Jude Chapter 1 Vs. 2

Greeting

Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Jude 1:2

Mercy unto you... This was a common Jewish greeting; “love” was added to make it distinctively Christian. Only here in the New Testament do these 3 qualities appear so closely together. Where law and works prevail, there is failure and death. Where grace prevails, there is mercy (Eph. 2:4; Heb. 4:16), peace (Rom. 5:1), and love (Rom. 5:5), in abundance.

Believers who have sought God’s mercy also receive peace (“inner assurance” and “stability”), and love.

This greeting is a blessing spoken on the called of God. Peter is the only one of the other writers who prayed the blessings would be multiplied. The love added to the blessing is as if it is said by John. I believe all these great men of God had great influence on Jude.

The divine provisions of mercy, peace, and love included in Jude’s greeting are needed by Christians living in the licentious atmosphere of apostate teaching. God’s mercy can sustain them in times of difficulty (Heb. 4:16); His peace can give a subtle calmness when evil abounds (Rom. 15:13; Phlp. 4:7); and His love can protect and assure believers in the face of peril (Rom. 5:5; 1Jhn. 4:12, 4:15-16).

The nature of the salutation reflects the writer’s attitude. Jude’s choice of words introduces his deep-seated compassion and heartfelt concern for his readers. He longed for them to know in the fullest measure God’s “mercy, peace, and love.” Jude overflowed with love for the believers while warning them about those who were making their way into the church to destroy it, those who knew nothing of God’s mercy, peace, or love.