Intro:
1. MacDonald, "The greeting is peculiarly suited to those who were facing the onslaught of those whose aim was to subvert their faith. Mercy means God's compassionate comfort and care for His beleaguered saints in times of conflict and stress.
Peace is the serenity and confidence that comes from reliance on God's word and from looking above the circumstances for the accomplishment fo His own purposes.
Love is the undeserved embrace of God for His dear people - a super-affection that should then be shared with others."
2. If we grow in God's mercy, peace, and love - we can literally face any and everything life throws at us!
3. A Descriptive Greeting - the Prayer.
Trans: I. Descriptive Greeting.
A. The Author.
B. The Audience.
1. The Privileges.
2. The Prayer.
I. FIRST, THE MULTIPLICATION.
May...multiplied - go together!
Greek: Mercy - to you - and - peace, - and - love - may be multiplied
may be multiplied - πληθύνω plēthunō [play-thoo-no] verb
A. The Possibility.
It is an optative mood, "The mood used in prayers, wishes and other instances to denote verbal action that is possible." [Pocket Dictionary for the Study of New Testament Greek]
B. The Passivity.
It is in the passive voice, "The voice that conveys that the subject is being affected by or is the receiver of the verbal action." Pocket Dictionary for the Study of New Testament Greek.
C. The wish for Plenty.
This verb, found in early Greek literature, has a basic meaning of “to be (or) become full.” Depending upon the context, various shades of meaning occur: “to increase in number, multiply, abound, grow, spread.”
In Matthew 24:12 plēthunō [play-thoo-no] is used to indicate the extent and spread of lawlessness.
""Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold." Matthew 24:12 (NASB)
In Acts, especially with reference to reports of the Church’s progress, the idea is that of numerical growth as a result of the proclamation of the Word:
"The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith." Acts 6:7 (NASB)
"So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase." Acts 9:31 (NASB)
"But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied. Acts 12:24 (NASB)
There is a formula-use found in expressions of strong wishes or desires, e.g., “May the grace and peace of our Lord be yours in ever greater measure” (cf. 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:2; Jude 2).
Spurgeon, "The benediction of the apostle is this,-that this mercy, peace, and love may be multiplied to you. Is not that a beautiful word, "multiplied"?-not merely increased, but multiplied.
You know what it is to increase; you add one to two, that is three; but when you multiply, you say, "Three times three, that is nine." Multiplying is a quick way of growing.
Oh, that you had all these blessings multiplied, -that, if you have had mercy, you might have ten times as much mercy,
-that, if you have had peace, you might have a deeper, fuller, richer, more abiding peace, multiplied peace, peace upon peace, "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding;"
-and that, if you have had love, your love might be multiplied, squared, cubed! May the biggest figures that can be found multiply your love, for never did any man yet have too much love to God, or too much of the right kind of love to his fellow-men! May the Lord make us to grow in grace, to be filled with grace, to have these three graces multiplied unto us!"
II. FINALLY, THE MANIFESTATION.
[What do we desire to be multiplied?]
A. Mercy.
mercy - ἔλεος eleos [el--eh--os] noun
God in His mercy does not give us what we deserve. Instead, He gave our punishment to His own Son on the cross.
"Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted." Isaiah 53:4 (NASB)
MacArthur, "Whenever believers commit sin, they will always find an ample supply of mercy at God's throne of grace (Heb. 4:16). Paul told the Romans that God manifested “the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory” (Rom. 9:23). The “vessels of mercy,” those sinners whom God has chosen for salvation, continually receive outpourings of His mercy, like cups or bowls that are constantly refilled with water."
"Mercy carries with it the Old Testament picture of God’s loving-kindness or compassion. God’s mercy helps believers day by day. Jude knew that the believers were facing difficult situations in the world—a society focused on selfish pleasure, ready to persecute believers at any provocation, with false teachers looking to tear the churches apart. Mercy helps believers in their times of need (Hebrews 4:16)." [Life Application New Testament Commentary]
Spurgeon, "Beloved, may you have mercy! You will always want it, for even a saint is a sinner still. May you have the mercy that will continue to forgive your sin, the mercy that will continue to wash your feet from the defilement of the way! May you have the mercies of providence that will supply your need, the mercies that will sustain you under trial, the mercies that will lead you on from strength to strength!
May you have much mercy, for you will want it; and, blessed be God, "He delighteth in mercy."
Doctor Everett L. Worthington, Jr. is a professor of psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University and has won recognition on the subject of forgiveness. Dr. Worthington dedicated seven years of his life studying the physiological effects of forgiveness and its benefits. One day after mailing off his manuscript outlining a step-by-step process of forgiveness, his own ability was sorely tested when his mother was murdered.
Doctor Worthington recalls: "On New Year's Eve, 1995, my mother was murdered. At first, I did not want to forgive the murderer. I wanted to beat his head in. Mercifully, though, I believe God gave me the grace to forgive the murder even though the murderer was never brought to justice. It was not easy to forgive such a brutal murder. A youth bludgeoned my mother to death with a crowbar during a botched burglary. If he had been caught and convicted, that would have made forgiving easier. Justice would have soaked up some of the bitter tears.
As I look back on that event, from the perspective of years past, I have seen what I never saw during my first couple of years. I have marveled at God's mercy to me."
B. Peace.
εἰρήνη eirēnē [a--ray-nay] noun It speaks of peace, harmony, tranquility, health.
From the day of the Fall man has been at war, with God. People are “alienated and enemies” not only because of their deeds but because of their disposition:
"And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds," Colossians 1:21 (NASB)
"6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so," Romans 8:6-7 (NASB)
If there was to be peace between God and man, God himself had to take the initiative. He did so when He sent His Son, He who “is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14).
At His atoning death for our sins we were reconciled to God in spite of our sins. The message of reconciliation is called “the gospel of peace”:
"The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)— " Acts 10:36 (NASB)
"AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;" Ephesians 2:17 (NASB)
"and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;" Ephesians 6:15 (NASB)
The God who has performed this is called “the God of peace”
"Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen." Romans 15:33 (NASB)
The Holy Spirit bears the fruit of peace in the life of the believer (Galatians 5:22).
In turn, believers can also affect their surroundings: “Blessed are the peacemakers”—literally “those who make peace” (Matthew 5:9).
The Christian is admonished to live peaceably with all men, if it is possible (Romans 12:18; Hebrews 12:14).
Believers are to seek peace and to pursue it (1 Peter 3:11).
Peace is not only a condition in relation to God and men; it is also a blessed experience in concrete life situations.
It affords a good conscience, "And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 7:50 (NASB)
"And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." Luke 8:48 (NASB)
Still, the peace he feels is something much more than a matter of feelings. The peace of the soul which he experiences is grounded on the real declaration of peace with God that has been made through Christ. This is the background of the words of Jesus when He promised His disciples “my peace” (John 14:27).
No external circumstances can rob this peace from a believer, not even the greatest tribulation:
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NASB) See Rom. 8:35-39
This peace can reign in the heart of the believer, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:15 (NASB)
And it can keep our heart and thoughts in Christ Jesus, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NASB)
When the new heaven and the new earth are created, peace will reign. The prophecies of the Old Testament of eternal peace will have their total fulfillment in the new earth where righteousness lives:
"But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13 (NASB)
On the eve of the Millennium, Sir Cliff Richard lit the "eternal flame" atop a giant revolving globe in Birmingham, England's Centenary Square to promote world peace and harmony.
Dubbed "The Flame of Hope" the flame was to symbolize world peace as the year 2000 began. Like the Olympic torch, it was meant to burn forever.
But in 2004, the sponsors stopped paying its 12,000 annual natural gas bill.
Birmingham's City Council balked at paying the bills; it also argued that the flame contributed to global warming and suggested substituting a flame-effect electric light.
The West Bromwich Building Society finally agreed to help pay for the cost of the flame as part of a 12-month sponsorship deal with Birmingham City Council.
Man lacks even the ability to keep symbols of peace going - they even fight over peace! What a contrast with Christ - He alone, as Prince of Peace brings eternal peace to the believer.
Spurgeon, "Then, says the apostle, he wishes that we may have peace. Oh, may you have it! The man who is at perfect peace with God, who is at perfect peace with his own conscience, who is at peace with all his fellow-men, who especially cultivates peace by behaving himself aright in the household of God, this is the man who is strong in the midst of unrest and turmoil. This is the man who will stand firm when others flinch; for he can say, "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise." May you have this peace, beloved!"
C. Love.
Love - ἀγάπη agapē noun
Used of loyal love between a man and a woman
"So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;" Ephesians 5:28 (NASB)
Of the mutual love between believers, "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. John 15:12 (NASB)
And of love for our enemies, "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," (Matthew 5:44).
The Father’s love for the Son and the Son’s love for the Father is also agapē (cf. John 14:31; 17:24).
Agapē marks God’s love for the world (John 3:16) and for sinners (Romans 5:8).
It characterizes Christ’s love for His church, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, Ephesians 5:25 (NASB) See Galatians 2:20
Such love recalls the agapē meal or “love feast” (Jude 12, NIV) of ancient Christianity which provided a pattern for the new relationship between God and His people and among believers.
Because Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper at the end of the Passover meal, the Early Church continued to observe it in connection with a meal. Because of abuse, this custom was later discontinued in much of the Church.
Regardless of what may happen in this life, these remain: faith, hope, and love. “But the greatest of these is agapē” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Spurgeon, "Jude next wishes that we may have love; that is to say, first, a sense of the love of God shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Ghost, a ravishing realization that God loves us with that everlasting love which knows no measure, nor change, nor end. May your heart dance at the very thought of the infinite love of God which he displays towards you! And then may you have love towards men, loving your neighbor as yourself with that compassionate love which is pictured in the parable of the Samaritan, that love which does not say, "Be ye warmed, and be ye filled," but which proves itself to be real by deeds of charity and acts of kindness! May you abound in love to God's people; may your love be exceeding abundant to those who are your brethren and sisters in Christ, whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life! I wish, dear friends, that you and I could be suffused with love. One said of Basil that he was a pillar of light; I would not so much care for that comparison as to be a pillar of love. Look at holy John; next to his Master, surely, and chiefly so because he abounded in love."
Few things more encouraging then realizing that God loves us!
Max Lucado wrote in "A Gentle Thunder, "There are many reasons God saves you: to bring glory to Himself, to appease His justice, to demonstrate His sovereignty. But one of the sweetest reasons God saved you is because He is fond of you. He likes having you around. He thinks you are the best thing to come down the pike in quite a while... If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart. And the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem? Face it, friend. He's crazy about you!
Trans: S. Maxwell Coder summarizes:
"There is an upward look in the word mercy, an inward look in the word peace, and an outward look in the word love. These three related us properly to God, to our own inner being, and to our brethren around us. When they are multiplied, and only then, will we be able to cope with the great apostasy."
Con:
1. No matter what we are facing - we can face it with God's mercy, peace, and love.
2. Living in a time torn with bitterness, uncertainty and difficulty, which followed the Civil War, John Greenleaf Whittier knew of one resource in which he could put his trust—
Yet, in the maddening maze of things,
And tossed by storm and flood,
To one fixed trust my spirit clings;
I know that God is good!
I know not what the future hath
Of marvel or surprise,
Assured alone that life and death
His mercy underlies.
I know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms in air;
I only know I cannot drift
Beyond His love and care.
—The Eternal Goodness
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