Mockery (Jude 18)

Jude told his readers that some terrible people were in a first century congregation.

These ungodly and lascivious church members had hidden motives (Jude 4).

These men were so bad that they even denied Christ (verse 4).

Those described by Jude spoke against heavenly creatures (verse 9).

They were as bad as Cain, Balaam, and Korah (verse 11).

These people were like clouds which offered no rain during a drought;

They were like trees which appeared to be fruitful but offered no food;

They were like a dead tree which had been taken out of the ground (verse 12).

These men (who were also complainers, verse 16) engaged in mockery, verse 18.

This morning we want to study the subject of mockery.

Based upon what verse 18 says, mockery is a sin.

This sin is a tool that is frequently used by the devil and his children.

1) When Jude described the sin of mockery he used the imperfect tense.

2) This means that these mockers had engaged in mockery for some time.

3) The mockery was both frequent and long term.

4) The word translated mockers is found only one other time in the New Testament.

5) This other time is 2 Pet. 3:3.

6) In many places the writings of Peter and Jude are nearly identical.

7) One of the places where we see this similarity is in the word mockers.

8) Here is how Peter used the same word found in Jude 18 – 2 Pet. 3:3-4

9) The false teachers Peter wrote about mocked the return of Jesus.

10) They made fun of and questioned the Lord’s return.

A) Mockery about the Lord may have been what Jude’s readers faced as well.

11) Perhaps some mocked the Christian hope of heaven and Christ’s return.

12) Maybe the promised resurrection was mocked.

13) Whatever it was, there were people who made fun of Christians.

A) God’s people were ridiculed, teased, made fun of, derided, put down

B) Lampooned, joked about, ribbed, and taunted.

14) This is still done, and when it is done a lot of people laugh.

15) Some who mock Christians are even paid good money for mocking sacred things.

16) In more than a few places mocking what is sacred is entertainment.

17) Christians and Christianity are the butt of jokes.

18) Though many mock Christians, Christianity, or God, heaven isn’t laughing.

19) God does not consider the mockery of His church or His people to be funny.

20) How do we know that God doesn’t think mockery is humorous?

21) The people who are described as mockers in Jude 18 are also called the ungodly.

22) Those who mock what is sacred are opposed to God.

A) When anyone mocks God our His people they have made a bad choice.

B) Verse 15 in Jude says. “All the works of ungodliness” will be punished.

a) One ungodly work is mockery. More will be said about this a bit later.

23) For now let’s realize that those who are in a right relationship with god will be mocked.

24) I said that the word translated mockers is used only twice in the New Testament.

25) While the exact form is used only twice, there is a similar word found in other places.

26) This similar word is applied to some of the things experienced by Jesus.

27) Let’s look at some places where a word very similar to “mockers” in Jude 18 is used.

28) The first passage where we find this related word is Mt. 20:19.

29) Jesus was moving towards Jerusalem. He had the 12 disciples with Him.

30) The Lord warned His friends what was going to happen.

31) He accurately predicted that He would be betrayed and who would take Him.

32) Verse 19 of Mt. 20 says,

33) Jesus said that He would be mocked. Was He right?

34) Yes. The word used in Mt. 20 is also found seven chapters later in Mt. 27.

35) Remember that this word is very similar to the term in Jude 18.

36) This similarity might be demonstrated by the words holy and holiness.

A) These words are not identical, but they are very similar.

37) The same is true for the term that we are examining.

38) In just a moment I will read some of the verses from Mt. 27.

39) Before that is done a small part of Lk. 23 must be read – 23:11.

A) Jesus appeared before Herod. Herod mocked Him.

B) Herod also attired Jesus in a stunning robe.

C) Jesus was given beautiful clothing by Herod.

D) This type of clothing was hardly suitable for a prisoner and Jesus didn’t wear it for long.

40) If you have found Mt. 27:29 let’s read it together.

41) Jesus was mocked again. Herod had mocked Him and now we read of more mockery.

A) What does the word mocked, in this context, mean?

B) Those who had charge of Jesus playfully suggested that He was a king.

C) The whole band of soldiers was gathered together (27b).

42) As a king might have all of his men before Him so a full band of soldiers was before Jesus

A) The soldiers appeared to be standing before Jesus ready to do His bidding.

B) A scarlet robe (the color of royalty) was placed upon the Lord’s body.

a) The word used by Matthew (clamuV)described an outer garment.

b) This term was the word for a soldier’s cloak.

c) One can only imagine how it must have been dirty, soiled, and the color was faded.

d) Many believe that instead of being pretty, the purple was faded.

e) And old faded purple cloak would have certainly been a good prop to mock someone.

C) To represent a king’s crown the soldiers strung some thorns together.

D) This crown, which was also a prop for the mockery, was placed upon Jesus’ head.

E) Jesus was given a reed in His right hand which brings to mind a king’s authority.

F) The text says “they” (perhaps all the soldiers) then bowed before Jesus.

G) Then they called out, “Hail, King of the Jews.”

H) Since the imperfect tense is used this was continually done.

43) The humiliation of this mockery was so great I am at a loss to compare it to anything.

44) The shame inflicted on the Lord was surely as great as any set of men could devise.

45) After Jesus was taken from this area He was mocked even more.

46) This information is found in verse 41 (Jesus was on the cross).

47) Jesus faced a level of mockery that we cannot comprehend or experience.

48) His humiliation was off the scale.

49) The Jesus who experienced these things had this to say in Jn. 15:20.

50) What Jesus said may be applied to mockery.

51) If they mocked Me they will mock you.

52) If they teased and ridiculed me, you will suffer the same.

53) The Lord was right. In the first century God’s people were mocked.

54) Jude’s readers lived with mockers. Peter’s readers were mocked. Paul was mocked.

55) Many other Christians were mocked.

56) Though we are very far removed from the first century, mockery is still alive and well. This is a tool that the devil still uses.

57) Mockery may come because of our belief in God.

58) If we live as a Christian the choices that we make may be the basis for jokes.

59) The moral convictions that we have are often a basis and a source for mockery.

A) Is there a dedicated Christian in this assembly who has never been mocked?

B) Have not some in this assembly had someone sneeringly say to them,

C) “You think that only members of the church of Christ will go to heaven.”

D) We are mocked for being (and this is a quote),

E) “Narrow minded people who don’t have the love of God.”

F) If we dare repeat what Jesus Himself said – that is the road to heaven is narrow.

G) There are two gates in eternity and only a few will find the gate to salvation,

H) And we must obey God or be lost,

I) Jokes are made because we believe and teach what Jesus Himself said.

J) Repeating what God’s word teaches will result in mockery.

60) Mockery also comes when Christians express their faith in God.

61) The mocker says, “What time warp are you caught in?”

62) We live in modern times. We’ve moved past God.

63) The world has been here for a long time and it will continue to stand.

64) If we affirm our belief in the Bible we will likely be mocked.

65) Our beliefs are viewed as antiquated.

66) If we express to others the Biblical standard of morality,

67) Some mock us by saying that we possess some type of phobia.

68) God’s people are frequently subjected to ridicule.

69) The temptation can be to keep quiet and avoid the mockery.

70) The Lord didn’t do that.

71) In spite of the worst mockery we can imagine Jesus did what was right.

72) The next time we are in a situation where it looks like we will be mocked,
Or we are being mocked, Jesus and Jude should be foremost in our minds.

73) God will punish all who mock His people.

74) Even if many in the world w/ to mock us and make jokes about us, we w/stand our ground.

75) The Bible warns us that mockers will attack and ridicule God’s people.

76) The assaults from these people start early in life and they usually continue till death.

77) Have we decided that no matter who mocks us we will stay faithful to Christ?

78) Has anyone who has become a Christian been mocked so much they have lost heart?

79) Or, has a non-Christian had their interest in Christianity decreased because of mockery.

80) You were thinking about becoming a Christian but someone said something that discouraged you.

81) If mockery has been a hindrance to your becoming a Christian or living as a Christian,

82) And we can help we would like to do that this morning.