A 1,2. Salutation.
B 3. Exhortation.
C Ungodly. Denying.
D 5-. Remembrance.
E -5-16. Retribution.
D 17. Remembrance.
C 18,19. Ungodly. Separating.
B 20-23. Exhortation.
A 24,25. Doxology.
1. Written by "Judas, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James:. This is how he describes himself, and we know nothing more of him, save that in Matt. 13:55 and Mark 6:3 "Judas" is mentioned as one of the Lord's brethren. A very early tradition assigns the authority to Jude. The James to whom he was brother was doubtless the writer of the Epistle of James, the pillar of the church at Jerusalem [see Acts 15:13. Gal. 2:9].
2. Written probably from Palestine to Hebrew Christians both of the "Dispersion" and those living in Palestine, if we may decide from the Judean character of the epistle.
3. The contents in part bear strong resemblance to portions of 2 Peter, but of the originality of both no one need doubt. The tone is one of stern reproof in regard to certain serious evils brought in by men who had professed to receive the grace of God, and he warns of the certainty of the Divine judgment, illustrated from the Old Testament history.
4. The date can be gauged only approximately, but it is thought to have been very early, perhaps 41-46 A.D.
1)
1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James (see James 1:1), to them that are sanctified in God the Father, and kept in Jesus Christ, and called:
2 Mercy to you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. (Cp. 1 Pet. 1:2. 2 Pet. 1:2.)
3 Beloved, making all diligence to write to you of the common salvation (cp. Tit. 1:4), I had need to write to you, exhorting you to earnestly contend (cp Luke 13:24) for the faith which was once for all delivered (see John 19:30) to the saints. (See Acts 9:13.)
4 For certain men crept in unawares (disguised. Cp. Gal. 2;4. 2 Pet. 2:1), who were before of old written to this condemnation (secretly they brought it upon themselves), impious (see Rom. 4:5), changing the grace of our God into lasciviousness (see Rom. 13:13), and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 I will therefore put you in remembrance (see John 14:26), though you once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the People out of the land of Egypt,
E A -5-7. 3 classes of apostates: Israelites. Fallen angels. Sodomites.
B 8. Lawlessness.
C 9. Judgment denounced. Michael.
D 10. Corruption.
A 11. 3 individual apostates: Cain Balaam [the soothsayer]. Korah.
B 12,13. Rocks in love-feasts.
C 14,15. Judgment predicted. Enoch.
D 16. Walking after lusts.
afterward destroyed them that believed not. (See John 17:12. It is important that you believe or you will be destroyed.)
6 And the angels which kept not their own principality (Gen. 6:2. Not born of women, but seduced them. Cp. Eph. 1:21; 3:10; 6:12. Col. 1:16; 2:10,15), but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness (see 2 Pet. 2:4) unto the judgment of the great day. (See Matt. 25:41. Rev. 20:10,11. They were judged because they tried to throw off God's plan.)
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner [to these] (i.e. the angels of v.6. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, like that of the angels of Gen. 6, was an unnatural one, breaking through the bounds which God had set. The fallen angels of Noah's day were also going after strange flesh. Going after strange flesh is the cause of aids today. Father does not like perversion. Am I teaching hate towards certain groups of people? No! What they do behind closed doors is their business; however, they had better not bring their perversion in front of my family, or worse into the house of God. If they want to die of aids, fine have a good trip. Would I rather see them change their life style and get into God's Word? Yes! But remember, Christ told us it would be as in Lot's days, when He returns.), giving themselves over to fornication, and going after other flesh (perversion), are set forth for an example, undergoing the vengeance of eternal fire. (God's wrath.)
8 Likewise these also filthy in their dreaming defile the flesh (see John 18:28), despise lordship (see Eph 1:21. 2 Pet. 2:10), and blaspheme dignities. (God's glories. See Matt. 4:1-11. Cp. 2 Pet. 2:10. How many people today say "well is there a God?". "Do you believe that stuff?!" We are very close to the end of this Dispensation of grace.)
9 Yet Michael (see Dan. 10:13) the archangel (see 1 Thess. 4:16 No other angel bears this title), when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses (this dispute must have taken place after the death of Moses and his burial by Yehovah, for 'death reigned from Adam to [until] Moses' [Rom. 5:14]. The devil claimed Moses for the death-state, but God raised him as representative of those hereafter to be raised, as Elijah was caught up without dying), did not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you." (This is what you do with Satan or you will lose. Never argue with him. Take control and order him out in Christ Jesus' name.)
10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally (cp. 2 Pet. 2:12. In natural flesh they become very carnal), as brute beasts, in those things they are destroyed. (See 1 Cor. 3:17. They could care less.)
11 Woe to them! for they went in the way of Cain (his way was that of natural religion, not the way God appointed), and rushed after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished (see John 17:12. He preached for money) in the gainsaying (see Heb. 6:16; 12:3) of Korah. (As the 2 others, resisted the declared will of God. He didn't like God's plan. Very dangerous to change God's Word willingly.)
12 These are hidden rocks in your feasts of charity (i.e. love-feasts), feasting with you (see 2 Pet. 2:13), feeding (lit. pasturing, as a shepherd does his flock) themselves without fear (making the love-feast an occasion of gratifying the appetite, instead of promoting spiritual edification. Cp. Ezek. 34:2. They play church with you): clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees in autumnal decay, without fruit, twice dead (2nd death), plucked up by the roots; (Empty)
13 Wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars (wandering spirits), to whom has been reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
14 And to these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes among ten thousands of his holy ones, (I.e. angels. Cp. Deut. 33:2. Matt. 25:31. Mark 8:38. You don't need a prophet until people begin to fall away doubting God's power, opposite of one that has faith. It is difficult to break people out of their traditions. Are you like Enoch? God will do nothing unless He foretells it through His prophets.)
15 To execute judgment against all, and to convict all the ungodly of them of all the works of impiety which they ungodly committed (see 2 Pet. 2:6), and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners spoke against Him." (False teachers today are misleading people. They are in big trouble.)
16 These are murmurers (cp. John 6:41. Acts 6;1), complainers, walking after their own lusts (a scholar in this generation is open to much ridicule if you don't go along with the crowd); and their mouth speak great swelling words (see 2 Pet. 2:18), admiring persons because of profit. (See Rom. 3:1)
17 But, beloved, remember you the words (see Mark 9:32) which have been spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; (See Gen. 3:14-17.)
18 How that they said to you there shall be scoffers in the last time (see 2 Pet. 3:3), walking after their own lusts of impieties.
19 These be they who are separating, sensual (see 1 Cor. 2:14. Jas. 3:15), having not the spirit.
20 But you, beloved, building up yourselves (see Acts 20:32) on your most holy faith (i.e. the object of faith. Cp. 1 Cor. 3:11), praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 Keep yourselves in God's love to you (i.e. the assurance of it, based on His Word), looking for (see Acts 23:21) the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.