This brief letter is written by Jude who identifies himself as the brother of James. Jude wanted to write a letter of encouragement about salvation, but instead, finds himself warning about false teaching, which is similar to the warning found in 2 Peter.

Having stated the danger of false teaching he specifically refers to the teaching that Christians are at liberty to do anything that they please. The criticisms of antinomianism and the abuse of Christian freedom or especially important. In the course of the letter Jude notes some examples drawn from Jewish tradition concerning abuse of freedom. Including a story telling how the Archangel Michael disputed with Satan over the body of Moses, this is simply an allusion to a story which was well known to his readers without in any way implying that the books in which the stories are found have any special status.

What strikes me is the last part of the letter which relates to the end times. Jude reminds the apostles of what Jesus said. He says Jesus told them in the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires and that these are men who divide you who follow me with natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. How much we can see this manifest itself in our world today. Jude goes on to say that they, the readers, have a holy faith that they should pray in the Holy Spirit and he encourages them to remain in God's love which will bring them eternal life. He goes on to say that they should be merciful to those who doubt and to snatch others from the fire to save them.  To others show mercy but be wary of them.

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Question: 

Have you experienced false teaching? Does the world offer us false teaching? Is the pursuit of wealth at any cost an example of this? How do we protect ourselves from false teaching?

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father help me to read your word and be obedient to Your will for much life. Open my eyes to those things which are not of You which try to find a place of acceptance in my life and the lives of those around me. Lord me not into temptation and protect me from the evil one. In Jesus mighty name. Amen.