What does Jude 1:21 mean?
ESV: keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
NIV: keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
NASB: keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
CSB: keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.
NLT: and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
KJV: Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
NKJV: keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Verse Commentary:
In this verse Jude presents a practical way for believers to be spiritually strong in spite of the apostates' efforts to destroy their faith. Believers remain strong if they stay focused on God's love for them and do His will. In John 15:10, Jesus assures us that we will abide in His love if we keep His commandments. The prodigal son (Luke 15:11–24) journeyed to a pagan country that was far from home. His father still loved him, but in that country the prodigal was unable to enjoy the benefits of his father's love. However, when he returned home, he enjoyed the love his father lavished on him. Believers need to "stay home" to fully enjoy the heavenly Father's love.
Jude adds another exhortation. He urges his readers to eagerly anticipate the mercy Jesus will bestow on us when He returns. Although His present mercy includes forgiveness, at Jesus' return it will include eternal life in heaven and all its accompanying benefits.
Verse Context:
Jude 1:17–23 lays out Jude's plan of action for recognizing, resisting, and defeating apostates. Prior verses were devoted to explaining how, and why, these false teachers were dangerous. Those who followed their examples were bound for eternal judgment. Here, Jude provides a means to avoid these liars, as well as their fate.
Chapter Summary:
Jude's brief letter describes men at their worst and God at His best. Believers are already on the victorious side! Those who mock God's truth and who follow their own desires all while claiming to be Christians, are the most dangerous kind of unbelievers. These persons pose a danger to themselves and to any Christians they might influence. In response, Christians need to focus on understanding the truth of God's written Word and submitting to His will.
Chapter Context:
Jude is a single-chapter letter which reflects earlier warnings about apostates and their false teachings. Other passages of Scripture describe evil men who taught that Jesus was not fully human or fully God (1 John 2:22; 4:1–3), that God's grace allowed them to live immorally (2 Peter 2; Romans 6:1, 15), that Jesus blood was not an adequate sacrifice (Galatians 1:6–9; Hebrews 3:12–19; 10:19), and sinners gain a right standing in God's sight by keeping the law of Moses (Galatians 5:4, 7–9). Jude's letter combats false teaching and exhorts readers to remain faithful to the Lord.
Book Summary:
The book of Jude is a letter written by a half-brother of Jesus, likely later than AD 66–67, which was after 2 Peter was written. Its placement immediately before the book of Revelation is appropriate. This letter warns about false religion and evil men, whom Revelation describes as maliciously affecting political and religious conditions.
Accessed 5/5/2024 11:30:09 AM
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Text from ESV, NIV, NASB, CSB, NLT, KJV, NKJV © Copyright respective owners, used by permission.
