a new life that Jude doesn’t deserve. 

Hey, Jude. Tell us about your big Brother.

A Spiritual BOLO

“You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand; take care that you are not carried away with the error lawless people and lose your stability” (v17).

“Calling all cars. Calling all cars. Be on the look out for…” The cops call this a BOLO. That’s short for “be on the look out.” It’s the warning to every officer to keep their eyes peeled, usually for bad guys. Known suspects or criminals are in the area. Law enforcement hopes they can spot ’em and stop ’em before they commit another crime and do more damage. As he wraps up his second letter, Peter issues a spiritual BOLO. He sends out one last alert for folks to keep their eyes peeled for a crew of con artists. Don’t fall for their flimflam. Don’t let them knock you off your pins. 

Be on the look out.

The apostle warns his readers because they are very dear to him. For the fourth and final time in this letter, he calls them by his favorite nickname (3:1, 8, 14). “Beloved” (v17). It’s a term of endearment for his deep affection for them. This letter hasn’t shown up addressed to “occupant” or “current resident.” Pete knows these folks. He has a soft spot in his heart for them. Chances are he traveled through this part of Asia Minor at one point and planted churches in places like “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bythina” (1Pet 1:1). The term also tells us that these are followers of Jesus and loved by God. The Lord loves them so much that He not only rescued them from their own sin but sends them a warning this former fisherman. He saves us because He loves us. He warns us because He loves us.

Be on the look out.

Pete not only warns us but hands us a scouting report for this team of spiritual snake oil salesmen. He spends an entire chapter telling us all about them. Now he wants us to use this intel and keep our heads on a swivel, “knowing this beforehand” (v17). This is the Greek verb proginosko, which means to know in advance or to have foreknowledge. It’s where we get our word “prognostication.” He’s no psychic or palm reader. He can predict the future because it’s already happened to other churches. And he wants us to be warned.

Be on the look out.

Once more, Rocky points to the purpose of this letter. He’s sounding the alarm about a posse of false teachers who infiltrated local churches and destroy them from the inside out with their malignant message (2:1-3). They’re money-grubbers looking to bilk believers for an easy score (2:3, 14-15). They’re viscous sexual predators (2:2, 6-7, 10, 14, 18). The apostle doesn’t want his friends to be caught off. He desperately wants them to know in advance that these con artists are on their way. Pete’s made it clear that the Great Shepherd will defend His flock from these wolves (2:9). 

While Christ will most certainly come to the rescue of His church, we need to know ahead of time that trouble is on the way. We’re suckers for these hucksters if we take the attitude of “what I don’t know can’t hurt me,” we’re in BIG trouble. Two thousand years later, false teachers are still sneaking into local churches and doing damage. If they haven’t hit your doors yet, it’s only a matter of time. Get your head out of the sand. Pete’s given us a scouting report. He’s sent out an ABP. Be ready. Be on your guard. 

Be on the look out. 

So what do we do when these false teachers hit town? “Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability” (v17). I’m not crazy about the ESV’s use of “take care.” That sounds very passive and wimpy compared to what we’re called to do. The original text uses the Greek verb phulasso. This is the idea guarding closely, protecting, defending with vigilance. Picture an armed guard standing watch at crucial military installation. He wont’ just “take care.” This sentry is on high alert. He’s locked and loaded. He’s more than ready for whatever his attackers have in store.

The apostle also lets us in on the consequences of a spiritual security breech. Our enemy could sweep us away with and cause us to doubt in the very Gospel that Jesus used to save us in the first place. Don’t get “carried away” (v17). Don’t “lose your own stability” (v17). Our foundation gets shaky when we fail to follow Jesus’ commands. “Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Mt 7:24). False teachers dupe believers into disobedience. When that happens, our foundation begins to crack. If we’re truly followers of Jesus, it doesn’t mean we lose our salvation. But it does mean that we won’t live the overflowing life of goodness that God has for His followers (Jn 10:10). Don’t get carried away. Don’t lose your foundation.

Two thousand years later, this BOLO is still in effect. False teachers are out there. They’re still up to their same old con. Be on guard. Be locked and loaded. Be on the look out.

What in the World is He Talking about?

“as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures” (v16)

Have you ever been talking with folks about a topic when you suddenly realize you’re in WAY over your head? The conversation suddenly headed into the deep end of the pool. You have absolutely no clue about what’s going on. Do you knowingly nod and pretend to understand? Or do you come clean and ask, “What in the wide world of sports are you all talking about?” Well, the Apostle Peter tells the world that some of the stuff that his old pal Paul has written is hard to wrap his brain around. 

Pete loves his old buddy Paul but admits that sometimes he just doesn’t understand what he’s talking about. By the time the former fisherman wrote his sequel, Paul had gone home to the Lord. He says that the letters from his friend can be “hard to understand” (v16). This is the Greek word dusnoetos. It’s a compound term that literally means “hard thinking.” Some of the stuff that comes from Paul’s pen makes Pete’s head hurt. But let’s be clear, Peter doesn’t say he simply blows it off and doesn’t try to figure it out. It’s “hard to understand” but not impossible. Just because you can’t figure out what a certain verse or passage means doesn’t mean you should simply shrug your shoulders and ignore it. Dig deeper. Be a Berean. New believers in the town of Berea heard Paul teach in person. They took what the apostle said in his sermons “with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Don’t just punt. Be a Berean.

Even Paul apparently knew that his discussions of the Gospel could get a little thick. He asked his friends in Colossae to pray that he “may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak” (Col 4:4). A couple of great reminders here for us. We should all do whatever we can to make the Good News of Jesus clear. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t use big theological words or ideas. We simply need to explain them. We also need to remember that while God handpicks human authors like Peter and Paul, the Holy Spirit is the one really writing every word of Scripture. The Spirit inspires every bit of your Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Some will say that’s everything from Table of Contents to Maps. Not sure I would go THAT far!

Pete makes it clear that he certainly sees what Paul writes as Scripture. He may have had his issues with the former Pharisee, including a nasty but necessary confrontation back in Antioch (Gal 2:11-14), but Pete admits that God has used his old friend as a human author of His Word. Remember, what we know as the New Testament hasn’t been assemble yet as Pete writes. It’s around 67-68 AD. When the apostle refers to “the other Scriptures” (v16), he’s talking about the Old Testament. That’s the Hebrew Bible or as the Jews still call it, the Torah or Tanakh. 

When folks like Pete and Paul taught, these were the Scriptures they used. They opened the scrolls of the OT and proved that Jesus is the Hero of the entire story.  Jesus Himself said so before His crucifixion (Jn 5:39, 46) and after His resurrection (Lk 24:27). While the OT has some incredible stories about some amazing people, the coming Christ is the point of the ancient pages. And now Peter pulls no punches by letting us know that God has used Paul just as he did heavy hitters like Moses, David, Solomon, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. Paul wrote a huge chunk of the NT. His fingerprints are on thirteen books. How would you like to have THAT on your resume!

Just because you can’t wrap your head around particular passages, don’t let some spiritual huckster use scriptural smoke and mirrors to fool you. Remember that Jesus is the Hero of the Bible. Don’t forget that the core of the Gospel is trusting in who He is and what He’s done. There are folks out there that intentionally misuse and mangle God’s Word. Pete tells us not to fall victim to their biblical hocus pocus. God will handle them. These snake oil salesmen are headed “to their own destruction” (v16). Just because we can’t wrap our brain around something doesn’t mean it’s not true. Be transparent. Don't be afraid to let folks know when you don't have a clue what you're reading in Scripture. Do what Pete does and admit what you don’t know. Let that motivate you discover more about Jesus and dive deeper into Gospel.