Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jude 1:21
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
21. keep yourselves in the love of God ] The words admit equally of being taken of our love for God, or God’s love for us, but the latter meaning is more in harmony with the general tenor of Scripture, and, in particular, with our Lord’s language (“continue ye in my love”) in Joh 15:9, and probably also St Paul’s (“the love of Christ constraineth us”) in 2Co 5:14.
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ ] The verb implies, as in Luk 2:25; Luk 2:38; Luk 23:51, that the “mercy” is thought of as in the future, and probably there is a special reference to the second coming of Christ as that which will manifest His mercy no less than His righteous judgment. There is no ground, however, for limiting it to this significance, and it may well include all acts of mercy to which men were looking forward in patient expectation, as in store for them during the remainder of their earthly pilgrimage.
The reference in this and the preceding verse (1) to the Holy Spirit, (2) to the Father, (3) to the Lord Jesus Christ, may be noted as shewing St Jude’s witness to the “faith once delivered to the saints.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Keep yourselves in the love of God – Still adverting to their own agency. On the duty here enjoined, see the notes at Joh 15:9. The phrase the love of God may mean either Gods love to us, or our love to him. The latter appears, however, to be the sense here, because it is not a subject which could be enjoined, that we should keep up Gods love to us. That is a point over which we can have no control, except so far as it may be the result of our obedience; but we may be commanded to love him, and to keep ourselves in that love.
Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ – Particularly when he shall come to receive his people to himself. See the Tit 2:13 note; 2Pe 3:12 note; 2Ti 4:8 note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 21. Keep yourselves in the love of God] By building up yourselves on your most holy faith, and praying in the Holy Ghost; for without this we shall soon lose the love of God.
Looking for the mercy of our Lord] For although they were to build themselves up, and to pray in the Holy Ghost, and keep themselves in the love of God, yet this building, praying, and keeping, cannot merit heaven; for, after all their diligence, earnestness, self-denial, watching, obedience, &c., they must look for the MERCY of the Lord Jesus Christ, to bring them to ETERNAL LIFE.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Keep yourselves in the love of God; i.e. in love to God, or that love whereby ye love God; this implies love to each other, as the cause doth the effect.
Looking for; viz. by hope: and so in these two verses we have the three cardinal graces, faith, hope, and charity.
The mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life; the merciful or gracious sentence of Christ the Judge, whereby he puts believers in possession of eternal life, Mat 25:34. This reward of eternal life is promised, but being promised freely, and out of mercy, it is called mercy, 2Ti 1:18, the effect being put for the cause.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
InJud1:20,Jud1:21,Jude combines the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: and faith,hope,and love.
Keepyourselves not in your own strength, but in the love of God, that is,Godslove to youand all His believing children, the only guarantee for their beingkeptsafe. Mans need of watching is implied; at the same time he cannotkeephimself, unless God in His love keep him.
lookingfor in hope.
themercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to be fully manifested at His coming. Mercyis usually attributed to the Father: here to the Son; so entirely oneare they.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Keep yourselves in the love of God,…. By which may be meant either the grace and favour of God, that love with which God loves his people; and then the exhortation to the saints to keep themselves in it is, to set it always before them, to keep it constantly in view, to exercise faith on it, firmly believing their interest in it; as also to meditate on it, give themselves up wholly to the contemplation of it, and employ their thoughts constantly about it, which is the foundation of all grace here, and glory hereafter; or to preserve themselves by it, for so the words may be rendered, “preserve yourselves by the love of God”; against Satan’s temptations, the snares of the world, and the lusts of the flesh; whenever Satan solicits to sin, and any snare is laid to draw into it, and the flesh attempts to be predominant, saints should betake themselves to the love of God, as to a strong hold and preservative against sin, and reason as Joseph did, Ge 39:9, for the love of God, and continuance in it, do not depend on anything that can be done by men; nor is there any danger of real believers falling from it, or losing it, since it is unchangeable, and is from everlasting to everlasting; or else by the love of God we are to understand that love with which his people love him and of which he is the object,
Lu 11:42; and then the meaning of the exhortation is, that though this grace of love cannot be lost, yet, inasmuch as the fervour of it may be abated, and the people of God grow cold and indifferent in their expressions of it, it becomes them to make use of all proper means to maintain and increase it in themselves and others; such as are mentioned in the context, as conversing together in an edifying way about the doctrines of the Gospel, and praying either separately or together, under the influences of the Holy Spirit, and looking forward for the grace and mercy of Christ unto everlasting life; all which, with many other, things, by the blessing of God, may serve to maintain and revive the grace of love, and blow it up into a flame: though perhaps this phrase may chiefly design that love, peace, and concord, which ought to subsist among saints as brethren, and which they should be careful to preserve; and may be called the love of God, just as the same thing is styled the peace of God, Col 3:15, because it is what God requires, what he calls unto, which is of him, and is taught by him in regeneration, and what his, love engages to, and without which there is no true love to him; and he takes, love shown to his people as if shown to himself; and this sense is favoured by the context, both by the words in the preceding verse, and in the following ones:
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. The mercy of Christ may be considered either as past, which was shown in eternity, in his covenant transactions with his Father, in engaging in the cause of his people, in espousing them to himself, and in the care of their persons, grace, and glory; and in time, in assuming their nature, in his tender concern for the bodies and souls of men, in bearing the sins and sorrows of his people, in the redemption of them, and in their regeneration and calling; and there is the present mercy of Christ, in interceding for his people, in sympathizing with them under all their afflictions, in succouring them under all their temptations, in suiting himself, as the great Shepherd, to all the circumstances of his flock; and there is the future mercy of Christ, which will be shown at death, in the grave, and at the resurrection, at the day of judgment, and in the merciful sentence he will pronounce on his people; and this seems to be designed here; the consequent of which, or what is annexed to it, and in which it issues, is eternal life; which is not owing to the works of men, but to the grace of God, and mercy of Christ; eternal life is in him, and is given through him, and to his mercy should men look for it. Christ himself is to be looked for, who will certainly come a second time; and eternal life is to be looked for by him; and this is only to be expected through his grace and mercy; and this is to be looked for by faith, in the love of it, with delight and pleasure, and cheerfulness, with eagerness, and yet with patience.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Keep yourselves ( ). First aorist active imperative (of urgency) of . In verse 1 they are said to be kept, but note the warning in verse 5 from the angels who did not keep their dominion. See also Jas 1:27. In Php 2:12 both sides (human responsibility and divine sovereignty are presented side by side).
Looking for (). Present middle participle of , the very form in Tit 2:13. The same idea in in 2Pe 3:14.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Keeping yourselves” – (Greek teresate heautous) means to watch, to guard, to reserve or protect with care ones own self or being. Each sanctified believer is a creature of his own volition, will, or choice and is divinely admonished to keep or guard his life – his behaviour – his conduct – in an holy way. 1Co 9:26-27; 1Co 6:19-20.
2) “In the love of God” – in the realm of (Greek agape theou) the attribute of God’s high, holy, spiritual love or affection for the world. Joh 3:16; Rom 5:8.
3) “Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ” Looking for, (Greek prosdechomenoi), anticipating the mercy of Jesus Christ. Each who keeps or guards his behaviour in a holy way may anticipate the mercy of the lord thru all life’s trials. Such as do not so behave may look for heavy chastisement. Luk 12:47.
4) “Unto eternal life” – (Greek – eis zoen aionion) meaning into, with reference to eternal life, looking for, anticipating life eternal in the body, in the personal fellowship of Jesus Christ. Each sanctified believer is admonished to watch, guard, or keep his course of life’s actions and thoughts in the area of God’s divine love and mercy. Note: every time eternal life is directly or indirectly offered to the believer, in future tense, it refers to the eternal life of the body – the kind the inner man, new man, already possesses. For example – the adoption, that is the redemption of the body to eternal life, is future –
a) Rom 8:23-25 In hope of redemption of the body to eternal life we wait in patience.
b) Tit 3:7 “to the hope of eternal life.”
c) 1Jn 2:25 “this is the promise – he hath promised us eternal life.”
d) Heb 5:9 “Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”.
e) Mar 10:30 “In the world to come eternal life” Redemption of body, Eph 1:14; Eph 4:30. Until the day of his meeting the Lord each child of God should glorify God in his body and spirit, which are the Lord’s by the seal of His Holy Spirit. 1Co 6:19-20.
MY HOPE
I hope to live till Jesus comes
Back to this earth again,
To catch away his chosen bride,
A thousand years to reign,
But if I die before that time,
I know this clod of clay
Will be caught up to meet the Lord, I’ll be there – anyway!
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
21. Keep yourselves in the love of God. He has made love as it were the guardian and the ruler of our life; not that he might set it in opposition to the grace of God, but that it is the right course of our calling, when we make progress in love. But as many things entice us to apostasy, so that it is difficult to keep us faithful to God to the end, he calls the attention of the faithful to the last day. For the hope of that alone ought to sustain us, so that we may at no time despond; otherwise we must necessarily fail every moment.
But it ought to be noticed that he would not have us to hope for eternal life, except through the mercy of Christ: for he will in such a manner be our judge, as to have no other rule in judging us than that gratuitous benefit of redemption obtained by himself.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Jud 1:21. Keep yourselves in the love of God, The word ‘ is put for , one another, both here and in Jud 1:20. See 1Th 5:11; 1Th 5:13. The meaningand connection is, that bybuilding up one another upon their most holy faith, and praying by the aid or inspiration of the Spirit, they should preserve one another in a sincere love to God and goodness, and in that way they might expect the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jud 1:21 . . In Jud 1:1 the passive is used: those who are addressed are described as kept and beloved ( cf. Jud 1:24 , ): here the active is used and emphasised by the unusual order of words; each is to keep himself in the love of God, cf. Jas 1:27 , , Phi 2:12 , . Again in Jud 1:2 the writer invokes the divine love and mercy on those to whom he writes: here they are bidden to take steps to secure these. Compare Rom 5:5 , , ib. Rom 8:39 , , Joh 15:9 . , . , . The aor. imper. is expressive ot urgency, see note on , in Jas 1:2 .
. Cf. Tit 2:13 , . ., and 2Pe 3:12-14 . The same word is used of the Jews who were looking for the promised Messiah at the time of His first coming, Mar 15:43 , Luk 2:25 ; Luk 2:38 .
. Some connect this closely with the imperative , but it seems to me to follow more naturally on the nearer phrase, . : cf. 1 Pet. 1:37, .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
the love of God = God’s love to you, i.e. the assurance of it, basedon His Word.
looking for. Greek. prosdechomai. See Act 23:21.
life. App-170.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jud 1:21. , yourselves) He who defends himself first, is able then, and not till then, to preserve others. The following verses.-, waiting for) They, who build themselves up, are able to wait with confidence.-, mercy) Opposed to fire, Jud 1:23.-, unto) To be construed with waiting for.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Reciprocal: Jos 23:11 – love 1Ki 2:4 – That the Lord Psa 13:5 – But Psa 136:1 – for his mercy Pro 16:17 – he Pro 22:5 – he Isa 35:10 – and come Mat 10:22 – but Mat 19:16 – eternal Mat 25:46 – the righteous Luk 12:36 – men Luk 16:9 – into Joh 4:23 – in spirit Joh 6:40 – and believeth Joh 10:28 – I give Joh 15:4 – Abide Joh 16:27 – the Father Joh 17:2 – give Act 14:22 – exhorting Act 15:29 – if ye Rom 8:26 – but Rom 11:22 – if thou 1Co 1:7 – waiting 2Co 13:14 – the love Gal 5:1 – Stand Gal 6:8 – of the Spirit Eph 5:27 – but Phi 4:1 – so Phi 4:6 – in Tit 1:2 – hope Heb 5:9 – eternal Heb 12:2 – Looking Heb 12:15 – Looking 2Pe 3:12 – Looking 1Jo 2:25 – General 1Jo 5:11 – God 1Jo 5:18 – keepeth
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jud 1:21. All who keep the commandments will have the love of God, and such persons may expect the mercy of the Lord when he comes to judge tyre world.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
21. Keep yourselves in the love of God, receiving the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. These two verses contain the very counsel and admonition which we all need to fortify us against these false teachers, who everywhere abound. Unless we are emptied of sin, filled with the Holy Ghost, constant in prayer, we are in constant danger of Satans lasso, thrown out by an unscriptural teacher. In conclusion of this scathingly anathematizing prophecy of Jude against these counterfeit preachers, he divides them into three classes: denotes the sentence of a criminal judge. The conclusion is clear and explicit that this class is hopelessly reprobated and doomed to perdition. They have crossed the dead-line, grieved away the Holy Spirit and are out of mercys reach.
(2) 23. And some save, seizing them out of the fire. This second class is barely hopeful. There is one chance for them in a thousand, and that is by jerking them out of hell-fire. They are on the brink, the wreathing flames already curling round them. Run quickly and seize them out.
(3) But others pity in their fear, truly hating the garment which is polluted by depravity. This is the hopeful, savable class. They are already convicted and trembling with fear. Oh, what an inviting case for Christian prayer, sympathy and heroic efforts. Hating the garment which has been polluted by depravity, i.e., the Christian workers hate this garment of profession worn by the false prophet, and polluted with depravity. Beware and go under the black-flag. If you soften things and compromise with him (though he is a big preacher) you are responsible for his blood. You are full of love for his soul, and at the same time hatred for the carnal profession which almost sent him to hell. Here Jude winds up these terrific anathemas of the Holy Ghost against counterfeit preachers, raised up by Satan to antagonize the true herald of salvation in all coming ages, and especially the latter days, in which we know more. You see in the finale he consigns one class of them hopelessly to Satan. For another class there is a bare possibility of salvation by seizing them out of hell-fire. The third class are already penitent and savable.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Third, we should keep ourselves in the sphere of God’s love (Jud 1:1; Jud 1:6; Jud 1:13; cf. Joh 15:9; Rom 5:5; Rom 8:39). When we depart from His Word and His will, we erect barriers between ourselves and God thus blocking the free flow of His love to us. We keep ourselves in His love by abiding in Him (Joh 15:9-10; 1Jn 2:28).
"To be conscious of being beloved by God is one of the greatest protections that the believer can possess." [Note: Plummer, 6:662.]
Fourth, we should keep in mind and consciously look forward to the complete realization of our eternal life (cf. 1Jn 3:2; Rom 8:29). This will be the greatest manifestation of Jesus Christ’s mercy to us as believers.
". . . the Rapture will be the consummating evidence of His mercy." [Note: Pentecost, p. 923.]
In other words, Jude exhorted his readers to keep their hope in view. We have only a short time to wait and to remain faithful.
"The Christian life is viewed as having an inward look relating to the development of character [Jud 1:20], an upward look relating to communion with God [Jud 1:20-21], and a forward look being consummated in final glorification [Jud 1:21]." [Note: Hiebert, "An Exposition . . . 17-23," p. 362.]
"The picture of the Christian life in terms of ’faith, hope, and love’ (1Co 13:13) is enriched by the addition of ’praying in the Holy Spirit.’ There is also a carefully formulated reference to the Trinity: the Holy Spirit, the Father, and Jesus Christ." [Note: Idem, Second Peter . . ., p. 286.]