The Book Of Judah (Jude)

It’s important to understand that just as Paul the Apostle was not giving general credence to pagan authors by quoting them to convey certain points (Acts 17:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:33; Titus 1:12), so too Yehudah is not suggesting that the Jewish mythology he is quoting is in any way authoritative or Holy Spirit inspired. He is simply using familiar folk lore as a means of proving his point.

Introduction:
 
Author:
 
The writer’s name begins the letter, Judah (Ἰουδάς - יְהוּדָה). This is a common Jewish name and given that the writer is certainly not Yehudah Ish Kariyot (Judas Iscariot), we can deduce that of those mentioned in the New Testament the two most likely candidates are:
 
1. Judah the Shaliach (Apostle), son of Yaakov/James (Not the brother of Yeshua) [Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13].
 
2. Judah the brother of Yeshua the Messiah [Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3].
 
Of these two the brother of Yeshua is the most likely for a number of reasons:
 

1. The writer doesn’t claim to be an apostle and goes so far as to distinguish himself from the apostles (v.17). Paul makes a similar distinction in 1 Corinthians 5:9, and in doing so names the brothers of Yeshua as a unique grouping, thus alluding to the fact that they were known to the communities of faith in Asia minor both as writers of instruction and as ministers of the Gospel. All this makes Judah the apostle the least likely candidate for authorship of the letter of Judah (Jude).
2. The writer describes himself as the “brother of Yaakov,” [James] (v.1) rather than following the Jewish tradition of naming one’s self according to one’s father, e.g. “Yehudah ben Yosef.” This would make sense if the writer were Judah the brother of Yeshua, due to the prominence of Yaakov (James) the brother of Yeshua, as a foundational member of the early body of believers in Jerusalem. (Acts 15)
3. The writer is likely also alluding to his relationship to Yaakov (James) his brother  because Yaakov had written to “the twelve tribes of Israel dispersed throughout the nations.” (Yaakov/James 1:1). Dispersion throughout the known world of the time would have included Asia Minor. Thus, like Yaakov (James), Judah is writing to believers who are familiar with Jewish Biblical tradition and extra-Biblical Jewish mythos.
4. The writer probably calls himself a “servant of Yeshua” as an act of repentance due to his former disbelief in his brother Yeshua. Thus he now bears the fruit of humility. (John 7:5; Mark 3:21, 6:4)

 
It’s worth noting that neither Judah (Jude) or Yaakov (James) call themselves brothers of Yeshua in their respective writings (probably so as not to trade on their familial connection to the King Messiah in outworking their faith), however others saw no problem in acknowledging them as Yeshua’s family (Matt. 13:55; John 7:3-10; Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5; Galatians 1:19).
 
Yeshua’s siblings show true humility in serving Him following His death and resurrection. Their former disbelief having been turned to faith by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. (John 7:5; Mark 3:21, 6:4)
 
Date:
 
The letter of Judah (Jude) was likely written around 65 C.E (A.D). It’s commonly accepted that Peter’s second letter makes use of Judah’s letter, which makes a later dating unlikely. The fact that Judah (Jude) is probably referring to Yaakov (James) his brother in order to bring to mind his brother’s letter and position of authority in the early body of believers, infers that Judah (Jude) is writing after the circulation of the letter of Yaakov (James), which was likely penned between 50 and 60 C.E. (A.D), at least 5 years prior to the writing of the letter of Judah (Jude)
 
Recipients:
 
The writer’s referencing of Jewish mythos (v.9 & 14-15) and his reference to Yaakov (James) makes it likely that the intended initial recipients were the same Jewish believers who Yaakov had written to some years earlier. The particular heretical ideas addressed in this work make it possible that believers in Asia Minor were the recipients. This does not negate the former assertion regarding Jewish believers. Of course, in Messiah the spiritual principles being taught are applicable to all believers.
 
Text:
 
1 Judah, a bonded servant of Yeshua the Messiah, and brother of Yaakov,
To those who are beloved in God the Father, and in Yeshua the Messiah are kept and called:
2 Mercy to you, and peace, and love be multiplied to you.
3 Beloved, in all diligence I prepare to write to you concerning our common salvation, I find it necessary to have to write to you to summon and encourage you to contend earnestly concerning the once and for all delivery of the holy faith. 
4 For certain ones have infiltrated unnoticed, who of old were designated beforehand for this judgement, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into unbridled lust and deny the only Master [Δεσπότην: despoten] and Lord/LORD [Κύριον: kyrion] of us, Yeshua the Messiah.
5 I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the LORD (Κύριος: Kurios) [later manuscripts] Yeshua (Ἰησοῦς: Ieesous) [earliest manuscripts], having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not trust.
6 The messengers/angels who did not keep themselves in the origin/beginning, but left their own dwelling place, He (The LORD/Yeshua) has toward the great day of judgement established them in everlasting chains to be kept under darkness; 
7 Just as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the surrounding cities in like manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after flesh not of their kind, are set forth as an example, suffering the just vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these sensual dreamers stain flesh, reject Lordship, and speak evil of glories. 
9 Yet Michael the chief angel, in arguing with the devil (slanderer), when he disputed about the body of Moshe, was not so bold as to bring against him a slanderous accusation, but said, “The LORD rebuke you!” [Deut. Rabbah 11:10]  
10 But these speak evil of whatever they don’t perceive; and whatever they know physically, like beasts devoid of reason, in these things they destroy themselves. 
11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, followed the greedy error of Balaam for the sake of profit, and are destroyed in the rebellion of Korah.
12 These are taking advantage of your love as hidden reefs in your love feasts (feasts of charity), while they feast with you without fear, they shepherd only themselves, like clouds without water, carried along by the winds; [Prov. 25:14] late autumn trees they are unfruitful, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 
13 wild waves of the sea, they foam up shame for themselves; wandering stars for whom it is established the blackness of darkness in an unbroken age.
14 Also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these ones, saying, “Behold, the LORD comes with ten thousands of His holy ones, 
15 to enact judgment according to all, to rebuke all souls (life-breath) who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly actions which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” [1 Enoch 1:9]
16 These are discontented, complainers, walking according to their own desires; and their mouths speak great boastings, flattering people to their faces in order to gain advantage. 
17 But you, beloved, remember the living words [ῥημάτων: rhematon] which were spoken before by the apostles (sent ones) of our Lord/LORD Yeshua the Messiah: 
18 since they warned you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly desires. 
19 These, having natural breath [Breath of the fallen nature], cause divisions, they are devoid of the Spirit (Breath of God).
20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 
21 Guard yourselves in the all-encompassing love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord/LORD Yeshua the Messiah toward eternal life.
22 And have compassion on those who are doubting; 
23 but others save, seizing them from the fire, having mercy in fear, hating even the flesh (fallen human nature) stained garment.
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you all from falling,
And to present you all blameless
Before the presence of His glory with extreme joy,
25 To the only God our Saviour,
Through Yeshua our LORD/Lord be glory,
Who alone is wise,
In Glory and majesty,
Authority/Dominion and before all time, power,
Both now and unto age without end
Amen.
 
Line Upon Line:
 
1 Judah, a bonded servant of Yeshua the Messiah, and brother of Yaakov,
To those who are beloved in God the Father, and in Yeshua the Messiah are kept and called:
 
As established in the introduction, the writer is most likely Yehudah (Jude) the brother of Yaakov (James) and Yeshua the King Messiah.
 
He begins in humility born of true repentance and doesn’t even consider using his familial connection to Yeshua as a means of affirming his authority. Instead Yehudah calls himself a willing bonded servant in the household of God in Messiah. He then references his brother Yaakov because Yaakov is known to his hearers as a minister of the Gospel, the brother of Yeshua and the writer of the book of Yaakov (James), which by the time of Yehudah’s writing is now five years old and has been read by Jewish believers throughout the known world including Asia Minor.
 
We note that Yehudah’s authority is established in Messiah and that the mention of Yaakov is a secondary witness to that same authority.
 
The latter clause, “To those who are beloved in God the Father, and in Yeshua the Messiah are kept and called:” establishes the recipients as those who are loved by God the Father and in Messiah are kept and called. I believe that Yehudah is following up on his brother’s work in an attempt to disciple and encourage the Jewish believers of Asia Minor by warning them against wicked people who have come among them as wolves in sheep’s clothing. This is supported by Yehudah’s use of Jewish mythos, extra-Biblical stories that would not have been as familiar to Gentile (Greek) believers of the time (Though some Gentile God Fearers may have known them). Therefore, the phrasing, “kept and called” denotes Jewish believers who, being in Messiah are kept in the continued promises of God for Israel and are called to be light to the nations as transmitters of the Gospel.
 
2 Mercy to you, and peace, and love be multiplied to you.
 
The Hebrew text illuminates the very Jewish approach to greeting, which is common throughout the writings of the New Testament, and although the writer is writing in Greek for the sake of the Gospel he is nonetheless thinking in Hebrew as he greets his fellow Jewish brothers and sisters in the diaspora.
 
חֶסֶד שָׁלוֹם וְאַהֲבָה יִרְבְּיוּן לָכֶם
 
Chesed (Mercy and practical love), and shalom (Born of the Prince), and ahavah in great abundance to you all.
 
3 Beloved, in all diligence I prepare to write to you concerning our common salvation, I find it necessary to have to write to you to summon and encourage you to contend earnestly concerning the once and for all delivery of the holy faith. 
 
The writer uses the word “common” but does not mean it in a demeaning or trivialising way. Rather he is expressing the universal message of the Gospel of Salvation. A message offered to all, though only the repentant receive it.
 
Yehudah writes with urgency out of concern for the weakening faith of his audience due to the subtle poisoning of their hearts and minds by false teachers. This is why he finds it necessary to challenge the deluded and summon courage from those who carry sound doctrine. He emphasises the fact that the holy faith is delivered once for all. His use of the qualifier “holy” seeks to differentiate the true faith from the perversion offered in the counterfeit faith of the sensual dreamers alluded to in v.8.
 
4 For certain ones have infiltrated unnoticed, who of old were designated beforehand for this judgement, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into unbridled lust and deny the only Master [Δεσπότην: despoten] and Lord/LORD [Κύριον: kyrion] of us, Yeshua the Messiah.
 
The certain wicked ones who have infiltrated the believing community are under God’s wrath, however the indictment on the community of faith is in the adjective “unnoticed.”
 
False teachers only go unnoticed when the vice of nice is being employed and those who hold the truth fail to call out these liars and remove them from the community. This spiritual laziness found in leaders and congregants alike is sin of the greatest kind because it leaves the spiritually immature unprotected from smooth talking wolves with doctorates, and their so called “progressive” interpretations of Scripture, which is in fact, hedonism.
 
The same is true today throughout the body of believers, where listening to everybody’s ideas in spite of whether they contradict Scripture or not, has become normalised. I experience it regularly wherever I am called to speak, in Christian universities, churches of all denominations, and in home groups throughout the body of believers globally.
 
The phrasing, “who of old were designated beforehand for this judgement, ungodly men,” seems to be an allusion to the judgements consistently passed against the ungodly people recorded in the TaNaKh as well as all who continue in rebellion under God’s wrath. (2 Peter 2:3)
 
The certain wicked ones Yehudah is referring to have been established for wrath from of old. They teach hyper grace, the kind Rav Shaul (Paul the Apostle) warned against (Romans 5:20 & 6). These teachers claim that because God is gracious anything goes. Their message of grace without justice and sin without consequence perverts the community of faith so that for example, homosexual acts become permissible contrary to God’s Instruction and perversions simply become opportunities for greater grace to abound. This abhorrent false gospel and its less obvious iterations have now become common place in the modern body of believers, where the best testimonies celebrate vile sins by claiming God’s grace is received even by the wilfully unrepentant. Those who practice such false gospels will find that grace devoid of justice and repentance is not the grace of God.
 
We note that these vile false teachers “deny the only Master [Δεσπότην: despoten] and Lord/LORD [Κύριον: kyrion] of us, Yeshua the Messiah.”
 
Look closely, the Greek uses two different words, “Master [Δεσπότην: despoten]” and “Lord/LORD [Κύριον: kyrion].” These insidious people who have infiltrated the slumbering body of faith, “Deny the only Master and YHVH of us, Yeshua the Messiah.” This is not simply an allusion to those who deny Jesus outright, although it does include those people, it is also describing those who deny that Yeshua is YHVH. “Christians” who deny the deity of Yeshua or seek through clever linguistic gymnastics to deny His unity in the Father, are not Christians at all, and yet many so called Christian tertiary institutions welcome professors who teach such lies under the guise of open mindedness. This very same open mindedness is the soil of delusion in which heretics grow unnoticed. I have first-hand knowledge of such institutions and their willingness to partner with cults (masquerading as churches) out of a misguided sense that they might somehow positively influence those who are teaching false doctrines. In every case where I have seen this kind of compromise the result has been that the false doctrines become part of the established Christian tertiary environment rather than the truth influencing the teachers of false doctrine. This is because the determination of the wicked has, being established beforehand, left them given over to their own evil intent unto destruction. (Romans 1:20-28) Those shepherds who fail to cut the cancer of false doctrine from their communities will be punished by God. May God have mercy on us.
 
5 I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the LORD (Κύριος: Kurios) [later manuscripts] Yeshua (Ἰησοῦς: Ieesous) [earliest manuscripts], having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not trust. 
 
Ref. Romans 11:19-22; Hebrews 3:7-4:11
 
Verses 5 through 7 give three examples warning in the strictest terms, that God will not tolerate those who pervert His Grace. All three examples are established in Scripture and form the foundation of Yehudah’s rebuke. This is important because the Jewish mythos he later uses to accentuate his point is just that, mythos. Yehudah, like Shaul, chooses popular stories to point back to the Word of God as revealed by the Holy Spirit in Messiah.
 
Yehudah is reminding those who have either through laziness or wilful ignorance forgotten the Torah and the punishments of God levelled against the rebellious, that God will not be mocked, nor will He allow His grace to be misrepresented as hedonism. This is a dire warning that infers destruction for those who refuse to take heed. We note that those destroyed following the exodus were those who did not trust (have faith in) God.
 
The most reliable Greek manuscripts of the New Testament book of Judah (Jude) write "Jesus" or "Lord" respectively:
 
·       Yeshua - Jesus (Ἰησοῦς: Ieesous), is found in some of the earliest and most reliable manuscripts, such as:
 
·       Codex Alexandrinus (A)
·       Codex Vaticanus (B)
·       Codex Sinaiticus (א)
·       Papyrus 72 (P⁷²), the earliest manuscript of Jude
 
A few other witnesses, including certain versions of the Vulgate and Coptic translations.
 
·       LORD YHVH/Lord (Κύριος: Kurios), is also found in a number of important manuscripts, though it appears to be a later adaptation in some:
 

• Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C)
• Some Byzantine manuscripts
• A number of Latin versions.

 
Some manuscripts read "God" (Θεός: Theos), but this is considered an even later development and therefore less reliable.
 
The point of all this is as follows:
 
The original Greek texts render "Jesus" or "Lord" respectively. The oldest copies render “Jesus” and the reliable later copies render “Lord.” We need not debate which is correct. The meta-narrative of Scripture affirms that both are correct. So we read “LORD (YHVH) Yeshua.”
 
Therefore, Yeshua, Imanu El, with us God, saved the Jewish people out of Egypt.
 
The summation of this verse is that believers should not delude themselves into thinking that salvation is an excuse to disregard true faith. The two go hand in hand. Those who intellectually assent to faith but prove to have no faith will meet the same kind of destruction that the unfaithful among Israel met in the desert.
 
Rav Shaul (Paul) writes:
 
“What shall we say then? Should we continue, remaining in sin that grace may increase? 2 May that idea not even come into existence! How can we who died to sin continue to live in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were immersed into Messiah Yeshua were immersed into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through immersion into death, so that just as Messiah was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so too we should walk in newness of life.”
 
Romans 6:1-4 [Author’s translation]
 
6 The messengers/angels who did not keep themselves in the origin/beginning, but left their own dwelling place, He (The LORD) has toward the great day of judgement established them in everlasting chains to be kept under darkness; 
 
Scripture teaches that Satan and his angelic minions rebelled against God and have been cast out of the third heaven and bound within the first heaven (earth’s atmosphere) [2 Peter 2:4; Rev. 12:1-9]. Scripture further teaches that the Devil and his angels are destined for perpetual fire and torment. (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10)
 
7 Just as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the surrounding cities in like manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after flesh not of their kind, are set forth as an example, suffering the just vengeance of eternal fire.
 
This is affirmed in the book of Revelation where the wicked are thrown into the lake of fire along with the Devil and his angels. (Matt. 25:46; Rev. 14:11, 20:10, 15)
 
“Sexual immorality” is a catch all phrase denoting all forms of sexual sin and the idiomatic phrase “gone after flesh not of their kind” can refer to both same sex intercourse and intercourse with animals.
 
8 Likewise also these sensual dreamers stain flesh, reject Lordship, and speak evil of splendours. 
 
These false teachers who have infiltrated the body of believers will meet the same fate as the Devil, his angels and the disobedient people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
 
These insidious deceivers are called “sensual dreamers” who “stain flesh.” While this may be interpreted figuratively, the plain meaning denotes tattoos that defile the body through ungodly blood covenant.
 
The use of “dreamers” is an allusion to Deuteronomy 13:1-3 and Jeremiah 23:16-32. Where false prophets are referred to as dreamers who dream up their own ideas and speak them as if they were the words and visions of God.
 
The phrasing, “reject Lordship, and speak evil of splendours,” is essentially a description of the fruit of pride and rebellion. (2 Peter 2:10) These deceivers demand to be masters of their own destiny and show disrespect for rulers and authorities as well as speaking evil of the splendours of God’s creation both seen and unseen. This is the height of hubris, a satanic manifestation of pride and idolatry.
 
9 Yet Michael the chief angel, in arguing with the devil (slanderer), when he disputed about the body of Moshe, was not so bold as to bring against him a slanderous accusation, but said, “The LORD rebuke you!” [Deut. Rabbah 11:10] 
 
This is the first of several quotes taken from extra-Biblical Jewish mythos.
 
It’s important to understand that just as Paul the Apostle was not giving general credence to pagan authors by quoting them to convey certain points (Acts 17:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:33; Titus 1:12), so too Yehudah is not suggesting that the Jewish mythology he is quoting is in any way authoritative or Holy Spirit inspired. He is simply using familiar folk lore as a means of proving his point.
 
This quotation concerning Michael and the Devil is supposedly taken from a scroll called the Testament of Moses, a Jewish writing from the early 1 century C.E. (A.D.) of which few fragments remain and none of them include the words quoted here. However, some elements of this legend are found in the Talmudic work Deuteronomy Rabbah 11:10 where Samma’el (regarded in Judaism as the angel of death and considered synonymous with Satan) and Michael are seen in dispute an hour before the death of Moses. The Targum Yonatan says that the tomb of Moses was placed under Michael’s authority.
 
The point being made here is that Michael, a chief or arch angel of God understood that God had given Satan the role of Accuser (Job 1-2). [Like the TaNaKh the New Testament does not consider Satan as being independent of God but as a created being who has been given limited power and is subject to the order of God.] Therefore, in keeping with the Word of God, “Adonay says, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay!’” (Deut. 32:25; Rom. 12:19) Michael responds to the Devil, “May Adonay rebuke you!” Echoing God’s rebuke of Satan in Zechariah 3:1-2.
 
Within the context of this myth Yehudah is gleaning a spiritual principle that is to be applied by the believer when dealing with spiritual forces that are beyond our control but are under the authority of God and therefore within the purview of our ministry and authority in Messiah.
 
10 But these speak evil of whatever they don’t perceive; and whatever they know physically, like beasts devoid of reason, in these things they destroy themselves. 
 
Ref. 2 Peter 2:12
 
These wicked infiltrators speak out of their wilful ignorance and pridefully denounce and mock any and every force or idea that they themselves don’t understand.
 
On the other hand, when it comes to the carnal nature, lusts of the flesh and the many possibilities of perversion, they act sensually without reason and devoid of restraint. Thus they destroy their own bodies in many ways, including but not limited to sexual violation, cutting, ungodly piercing, self-mutilation, tattooing, consumption of blood and so on.
 
This physical self-harm is born of spiritual darkness.
 
11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, followed the greedy error of Balaam for the sake of profit, and are destroyed in the rebellion of Korah.
 
These three references from the Torah all concern rebellion against God’s authority, idolatry in the form of self-gain at the expense of others and self-pity manifest as sin against those who walk rightly before God and who have benefited spiritually and physically from obeying His Instruction.
 
12 These are taking advantage of your love as hidden reefs in your love feasts (Feasts of charity), while they feast with you without fear, they shepherd only themselves, like clouds without water, carried along by the winds; [Prov. 25:14] late autumn trees they are unfruitful, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
 
The poetic phrasing here illuminates the nature of the insidious infiltrators among the community of faith. They are like sharp coral reefs just below the surface of the ocean. The water looks safe and inviting but just beneath is the razor sharp reef waiting to lacerate the swimmer.
 
The feasts in question were feasts held by the community of faith as a charitable sharing of food and supplies with those less fortunate, hence “Love feasts.” In such environments the true believer looks out for others and attends with that motivation in mind. However, these wicked pretenders attend only for what they can get out of the event and do so shamelessly with no fear of God’s justice. Yehudah describes them using the Proverb, “Whoever boasts falsely about giving Is like clouds and wind without rain.” [Prov. 25:14] (Ref. Acts 5:1-11; 2 Peter 2:17-18)
 
“Love feast” does not refer to the extra-Biblical doctrine of men called “communion.” Communion, a Gentile Church practice that is derivative of Passover, is not instituted as a separate practice in Scripture. Love Feast is not a synonym for Pesach (Passover), which is never referred to as a love feast in Scripture.
 
The latter phrase, “late autumn trees they are unfruitful, twice dead, pulled up by the roots,” speaks of the ultimate fate of these pseudo Christian infiltrators who may well have been immersed (baptised) into the death of Messiah symbolically but are now seen for who they really are and destined for the second death, their baptism being ineffectual due to the state of their hearts. They are twice dead because they have not born fruit and have lost all their leaves proving that they were never healthy trees to begin with. Therefore, they are pulled up by the roots which is pretext for being thrown on the fire (Ezekiel 15:1-5; Matt. 3:10, 7:19; Luke 3:9).
 
13 wild waves of the sea, they foam up shame for themselves; wandering stars for whom it is established the blackness of darkness in an unbroken age.
 
Like wild waves whose foam has no purpose other than to be blown away by the wind, they’re left empty having worked only to prove how shameful they are.
 
The phrasing, “wandering stars for whom it is established the blackness of darkness in an unbroken age.” Connects the fate of these wicked pretenders to that of the Devil and his angels, who are elsewhere described as stars (Rev. 12)
 
“Blackest darkness/Deep darkness” is a Jewish metaphor denoting torment, spiritual blindness, Gehinnom, perpetual fire.
 
14 Also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these ones, saying, “Behold, the LORD comes with ten thousands of His holy ones, 
 
Enoch is in the seventh generation from Adam according to the Torah (Gen. 5:18).
 
As alluded to earlier, Yehudah uses Jewish mythos, being popular folk lore among the Jewish believers, as a way to convey his point. He is not venerating the books of Enoch in any way (Books that were named for Enoch but were compiled in the 200 year period prior to the first century C.E. [A.D.] by various Jewish writers. These books were rejected by the rabbis as being uninspired and were therefore never included in the Jewish Canon of Scripture [TaNaKh (O.T.)]). Judah is simply employing a small part of the myth in order to teach a spiritual principle.
 
It must be made clear that the books of Enoch are full of occultic concepts and esoteric false religious ideas as well as spurious angelology and fanciful fairy tales. To use the book of Judah (Jude) as an excuse to delve into a deep study of the uninspired and occultic works of the books of Enoch is to entertain the very things Yehudah, by the Holy Spirit, is warning believers to avoid.
 
15 to enact judgment according to all, to rebuke all souls (life-breath) who are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly actions which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” [1 Enoch 1:9]
 
We note that there is a theme concerning “breath.” Here the LORD comes to enact judgement against all who have life-breath, and are ungodly, walking according to the yetzer hara (evil inclination).
 
Note that the word “ungodly” is used three times, meaning that the fate of these people is established, everlasting.
 
16 These are discontented, complainers, walking according to their own desires; and their mouths speak great boastings, flattering people to their faces in order to gain advantage. 
 
Ref. 2 Peter 3:3
 
The theme of breath continues in the fruit of the breath of the mouth, manifest as complaining, boasting, flattery etc.
 
All this is the result of a self-seeking desire of the fallen nature that looks to take advantage of others in order to elevate one’s self. This is the very antithesis of the Gospel of our LORD Yeshua the Messiah.
 
17 But you, beloved, remember the living words [ῥημάτων: rhematon] which were spoken before by the apostles (sent ones) of our Lord/LORD Yeshua the Messiah: 
 
In juxtaposition to the vile words born of putrid breath Yehudah admonishes the believers to remember the living words [ῥημάτων: rhematon] spoken to them by the Apostles according to the breath/Ruach/Spirit of the King Messiah Yeshua.
 
18 since they warned you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly desires. 
 
The believers who have allowed the wicked pretenders to dwell among them unhindered are without excuse, having been warned by the Apostles that such ungodly people would attempt to disrupt the community of faith in the last days.
 
19 These, having natural breath [Breath of the fallen nature], cause divisions, they are devoid of the Spirit (Breath of God).
 
The breath theme finds its ultimate expression here where the natural breath of the fallen nature is seen to cause divisions because those who speak by it are devoid of the Holy Spirit, Who is the breath of life in every true believer born through Messiah unto God the Father.
 
20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 
 
Yehudah, speaking by the breath of God gives the community of faith an opportunity for repentance and admonishes them with this instruction to combat the invasive evil by encouraging the faithful in the faith of Messiah and praying in the Holy Breath (Spirit) of God so as to bear the fruit of godly speech and Messiah essential rebuke of the deceptively wicked pretenders who have come among them.
 
21 Guard yourselves in the all-encompassing love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord/LORD Yeshua the Messiah toward eternal life.
 
We note that it is in the all-encompassing love of God that we are to keep guard over ourselves, not of ourselves but of Him. In this security we are to look for the mercy of our LORD Yeshua and act accordingly.
 
22 And have compassion on those who are doubting; 
 
Toward those who have been brought to a place of doubt because of the infiltrating false teachers we are to show compassion and protect them from further evil influence while teaching them in the Holy Spirit so as to dispel their doubts and strengthen their faith.
 
Intellectual faith cannot save. Saving faith is given and responded to in the heart (centre of being). This is why Scripture addresses consciousness as being in the heart, saying:
 
“For as he thinks/reasons in his heart (centre of being), so is he.
“Eat and drink!” he says to you,
But his heart (centre of being) is not with you.
 
-Mishlei (Proverbs) 23:7 [Author’s translation]
 
23 but others save, seizing them from the fire, having mercy in fear, hating even the flesh (fallen human nature) stained garment.
 
Toward those who are rebellious and yet remain reachable through the Gospel unto repentance, we are to move with a firm hand, metaphorically grabbing them by the scruff of the neck in order to pull them quickly out of the fire of false teaching and sensual living. We are to do this with mercy and fear. That is, we are to show them mercy but not enable them in any way. Rather in fear of the LORD we admonish them firmly, hating even the smallest reflection of the fallen nature that stains the old garment of the fallen person. In short, we insist that they get rid of even the smallest thing that seeks to defile their new Messiah essential garments. This begins in us.
 
“11 For there is no other foundation that anyone can lay apart from that which is laid, which is Yeshua the Messiah. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw stubs, 13 each one’s work will be made manifest; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will try each one’s work, showing its quality. 14 If a person’s work which that person has built on the foundation abides/endures, that person will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, that person will suffer loss; but the person themselves will be as one saved through fire.
 
-1 Corinthians 3:11-15 [Author’s Translation]
 
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you all from falling,
And to present you all blameless
Before the presence of His glory with extreme joy,
 
YHVH our Father is able to keep us from falling, though we are unable. He will present us blameless as we respond to His offer of sacrificial love.
 
“You all” applies to all who are saved and walk in alignment with the mind of Messiah.

25 To the only God our Saviour,
Through Yeshua our LORD/Lord be glory,
Who alone is wise,
In Glory and majesty,
Authority/Dominion and before all time, power,
Both now and unto age without end
Amen.
 
The only God our Saviour is One, Father, Son and Spirit. This text identifies every person of the Godhead in unity (Power being an expression of the Holy Spirit) and shows a correlation between the expression of His unity and relationship to the body of believers whom He will keep from falling and present blameless before Himself.
 
With Yehudah we offer praise and exaltation:
 
Now to Him who is able to keep you all from falling,
And to present you all blameless
Before the presence of His glory with extreme joy,
To the only God our Saviour,
Through Yeshua our LORD/Lord be glory,
Who alone is wise,
In Glory and majesty,
Authority/Dominion and before all time, power,
Both now and unto age without end
Amen, amen, amen!
 
Copyright 2025 Yaakov Ben Yehoshua