Jude 1:17-19 Last Days Scoffers
Jude 1: 17-19: “But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, 'In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.' These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.”
Introduction:
Jude started to exhort the readers for contending for the faith (Jude 3). It has to be done in two ways: First, on the foundation of the apostolic teaching (Jude 17-19). Second, on the application of proper living (Jude 20-23).
Beloved:
The word "beloved" = “agapetos.” It is used 60 times in the New Testament— 9 times by God to Christ; and 51 times uses are ONLY of believers. A third time Jude uses the word beloved to refer to the church.
Remember:
The word "remember" is used five times in verses 17-23. It is to challenge his readers to contend earnestly for the faith. The word "remember" id from mimnesko, which means: "to bring to mind or think of again."
It means:
"to keep in mind for attention or consideration." Jude admonished from the teachings of TANAKH about Israel, Cain, Balaam, and Korah. Then from apocryphal books of ‘Assumption of Moses’, and ‘1 Enoch’.
Apostles:
The word "apostles" is from Apostolos (apo = away from + stello = send forth). It means "one sent, a messenger, an agent, an apostle." This word was used exclusively to the 12 apostles whom God used to lay the foundation for the Church age. An apostle is the one who has seen risen Messiah (Acts 1:21-22, 1 Corinthians 9:1) and was sent by Him to carry the Gospel of faith to a particular community. He was Christ's ambassador and spoke with His authority. There are no apostles today.
Lord Jesus Christ:
The false teachers served only themselves, but apostles were committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. He was their Master (Lord), Savior (Jesus), and Messiah (Christ). The word Christ is derived from a Greek term Christos, meaning "anointed one." This refers to Jesus as prophet, priest, and king.
The Last Days:
In the "last time" is a very specific expression referring to the period from Messiah's First Coming, till His Second. (Galatians 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:1; Hebrews 1:2; 1 Peter 1:5, 20; 1 John 2:18-19; James 5:3). The last days began when God spoke through His Son, the last days began when His Son came. The “end time” began with the coming of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:11; 1 Peter 1:20). It also refers to the period of church history from the day of Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus' resurrection till his return to the earth, and the completion of God's ultimate plan for human redemption (Acts 2:17).
Always the New Testament writers refer it in the present tense (Hebrews 1:2; 1 Peter 1:20; 1 John 2:18). The words "last time" here are eschatos chronos. The word eschatos means: "farthest, final (of place or time), ends of, last, latter end." And chronos from which we get, "chronological time; time on a clock or calendar."
The Bible's first use of the phrase "last days" is found in Genesis 49. The "acharit- hayamim" is the Hebrew for the "last days." The Church Age has no "last days," the Church has no eschatology, the Church has an everlasting covenant that never ends. The "last days" are Israel's "last days". (Deuteronomy 31:29, Daniel 10:14, Joel 2:28, Acts 2:14-17).
Scoffers:
The root verb empaizo is used 13 times in the NT (Matthew 2:16; 20:19; 27:29, 31, 41; Mark 10:34; 15:20, 31; Luke 14:29; 18:32; 22:63; 23:11, 36) and all refer to the mocking of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Scoffers (empaiktai) are those who despise and dishonour morality and religion. They false teachers. They are “worldly” (psychikoi) and not governed by the Spirit or Disciples of Christ. They are devoid of the Spirit (pneuma me echontes) means outside the spiritual body of Christ (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13). But known as insiders of the Church. Paul warned wolfs with sheep coats (Acts 20:28-31, 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Peter 2:1, 3:3-4). It is likely that Jude is contradicting the claims of his opponents, who claim to be spiritually superior to others. Therefore, police the preacher that he does not fall into error and lead others in the same direction?
Ungodly Lusts:
These unbelieving deceivers think and act like "unreasoning animals" (Jude 1:10). They follow their sinful natures, proving even more clearly that they lack the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:1–3; Romans 8:9). They lack the indwelling Holy Spirit and thus lack the higher spiritual life. Just as there was false fire in the tabernacle (Leviticus 10:1ff), so there is false fire today in the church; therefore we must exercise careful discernment.
Barclay:
‘They mock at goodness and their conduct is governed by their own evil desires. They had two characteristics. They believed the body made of matter was evil so satisfy it. Further, they argued that, since grace could forgive any sin, sin did not matter. These heretics had a third characteristic. They believed that they were the advanced thinkers; and they regarded those who observed the old moral standards as old-fashioned and out of date.’
(Ref: Bibleref.com; Berean Bible Church; Biblical Scholarship; Austin Precept)
