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Jude then refers to the warnings of apostles respecting these scoffing sensualists. "But ye, beloved, remember ye the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I. CONFIRMATION OF HIS STATEMENTS BY THE AUTHORITY OF APOSTLES.

1. It is evident that Jude's Epistle was written subsequent, perhaps long subsequent, to the Epistles of Peter and Paul, to which he refers. These sensual seducers had time to develop their corruptions and their audacity of position.

2. Jude recognizes the Divine authority and inspiration of these earlier writings of Scripture.

3. He throws back the saints upon the recollection of Scripture as their only authoritative guide. There is no evidence that he refers here to any oral traditions.

4. Jude believes in the fact of prophetic illumination.

5. It is the duty of ministers to warn their people against a approaching evils.

6. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

II. THE SUBSTANCE OF THE PROPHETIC WARNING. "In the last time there shall be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts." Note here the predicted appearance of wicked mockers.

1. They arise in "the last time." That is, in the period lying between the first and the second advents of Christ. They appear even under the purest dispensation of grace. The wicked are most wicked when grace is most abundant.

2. They are as wicked as they are scornful. Mockery is, indeed, a note of advanced corruption. Their mockeries are directed both against God and man. These mockers were probably those referred to by Peter as asking, "Where is the promise of his coming?'

(1) Mockery is essentially a profane act. It argues contempt of God's being as well as his attributes.

(2) It argues unbelief. It implies that God's threatenings are a fable.

(3) It is a barrier against the reception of good. "Rebuke a scorner, and he will hate thee"

(4) It is a from of persecution (Galatians 4:29).

(5) Great is the Divine forbearance with mockers.

(6) God will punish the mockers. He "scorneth the scorners" (Proverbs 3:34); and will "mock at their calamities" in the day of their judgment.

III. THE CONDUCT OF BELIEVERS IN THE PRESENCE OF MOCKERS.

1. We must bear mockings with patience, like our Lord, who "endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2).

2. We must not render scoff for scoff, at the risk of hardening scoffers.

3. We must not allow scoffers to deter us from following the Lord fully. - T.C.

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KJV: But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

WEB: But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.