Jude/Judas

Background

Author: Jude identifies himself as “a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James” (v. 1). This most naturally refers to Jude/Judas, the brother of James and half-brother of Jesus

Matthew 13:55 ESV

Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

Mark 6:3 ESV

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Jude could have said, “I am Jesus' brother.” Instead, he calls himself Jesus Christ's servant first.

The one he grew up with he now worships as Lord.

Audience: Christians threatened by false teachers who had infiltrated the church.

Main purpose: Jude originally wanted to write about their common salvation, but circumstances compelled him to warn the church and urge believers to “contend for the faith.”

Jude 1–2 ESV

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: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Notice the three descriptions Jude gives believers:

Called — Loved — Kept.

God has called them to Himself. They are loved by God the Father, and they are kept for Jesus Christ.

This introduces something that becomes extremely important at the end of the letter.

Jude begins:

“kept for Jesus Christ” — v. 1 (protected, guarded, preserved)

And Jude ends:

“to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling” — v. 24

The Christian perseveres because God preserves him.

Verse 2

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

Not just given but multiplied.

These believers are entering a spiritual battle against deception, and Jude doesn't begin by wishing them strength, intelligence, or good debating skills

He begins with:

Mercy. Peace. Love.

Contending for truth must never become an excuse for becoming harsh, proud, or hateful.

Jude 3–4 ESV

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 all delivered to the saints. 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.

Verse 3

This is probably the key verse of Jude.

Jude says he originally intended to write about:

“our common salvation” But something happened.

False teachers had entered the church, so Jude felt compelled to write:

“contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all.”

What does “contend” mean?

The Greek word is ἐπαγωνίζομαι — epagōnizomai.

It carries the idea of struggling earnestly, fighting for, exerting oneself for something.

Our English word agonize is related to this family of Greek words.

Jude isn't saying:

“Fight everybody who disagrees with you.” God doesn’t need us to fight for him.

He's saying:

Protect the gospel.

And notice:

“the faith”

Here “faith” isn't just personal trust in Jesus. It refers to the body of Christian truth handed down by Christ through His apostles.

And it was delivered:

“once for all.”

The gospel doesn't need new revelations added to it.

The church doesn't invent Christianity. The church receives Christianity. from Jesus

That's extremely relevant when evaluating anyone who claims to possess some new revelation necessary for Christians.

Jude 4 ESV

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.

Why does Jude need to say this?

Because:

“some people… have come in by stealth.”

The danger isn't primarily coming from atheists outside the church.

It's coming from people inside the visible church.

And Jude gives two characteristics of them.

First:

“turning the grace of our God into sensuality”

They distort grace into permission to sin.

Essentially:

“God is gracious, therefore my sin doesn't matter.”

Paul rejects exactly the same idea:

“Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!” — Romans 6:1–2

Grace doesn't make us comfortable with sin.

Grace trains us to renounce ungodliness (Titus 2:11–12).

Second: “denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.”

False teaching attacks Christ; His identity, authority, gospel, or work.

THREE EXAMPLES OF GOD'S JUDGMENT

Jude 5–7 ESV

Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Jude now reaches into biblical history.

He gives three examples:

Israel → Angels → Sodom and Gomorrah

The pattern is:

Privilege → Rebellion → Judgment

Verse 5 — Israel

God rescued Israel from Egypt.

But afterward:

“destroyed those who did not believe.”

Physical participation in God's covenant community did not automatically mean saving faith.

Israel witnessed:

the plagues

the Red Sea

God's provision

God's presence

And many did not believe.

The warning is serious:

Being around God's people is not the same thing as knowing God.

You can attend church. Know theology. Read Scripture. Grow up in a Christian family.

And still not be saved.

Verse 6 — The Fallen Angels

Jude mentions:

“the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority…”

They rebelled against God's ordained place for them.

God has:

“kept [them] in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.”

There is debate about exactly what event Jude has in mind.

Many connect this with Genesis 6:1–4, interpreting the “sons of God” as rebellious angelic beings. Others understand Jude as referring more broadly to the original angelic rebellion associated with Satan.

Either way, Jude's main point is clear:

No created being is beyond God's judgment.

Even angels cannot rebel against their Creator with impunity.

Verse 7 — Sodom and Gomorrah

Now Jude mentions Sodom and Gomorrah.

Their sexual immorality and pursuit of:

“unnatural desire”

brought divine judgment.

They became:

“an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.”

Jude therefore moves through three very different groups:

Israel — humans Fallen angels — spiritual beings Sodom — cities

Nobody escapes God's judgment because of status or privilege.

THE ARROGANCE OF FALSE TEACHERS

Jude 8–10 ESV

Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 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.” But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.

Verse 8

“Yet in like manner these people also…”

Jude connects the false teachers with those previous examples.

They:

defile the flesh reject authority blaspheme the glorious ones

Their false theology produces sinful living.

That's an important biblical principle:

What you believe eventually affects how you live.

Bad theology can produce bad worship and bad living.

Verse 9 — Michael and the Devil

This is one of the strangest verses in Jude.

“But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses…”

This story isn't found in the Old Testament.

Early Christian writers associated it with a Jewish tradition connected to a work usually called The Assumption of Moses or Testament of Moses, though the surviving manuscript doesn't contain this particular episode.

Michael does something interesting.

He doesn't arrogantly pronounce judgment against Satan himself.

He says:

“The Lord rebuke you.”

Jude's point is humility regarding spiritual authority.

If even Michael the archangel recognizes God's ultimate authority, how arrogant are these false teachers who speak arrogantly about spiritual realities they don't understand?

This verse should also make Christians cautious about people who casually speak as though they personally command Satan and demons by their own authority.

The emphasis isn't:

“Look how powerful Michael is.”

It's:

“Look how powerful the Lord is.”

Verse 10

The false teachers:

“blaspheme all that they do not understand.”

And what they understand instinctively, they use corruptly.

Jude compares them to:

“unreasoning animals.”

Instead of being governed by God's revealed truth, they are governed by their appetites.

This connects back to verse 4.

They use “grace” as justification for fulfilling sinful desires.

THREE MORE EXAMPLES

Jude 11–13 ESV

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. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

Verse 11

“Woe to them!”

Jude now gives another three Old Testament examples:

Cain Balaam Korah

Each represents a different form of rebellion.

Cain — Genesis 4

Cain represents rebellion against God and hatred toward the righteous.

His jealousy ultimately produced murder.

Balaam — Numbers 22–24; 31

Balaam represents religion corrupted by greed.

He wanted financial gain and became associated with leading God's people toward sin.

Korah — Numbers 16

Korah represents rebellion against God-appointed authority.

He rejected the authority God had established through Moses and Aaron.

So you could remember verse 11 like this:

Cain → hatred/rebellion Balaam → greed/corruption Korah → pride/rejection of authority

And Jude says the false teachers resemble all three.

Verse 12

Jude unleashes a series of vivid metaphors.

He calls them:

“hidden reefs at your love feasts”

They're dangerous because they're inside the church.

Then:

“shepherds feeding themselves”

Instead of feeding God's sheep, they're feeding themselves.

Compare Ezekiel 34.

Then:

“waterless clouds”

Imagine seeing dark clouds while you're desperately waiting for rain.

They promise something they cannot provide.

Then:

“fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted”

Late Autumn was the last moment in the year to harvest. given every opportunity to bear fruit but don’t.

They look alive.

But there's no fruit.

Jesus taught:

“You will recognize them by their fruits.” — Matthew 7:16

Verse 13

More images:

“wild waves of the sea”

They create chaos and throw up the shame of their lives like dirty foam.

Then:

“wandering stars” imagine a north star that doesn’t stay still.

Instead of guiding people, they lead people astray.

And their destination is:

“the gloom of utter darkness… forever.”

Jude is not treating false doctrine as a minor issue.

Eternal judgment is at stake.

ENOCH AND THE “APOCRYPHA”

Jude 14–15 ESV

It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

This is the section you specifically asked about, and it's worth spending extra time here.

Verse 14

“It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied…”

Jude identifies Enoch from Genesis 5.

The genealogy is:

Adam → Seth → Enosh → Kenan → Mahalalel → Jared → Enoch

Thus Enoch is called:

“the seventh from Adam.”

Jude then quotes a prophecy attributed to Enoch.

Verse 15

The prophecy describes the Lord coming:

“to execute judgment on all…”

The repeated emphasis is ungodliness.

The Lord will judge ungodly people for both:

their ungodly deeds and their ungodly words

Nothing escapes God's judgment.

Actions matter.

Words matter.

Hearts matter.

But where did Jude get this?

The quotation closely corresponds to 1 Enoch 1:9.

And here's where Christians sometimes become nervous:

“Wait… Jude quoted a book that isn't in our Bible?”

Yes.

But that doesn't mean Jude considered the entire Book of 1 Enoch inspired Scripture.

That's a very important distinction.

1 Enoch isn't part of the Protestant Apocrypha

Technically, calling it “the Apocrypha” is imprecise.

Books commonly called the Apocrypha include things like:

Tobit

Judith

Wisdom of Solomon

Sirach

1–2 Maccabees

1 Enoch is generally classified among the Jewish pseudepigrapha.

It was influential among some Jewish communities in the centuries around the time of Christ.

Does Jude quoting 1 Enoch make 1 Enoch Scripture?

No.

This is the crucial principle:

An inspired biblical writer can accurately quote a non-inspired source without making the entire source inspired.

Paul does this too.

For example, in Acts 17:28 Paul quotes Greek poets.

In Titus 1:12 Paul quotes a Cretan poet.

That doesn't mean Christians should add those poets' writings to the Bible.

Think of it this way.

If I preach:

“As C. S. Lewis once said…”

I'm not declaring:

“Everything C. S. Lewis wrote is inspired Scripture.”

I'm saying:

“This particular statement expresses something true.”

Likewise, the Holy Spirit inspired Jude to include this statement.

Therefore Jude 14–15 is inspired Scripture.

That does not mean the entire Book of 1 Enoch is inspired Scripture.

But Jude says Enoch “prophesied.” Did Enoch actually say it?

There are a few ways Christians have understood this.

One possibility is that Jude is affirming that the historical Enoch actually delivered this prophecy and that it was preserved in Jewish tradition and eventually recorded in 1 Enoch.

Another possibility is that Jude is using a well-known Jewish literary tradition associated with Enoch to communicate a true theological point.

I think the first possibility should be taken seriously because Jude explicitly says:

“Enoch… prophesied.”

Either way, Jude's inspiration isn't dependent upon 1 Enoch being inspired.

The Holy Spirit guarantees the truthfulness of Jude's statement.

So for your family devotional, I would explain it simply:

“Jude quoting 1 Enoch doesn't make 1 Enoch part of Scripture. God inspired Jude to use a statement known from that Jewish work because that particular statement communicated truth. Inspiration belongs to Jude's letter, not automatically to the entire source Jude quoted.”

THE CHARACTER OF FALSE TEACHERS

Jude 16 ESV

These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

Jude gives several characteristics:

“grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires…”

Then:

“loud-mouthed boasters”

And:

“showing favoritism to gain advantage.”

Notice how much of this involves self-centeredness.

Their religion ultimately serves themselves.

Their desires. Their reputation. Their advantage.

True ministry says:

Christ must increase; I must decrease.

False ministry eventually says:

How can this benefit me?

JUDE 17–19 REMEMBER THE APOSTLES

Verse 17

“But you must remember, beloved…”

Notice the change in tone.

Jude has been fiercely condemning false teachers.

But when he addresses Christians:

“beloved.”

Truth and love aren't enemies.

Verse 18

The apostles had warned that:

“In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”

False teachers shouldn't cause Christians to conclude Christianity has failed.

Scripture warned us they would come.

Verse 19

These people:

“cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.”

That last phrase is devastating:

“devoid of the Spirit.”

Whatever Christian language they may use, Jude says they do not possess the Holy Spirit.

And according to Romans 8:9:

“Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”

So Jude isn't merely describing immature Christians.

He is describing unregenerate false professors.

JUDE 20–21 — WHAT SHOULD CHRISTIANS DO?

This is one of my favorite transitions in the letter.

After spending most of Jude describing false teachers, Jude says:

“But you, beloved…”

Don't obsess over what the false teachers are doing.

Here's what you should do.

Verse 20

“building yourselves up in your most holy faith”

Keep growing in God's revealed truth.

Then:

“praying in the Holy Spirit”

This does not mean praying in tongues.

It means prayer that is dependent upon, guided by, and in accordance with the Holy Spirit.

Compare Ephesians 6:18.

Verse 21

“keep yourselves in the love of God”

At first that can sound contradictory to verse 1.

Verse 1:

God keeps us.

Verse 21:

Keep yourselves.

Which is it?

Both.

This is the biblical relationship between God's preservation and Christian perseverance.

God's sovereignty doesn't eliminate our responsibility.

Instead, God's preserving grace produces our perseverance.

Jude can command:

“Keep yourselves…”

because he will finish by declaring:

“He is able to keep you…”

That's a beautiful Reformed doctrine of perseverance.

We don't persevere in order to make God preserve us.

We persevere because God is preserving us.

JUDE 22–23 — HELP THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING

Jude doesn't say:

“Anyone influenced by false teaching should immediately be treated as an enemy.”

Instead, he distinguishes between people.

Verse 22

“have mercy on those who doubt”

Some people aren't false teachers.

They're confused by false teachers.

They need patience.

They need Scripture.

They need mercy.

That's an important pastoral lesson.

Not everyone asking difficult questions is rebelling against God.

Sometimes they're simply struggling.

Verse 23

Others are in greater danger:

“save others by snatching them out of the fire”

This gives a picture of someone almost falling into destruction.

You intervene urgently.

But Jude also says:

“to others show mercy with fear…”

Meaning: help people caught in sin while being extremely careful that you aren't pulled into their sin yourself.

You could summarize vv. 22–23:

The doubting → patiently help them.

Those heading toward destruction → urgently rescue them.

Those deeply entangled in sin → mercifully help them, but cautiously.

Christians don't merely defend truth.

We try to rescue people from error.

JUDE 24–25 — THE GREAT DOXOLOGY

And now Jude ends with one of the most beautiful doxologies in Scripture.

Verse 24

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling…”

Here's the great comfort after an entire letter about apostasy.

You could finish Jude terrified:

“What if I fall away?”

Jude directs your eyes away from yourself.

“To Him who is able to keep you…”

Our confidence ultimately isn't:

I am strong enough.

It's:

God is able to keep me.

And not merely keep us barely alive spiritually.

He will:

“present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.”

Think about that.

Right now we're battling sin.

One day God will present His redeemed people before Himself:

blameless.

Not because we never sinned.

But because Christ's righteousness covers us, and God's sanctifying work will finally be completed in glorification.

Verse 25

“to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord…”

And Jude ends with worship:

Glory Majesty Dominion Authority

And then:

“before all time and now and forever.”

God possessed these things before creation.

God possesses them now.

God will possess them forever.

Amen.

THE WHOLE LETTER IN ONE FLOW

For your family devotional, I would show everyone the structure of Jude like this:

vv. 1–2 — Remember who you are. You are called, loved, and kept by God.

vv. 3–4 — Contend for the faith. The gospel has been delivered once for all.

vv. 5–16 — Beware of false teachers. God has judged rebellion before and will judge it again.

vv. 17–19 — Remember the apostles' warnings. False teachers were expected.

vv. 20–21 — Persevere personally. Build yourself up, pray, remain in God's love, and wait for Christ.

vv. 22–23 — Help others. Show mercy to doubters and rescue those being deceived.

vv. 24–25 — Trust God to keep you. Our ultimate hope isn't our ability to hold onto God, but God's ability to hold onto us.

Main Points of Jude

1. Contend for the true faith — vv. 3–4

Christian truth is something we receive, not something we reinvent.

The gospel was delivered “once for all.”

We therefore have a responsibility to recognize, defend, teach, and pass on sound doctrine.

But contending for the faith doesn't mean being argumentative about everything.

We fight for the gospel, not our pride.

2. God takes false teaching and apostasy seriously — vv. 5–16

Jude repeatedly reaches into history:

Israel. Fallen angels. Sodom and Gomorrah. Cain. Balaam. Korah.

Why so many examples?

Because Jude wants us to understand:

God has judged rebellion before. He will judge it again.

Grace should never make us take sin less seriously.

3. False teachers are known by both doctrine and fruit — vv. 4, 8–13, 16–19

Jude doesn't merely examine what people say.

He examines how they live.

False teaching often reveals itself through:

sexual immorality, greed, pride, self-interest, rebellion, division, and rejection of Christ's authority.

Sound doctrine and godly living belong together.

4. Christians must grow while helping those who struggle — vv. 20–23

Jude's answer to apostasy isn't paranoia.

It's spiritual maturity.

Build yourselves up in the faith. Pray in the Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love. Wait for Christ. Show mercy to doubters. Rescue those being deceived.

The goal isn't simply to identify error.

The goal is also to rescue people from it.

5. God preserves His people — vv. 1, 21, 24

This may be the most beautiful theme running underneath the entire letter.

Jude begins:

You are kept.

Jude commands:

Keep yourselves.

Jude ends:

God is able to keep you.

That gives us a wonderful balance:

God preserves His saints, and His saints persevere.

Our perseverance is real and necessary, but the foundation underneath it is God's sovereign grace.

So if I had to reduce the entire family devotional to one sentence, I'd make it:

Because God has called us and will keep us, we must faithfully contend for the gospel, reject false teaching, pursue holiness, help those being deceived, and trust Christ to preserve us until we stand blameless before Him.

And that's why Jude doesn't end his letter about apostasy with fear.

He ends it with worship:

“To the only God our Savior… be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority… forever. Amen.”