Jude 1:18

How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

Jude 1:18 (KJV)

Context

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, wrote this short epistle to urge believers to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). False teachers had crept into the church, and Jude wanted to equip his readers to recognize and resist them. In verse 17, he reminds them to remember the words spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, and verse 18 records one of those warnings.

Meaning

The apostles had foretold that mockers would appear in the last time. The Greek word for mockers, empaiktai, describes those who ridicule or make fun of the truth. These individuals do not merely disagree with the gospel; they deride it and question its validity. The phrase “in the last time” refers to the present age between Christ’s first and second coming, a period marked by such opposition. Their defining trait is that they walk after their own ungodly lusts, meaning they follow their selfish desires rather than God’s moral standards. Their conduct reveals a heart that has turned away from righteous living.

Biblical connections

This warning echoes 2 Peter 3:3, where Peter also speaks of scoffers in the last days. The immediate context in Jude 1:19 further describes these mockers as those who cause divisions, are sensual, and do not have the Spirit. This clarifies that their ungodly walk stems from a lack of the Spirit and a surrender to natural desires. The apostles’ prediction was already being fulfilled in Jude’s day, and it continues to be relevant whenever people oppose the truth of the gospel.

Application

Believers today still encounter mockers who ridicule the gospel and undermine the authority of Scripture. This verse calls us to exercise discernment, testing every teaching against the truth of God’s Word. We are to live godly lives in contrast to the ungodly, aligning our desires with God’s will and resisting worldly lusts. Jude’s exhortation to contend for the faith remains urgent, so we should study the Bible, root ourselves in sound doctrine, and boldly share the hope we have in Christ. In a world filled with mockery, we can find comfort and guidance in God’s unchanging Word, which equips us to stand firm.

Reflection

Jude 1:18 reminds us that mockery of the truth should not surprise us; it was predicted. Rather than being shaken, we are called to build ourselves up in the most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20). By anchoring ourselves in Scripture, we can navigate the challenges posed by false teaching and live in accordance with God’s will.