May mercy, peace, and love be
multiplied to you.
THE STUDY:
Jude
continues the threefold Scheme by stating mercy,
peace, and love. Many translators
give the reader a paraphrase of the text. They do so because the literal
translation is difficult to comprehend and explain. The exact translation is, “May
mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you” (NASB).[1]
Mercy and peace were
part of typical Jewish blessings (see the priestly blessing of Num 6:22–26). Mercy (eleos) denotes God’s
kindness toward his covenant people and peace
(eirēnē), the resulting well-being. Mercy is rarely found in NT blessings
(1 Tim 1:2; 2 Tim 1:2; 2 John 3). Usually, grace
appears in its place. But “the meaning is much the same: God’s unmerited favor
bestowed on sinners for their salvation.” The prayer-wish of love (agapē) reinforces the
Christian character of the blessing. God’s love
is a repeated theme in the letter (vv 1, 2, 21).
All three terms indicate what God does for believers. “Mercy is his
compassion, peace is his gift of quiet confidence in the work of Jesus, and
love is his generosity in granting us his favors and meeting our needs”. These
virtues are neither attained nor sustained through self-effort. They are God’s
gifts.[2]
WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY
WITH ….
- What we can walk away with this morning is that mercy, peace, and love is not just an expression that is to be used out of habit but out of compassion, confidence and love. Compassion found in Christ, confidence in the work of Jesus, and love that is extended to us. God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!
CONCLUSION:
A Flemish
sculptor was extremely poor. He frequently went without food and worked in a
clammy studio. It was bitter cold the night he finished his masterpiece. The
thoughtful and meticulous artist was concerned lest the firm, fresh clay of his
creation should freeze and crack. He had too much of himself in the design to
run the risk of its being ruined, so he wrapped it in his warmest coat.
The sculptor died from exposure
during the night. His cherished statuette was found unharmed. The warmth of
sacrifice had saved it. In some such thoughtful way, beyond our ability to
conceive or comprehend, the cross is God’s voluntary cloak of sacrifice draped
in mercy over His creation.
Let today be
a day we remember the mercy, peace and love of God for each one of us.
Blessings my friends
Pastor Rod
[1]
Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 16: New Testament
commentary : Exposition of the Epistles of Peter and the Epistle of Jude.
New Testament Commentary (368). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
[2]
Powers, D. G. (2010). 1 & 2
Peter/Jude: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible
Commentary (262). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.
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