This little letter was written by Jude who was a servant of Jesus, who was the brother of James the pastor or Bishop of Jerusalem, who oversaw the first council of Jerusalem dealing with circumcision and salvation of the Gentiles, and the half-brother of Jesus. It is believed to be written after the death of Peter, but before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
Key Verse:
1. (a.) Jude, (b.) the servant (c.) of Jesus (d) Christ, and (e) brother of James, (f) to them that are sanctified by God the Father, (g) and preserved in Jesus Christ,(h) and called:
a. “Jude…”- Jehuda in the Greek meaning Judah in Hebrew which translates “praise, or celebrating: named after the fourth of Jacob. He is the half-brother of Jesus, the son of Mary and Joseph.
Matt 12:46-50
46. While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49. And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
CR: Mark 3: 31-35, Lk 8:19-21.
Here let the Christian notice that God the Father, and the Christ the Son is not a respecter of persons, including his mother, or natural brothers. The worship of Mary or even his disciples is wrong.
The Bible teaches blessed art though among women- Mary was chosen to bear the Messiah and is saved through child-bearing, by Christ Jesus, the God-man, the Son of God. Mother’s in Israel wanted to bear children to fulfill the promise made in Eden. When a mother becomes pregnant the child and mother’s blood is not shared. The have separate circulatory systems. The blood of a child comes from the father and gender is determined from his seed. My wife has (A- blood also known as RH negative). In any of our pregnancies my wife received a special shot that if the placenta ripped at all my wife’s antibodies in her blood would not attack the child in her womb. This is why a human being who was a sinner could carry the holy child Jesus in her womb.
Matt 13:53-58
53. And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
54. And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
*55. Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James (Jacob), and Joses (Joesph), and Simon, and Judas (Judah)?
56. And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
57. And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Here it is evident by the text, the people of Nazareth where Jesus was raised, now question his heritage, secondly, they knew about the circumstances of his birth-Mary was with child before her marriage, how could he be Messiah, Nazareth had a reputation of allowing sin consider Nathaniel’s comment.
These people did not believe because they thought they knew things, but they misunderstood the workings of God. They knew Mary, Joseph, James, Joseph Jr, Simon, Judah, and his sisters? How could he be the prophet Moses told about, how could he be the King of Israel, he was a child of fornication in their minds (uncleanness).
CR: Mark 6:1-6, John 6:42.
b. “…The servant of Jesus Christ…”- The servant- (Strongs G-1401) dulous- From G1210; a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subservience): - bond (-man), servant.
A bond slave in the Old Testament times would go to the gate of the city and as a sign have their ear bore through much like an animal would today from someone who practices animal husbandry. This was done to identify the servant with his MASTER (his Adonai).
Exodus 21:2-6
2. If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
3. If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.
4. If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.
5. And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
6. Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for- ever.
Deu 15:12 And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.
Deu 15:13 And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:
Deu 15:14 Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that where with the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.
Deu 15:15 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing today.
Deu 15:16 And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee;
Deu 15:17 Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant forever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.
Deu 15:18 It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.
The truth embedded here is that the flesh from our ears, and hearts must be removed for God’s children to hear and obey him, and we must do this freely. We need circumcised ears and hearts to hear and obey our Adonai. This is a picture of sanctification
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
We must bare this mark in our life (Ezekiel 9:4, Rev 7:4- in contrast Satan marks his property Rev 13:16).
Psa 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Isa 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
Isa 50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
Deu 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
Act 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
In the Old Testament they would use a sharp ROCK, or knife to remove the foreskin, God wants to use a sharp knife too to cut away the flesh from our lives:
Ex 4:25, Joshua 5:2
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
2Co 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2Co 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Co 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Psalms123:2
Psa 123:1 A Song of degrees. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
Psa 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us
Adonai-Lord under the Law the master of his servants (bondslaves was required to meet all their needs), or face the judgment of God and judgment of the judges. This is why Paul said, Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
The Bond slave was required by the Lord to do his work unto the Lord and be fully obedient.
c. “…Of Jesus Christ…”- sent by, commissioned as an apostle- sent. Jesus- Jehoshua - yeh-ho-shoo'-ah-Yeshua- Jehovah saves There is no “J” in Hebrew Yah, Yehodah, Yacob. The J comes from the German language. Jesus name means in God is salvation, or God saves, in God is deliverance, that is why whoever calls on the name of the Lord is Saved. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
d. “…Christ” - mashiach (messiah)
- the anointed one, rubbed with the anointing oil, that only prophets and kings were anointed with to lead God’s people. David was anointed three times, 1 Samuel 16:13:
1Sa 16:12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
1Sa 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
2Sa 2:4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh gilead were they that buried Saul.
2Sa 5:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.
The purpose of anointing oil was for consecration to the LORD. G5548 (Strong)
χρίω chriō khree'-o
Probably akin to G5530 through the idea of contact; to smear or rub with oil, that is, (by implication) to consecrate to an office or religious service: - anoint.
This is where the word charisma comes from meaning google-
a. compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others, b. a divinely conferred power or talent.
Jesus was anointed at the baptismal waters before John the Baptist, when the Holy Ghost descended as a dove and landed upon his shoulder and remained. We see the second anointing of Christ at his death being anointed with oil and myrrh and spices and also by Mary after Lazaerth was raised from the dead. Christ is now entered into the heavens as our great high priest, but he will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords for his third position.
e. “…and brother of James…”- here we can see he is Jesus’ half-brother and he is brother to James the writer of the epistle in the New Testament who was also the Bishop (pastor) of the church at Jerusalem who oversaw the first council or assembly of the saints regarding the state of gentiles who had accepted Christ and whether they needed to be circumcised to becomes Jews to be saved.
Matthew 13:55
*55. Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James (Jacob), and Joses (Joesph), and Simon, and “Judas (Judah)?”
(f)”… to them that are sanctified by God the Father….” Jude is writing to a specific people, a unique people, Peter said under the influence of same Holy Ghost “a peculiar people,” “an holy nation” this people who are ruled by the Law of God and have been separated from all other nations to serve the Lord God, a theocracy or a royal priesthood (Melchizedek priesthood). The word “sanctified” can be also translated “holy,” to those who are pure in heart, and living upright before God, living in true holiness and righteousness. Many people do not understand the rest of the letter because they are not holy, and have a carnal mind (Roman 8:5). We must walk in the same path as the Lord to understand the kingdom of God and the operation of his hands (Isa 5). God the Father sanctifies this people by the blood, just as Moses sanctified the people with the blood of the sacrifice in Exodus 24. This is the second definite work of grace, after being delivered from sins, we are cleansed from sin (Adam’s nature-sin nature) by the perfect sacrifice the blood of the Lamb of God. This letter was a warning by the Spirit of God to beware of apostasy and avoid the paths of the apostates of the past. Holiness oh Lord becometh thy people forever.
(g) “…and preserved in Jesus Christ….” This phrase refers to the primary work of grace, the salvation of the soul, through the work of Calvary. To those who have been saved and continued on and been set free from sin, Jesus saved us. We have been preserved or saved and called out of this world and have responded by following our Christ and leaving our sins behind.
1Pe 1:23 Being born again (saved or preserved), not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted (changed within or born again, saved, preserved) that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ (saved/born again/preserved), he is a new creature: old things are passed away (sins and it’s bondage); behold, all things are become new.
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
(h) …and called… Jesus called, by saying to all men “ repent and follow me”… and is calling all those who thirst for life and want to know the eternal God (1 John 5:20).
Mar 1:16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Mar 1:18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
Mar 1:19 And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
Mar 1:20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
If you have never accepted or if you have fallen away from Jesus Christ here are three steps you need to take to be saved:
You must admit you are a sinner, confess your sin to Jesus, repent (turn from all you know is wrong), ask Jesus to come in your heart, and begin to follow Jesus by reading and obeying his word and go to a bible believing church that teaches his word. And tell someone what Christ Jesus Has Done For You (Rev 12:10)
May God through Christ bless you!
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Next Time:
Jude 1:2
Jud 1:2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
