17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
- Jude 17-19
This passage serves as a transition between the wider discussion of the false teachers and the appeal to those within the churches. Having described these false teachers in great detail, he now speaks to the faithful, reminding them of what they should recall from the teaching of the apostles and how that should benefit them as they contend for the faith.
In v.17-19 Jude tells the churches that they “must remember” the words of the apostles. This imperative is the primary thrust of the passage and mirrors his words in v.5 where he reminded them of God’s prior judgments upon the rebellious. This is an amazing statement that places the authority of the apostles’ teaching on the same level as that of the OT. Just as the OT predicted judgment upon false teachers (v. 5-7) and conveyed examples of the ungodly (11-13), so the apostles themselves warned that people like this would come in among the churches.
Specifically, their warning was that scoffers, a term is one of several similar terms that convey the idea of ridicule, scorn, and contempt, would come in the last times. While we usually associate scoffing with verbal expressions, Jude instead relates it to behavior. These people are scoffers in the sense that they follow their ungodly lusts. Although these people certainly conveyed their ungodliness in the things they said (v. 15-16), the main way that they mocked God was through their actions.
He moves then in v. 19 to once again describe how these people can be identified within the church. Although he has used numerous OT examples and visual imagery in order that these people might be identified, he describes them here, as he did in v.16, in a very practical way. These false teachers are the ones who cause divisions within the church. They do this because they are “worldly,” a derogatory term which is employed for the purpose of contrast, something confirmed as he states directly that these people are “devoid” of the Spirit.
As we consider the significance of this passage in light of the overall message we should first observe that Jude once again refers to the churches as “beloved.” This term serves to remind them that, although they face these threats, God is with them and is watching over them. One of the most practical ways that this is demonstrated to them is that He has given to them His Word, both in the form of the OT as well as the beginning of the NT through the apostles teachings and writings. Within His Word, he has warned His people concerning false teachers and the dangers of their message and their way of life. The churches must be reminded of the love which they have been shown through the Gospel and they must live in light of the lordship of Jesus as they contend for the faith against false teachers.
Join us this Sunday as we come together to worship the Lord and to experience His love for us through the proclamation of His Word!
Soli Deo Gloria.
-Thomas