In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions. 

Jude 18

With the letters of Peter, John and Jude, plus John’s Revelation, the New Testament concludes with prophecy; and as in the Old Testament, prophecy is concerned with dire warnings.  God would have his people know that they are dangerously close to turning aside from him.

Jude, a brother of Jesus, is horrified by what he is witnessing and writes with urgency:

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. 

(Ibid 4)

This, he would remind the Church, was already predicted by the apostles, who spoke of false teachers.  The word he repeats is empaiktai, the plural of empaiktés (ἐμπαίκτης), meaning one who makes a mockery of (in this case) the Gospel of Christ.

There is much overlap between the second letter of Peter and Jude’s:

… you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers (empaiktai) will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 

(2 Peter 3:2-3)

It is critical to realise that this is a warning aimed at believers, to the Church, indeed; for the world, which is in denial of all truth, cares nothing for God and anything he has to say; however, just as apostate Israel in the days of the prophets, part of the mockery is to deny not simply the message, but its intended target audience. By saying this is God warning the world, one can deflect and ignore the warning.  So the scoffers, by way of false teaching, condemn the world for its sin, while ignoring rebellion within the body of Christ.    

The very first psalm opens this way:

Blessed is the (righteous) man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the instruction of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.

(Psalm 1:1-2)

And of that law, Jesus reapplies nine of the ten commandments – even the Greatest Commandments are first stated under Moses’ leadership.  Furthermore, during Jesus’ first teaching, he not only affirms law, but adds to it so, for instance, to even contemplate murder or adultery is itself the infraction, not simply the enactment.

Thus, this dictum of lawfulness can be readily applied to the true disciple of Christ, meaning one that accepts his discipline.

Jesus gave commandment and expects obedience.  Knowing all would fail him, he expects continual repentance and offers forgiveness, but rebellion against his word, especially by those who would distort it, is a different matter.  That rebellion can be indirect.  One does not need to repudiate Jesus, simply ignore him: by not mentioning all Jesus says that challenges worldliness, while focussing on the performance miracles; concentrating on worship and praise without Jesus’ focus on identifying and weeding out personal and collective sin.  

Selectively, false preachers are keen to repeat the promise of salvation but not the attendant obligation.  And to be clear, Jude and Peter are not simply highlighting the failure of Church leaders, because Jesus expects all to teach, as he tells his disciples prior to his ascension:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

(Matthew 28:18-20)

This is an iterative command, the apostles teach obedience, those they taught by them then teach likewise and so on.  Every true follower stands in that chain of command.  Noting also that the age he speaks of is the ‘last days’ that Jude referred to; the period that begins with Jesus’ ascension and will end with his return.  Thus, the mockery Jude highlights was happening from the outset.  From the inauguration of the Church, Christians wanted Christ and the salvation he gains by the cross, on their own terms not his.  This is to mock the sacrifice, not stand in awe of it.

It is a mistake for any in the Church to think themselves released from law.  While the Law of Moses is fulfilled by Jesus, any that come under his authority, the authority given him for his perfect obedience, he has the right to issue new commandments – and he does.  What is more, he expects compliance as proof of love (see John 14:15) – love that in itself is commanded.  This to his disciples in the final hours before his arrest:

 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you…”

(John 15:12-14)

His sacrifice demands a response and that is nothing less than obedience.

In the first letter of Paul, to the early church he says this:

One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  (Galatians 6:6-8)

God is not obliged to redeem, yet he does, however, the redeemed are then under obligation to God, shown by obedience to Jesus’ instruction.  Jesus will not have rebellion and when any dare to tell him of it, and using his name in vain, he rejects them.  The only gain of lawlessness is achieved in mortal life, but the eternal cost is lethal.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”  (Matthew 7:21-23)

Jesus does the will of his Father, and he expects his disciples to likewise bend to his will and authority; he will not have any truck with wilful people telling him his business.  These men and women who presume to know better than him, having written their own rules are no different to the arrogant Pharisees who amended the Law of Moses – those with whom Jesus often contended.

These are the scoffers which Jude warns against.  Every single follower who denies Christ’s right to make law, ignores his instruction and dares to set their own conditions for redemption.