Commentary on Jude 22

Jude

Greeting

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Judgment on False Teachers

3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favouritism to gain advantage.

A Call to Persevere

17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Doxology

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.

Study Verse

Jude 22 “And have mercy on those who doubt.”

Jude writes to believers threatened by false teachers who had entered the church and distorted the grace of God into sensuality, while denying Jesus Christ as Master and Lord (Jude 3–4). After exposing their character and certain judgment, Jude turns to the faithful. They must remember the apostolic warnings, build themselves up in the faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep themselves in God’s love, and wait for Christ’s mercy (Jude 17–21). Verses 22–23 then describe a discerning ministry towards people affected by error. Jude 22 addresses those who are wavering: they need mercy, not contempt.

1. Exegesis of Jude 22

“And.” The command flows from Jude 20–21. Christians who are being kept for Jesus Christ are to become instruments of his preserving mercy. Contending for the faith is therefore joined to compassionate care.

“Have mercy.” The verb calls for active compassion. In Jude, mercy begins with God and reaches its final fulfilment through Jesus Christ (Jude 2, 21). Believers do not manufacture mercy; they extend the mercy they have received. Here it may include patient listening, careful instruction, prayer, reassurance, correction, and practical support.

“On those who doubt.” The English Standard Version presents the people in view as those who hesitate or waver. They are unsettled by false teaching, but are not necessarily hardened teachers themselves. The distinction matters: spiritual uncertainty is not treated as harmless, yet the doubter is approached as a person to be restored. The verse therefore requires discernment about both the error and the person affected by it.

The textual and interpretive issue. Ancient manuscripts preserve variants in Jude 22–23, which has resulted in different arrangements of the groups and actions in English translations. The English Standard Version follows a three-part pattern: mercy for doubters, urgent rescue for those nearer danger, and mercy mixed with fear for people deeply entangled in corruption. On that reading, Jude 22 identifies the first group and sets a pastoral tone for the stronger interventions that follow.

2. Theological Teaching

• Truth and mercy belong together. Jude commands believers to contend for the faith (Jude 3), but this defence must reflect the mercy of God. Doctrinal firmness without compassion can become harshness; compassion without truth can leave people in danger.
• God preserves his people through appointed means. God is able to keep believers from stumbling (Jude 24), and he also commands the church to build, pray, remain watchful, and show mercy (Jude 20–23). Divine preservation does not cancel pastoral responsibility; it establishes it.
• Doubt does not place a person beyond Christ’s care. Saving faith may be assaulted by confusion, fear, temptation, or persuasive error. The appropriate response is not automatic condemnation, but patient ministry that directs the doubter back to the apostolic gospel. See Matthew 12:20; Mark 9:24; Luke 24:38; John 20:24–29; and Romans 14:1.
• The church must practise spiritual discernment. Jude distinguishes vulnerable doubters from those who require urgent rescue and from situations calling for fearful caution (Jude 22–23). A single pastoral method will not fit every person or danger. See Galatians 6:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Timothy 2:24–26; and James 5:19–20.
• Mercy is centred on Jesus Christ. The believer waits for the mercy of Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life (Jude 21). Christian care therefore aims beyond temporary relief towards repentance, perseverance, and joyful presentation before God (Jude 24–25).

3. Practical Application to Modern Christian Living

• Listen before answering. Ask what the person actually doubts, what has influenced them, and whether the struggle is intellectual, moral, emotional, or relational.
• Distinguish the confused from the defiant. Do not treat every question as rebellion. At the same time, do not minimise teaching that denies the gospel or encourages ungodliness.
• Respond with Scripture, prayer, and patience. Explain the faith clearly, admit when a question requires further study, and remain present. The goal is restoration, not winning an argument.
• Keep mercy accountable to truth. Compassion does not mean approving every belief or choice. Gently name error, show why it matters, and point to the sufficiency of Christ.
• Guard your own life. Those helping others must remain rooted in the faith, dependent on the Holy Spirit, and alert to temptation (Jude 20–21, 23).
• Make the church a safe place for honest questions. Congregations should teach sound doctrine and welcome sincere enquiry. Leaders should avoid ridicule, careless certainty, and public embarrassment.

4. Meditation Guide

Read: Read Jude 17–25 slowly,
17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
then return to Jude 22.
22 And have mercy on those who doubt;
Notice how mercy towards doubters grows out of life in God’s love and hope in Christ’s mercy.

Reflect:

• Where am I presently wavering, confused, or fearful?
• Have I responded harshly to someone whose faith is unsettled?
• Do I separate doctrinal faithfulness from Christlike compassion?
• What form of mercy would best serve the person before me: listening, instruction, warning, prayer, or patient companionship?

Repent: Confess pride, impatience, fear of difficult questions, or indifference towards people exposed to error.

Receive: Rest in the God who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless with great joy (Jude 24). Your confidence lies finally in his preserving grace, not in the strength of your understanding.

Pray: Merciful Father, keep me in the truth of the gospel. Give me wisdom to recognise doubt, courage to address error, and tenderness towards those who waver. Use me to direct them to Jesus Christ, who is able to preserve his people. Amen.

Act: Identify one person who may be struggling. Contact them this week, listen without haste, and offer one clear encouragement grounded in Scripture.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. Used by permission. All rights reserved.