Jude 12-25

10-13 | Earlier, Jude referred to large-scale examples of God’s judgment. In this passage, he cites three individual OT figures who received judgment: Cain not only killed his brother but rejected God’s command about sacrifices (Gen. 4:1-15; Heb. 11:4); Balaam plotted against Israel for his own personal gain, encouraging sensuality and sin (Num. 22:5-24:25; 2 Pet. 2:15; Rev. 2:14); Korah led a rebellion against God’s appointed authority – Moses (Num. 16:1-35).

12-13 | By serving only themselves and promising a spiritual harvest that yields only barrenness, shame, and eternal punishment, false teachers prove their hypocrisy (Phil. 3:19; 2 Pet. 2:17).

13 | The love feasts were meals that members of the early church shared when they gathered. These concluded with the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:17-34).

14 | Enoch lived before the Flood and was taken to heaven without seeing death (Gen. 5:24).

14-15 | The false teachers claimed that God would not condemn anyone. Jude quotes a prophecy from Enoch (found in a non-biblical text of that era) to drive home the biblical truth that the Lord will one day return to judge the ungodly deeds and words that have been spoken against Him. Although God is a God of love, His holiness will not allow Him to ignore sin.

16-19 | Jude highlights the speech of the wicked: they use their lips to grumble and complain about their circumstances and to flatter others (2 Pet. 2:18). Both their self-serving words and their sinful deeds (ungodly lusts) pose a danger to the body of Christ; Jesus’ apostles warned against wicked people like this (Acts 20:29-31; 2 Tim. 3:1-8; 2 Pet. 2:1-3).

20-21 | The real work of contending for the faith requires Christians to keep themselves in the love of God (John 14:15-24). Keep is the central command here, and the other action items in the list describe how this is accomplished. God will never stop loving His people (Rom. 8:31-39), but they are to be actively involved in maintaining that relationship (John 15:9-10; 1 John 4:16).

20 | Christians need each other if they are to combat false teachers and false doers within the church. Building up has both a collective and private component: it is done in fellowship with other believers and in the personal discipline of keeping a daily appointment with God (Col. 2:7; 1 Thess. 5:11). Praying in the Holy Spirit means to be guided and empowered by the Spirit when Christians talk to God (Rom. 8:26; 1 Cor. 14:15-16; Eph. 6:18); this phrase does not suggest a special kind of prayer.

22-23 | Not everyone who causes trouble can be dealt with in the same way. Jude urges believers to approach each person individually (making a distinction). Some need to be treated with compassion, lovingly urged to follow Jesus. Others need to be saved with fear, pictured here as snatching them from the fire of hell (Amos 4:11; 1 Cor. 3:15). In both cases, grace is the benchmark of a Christian’s conduct.

24-25 | The book ends as it begins: with God’s enabling power. This is one of the great benedictions of the Bible, poignantly reminding readers that their ability to live holy lives and resist apostasy ultimately depends on the One who can present them faultless before God (Eph. 3:20; Col. 1:22).