And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just say to be merciful; it highlights the crucial element of discernment. Jude urges believers to "make a difference," meaning we're called to compassion, but with wisdom, understanding that different people struggling with doubt need different approaches to find their way back.
And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jude is urging his readers to actively contend for the faith against false teachers who have infiltrated the church. Having described the dangerous nature of these individuals, he now shifts to instructing believers on how to respond to those affected by them, distinguishing between different groups to offer them appropriate help. He calls for a wise and discerning approach, showing mercy to those who are wavering and doubtful, while also urging them to be saved from the destructive path they are on.
When someone you care about is wrestling with doubt, how do you respond? Jude urges a specific kind of mercy.
Jude calls for compassion toward those who doubt, distinguishing them from those who are deeply entrenched in error or outright rebellion. This isn't a call to ignore or condone doubt, but to approach it with a tender heart. Think of it as recognizing the difference between someone lost in a fog and someone building a fortress of rebellion. Those who are 'wavering' or 'hesitating,' as some translations suggest, need a gentle hand, not a forceful push.
This mercy involves understanding their struggle and offering support. It means being willing to listen, to gently correct, and to guide them back toward truth without condemnation. It’s about discerning their specific need and meeting them there with love.
Not all struggles with faith look the same. How does Jude guide us to apply mercy with wisdom?
The key phrase here is 'making a difference.' This isn't about showing favoritism, but about discerning the spiritual state and receptiveness of individuals. Jude outlines a strategy where different approaches are needed for different people:
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This wisdom means we don't treat a hesitant inquirer the same way we treat a hardened rebel. Our love for truth must be matched by our understanding of human hearts and varying degrees of spiritual danger.
Understand the original words
sōzete · Greek Verb
To act decisively to rescue someone from peril or destruction. It implies an active intervention that pulls an individual away from impending judgment.
sarka · Greek Noun
The sinful nature or the fallen, corrupted human condition that opposes God. It refers to the impulses and desires of the unredeemed body and spirit.
This passage speaks to the process of confronting someone who has sinned against you, starting with a private conversation, which mirrors Jude's instruction to show compassion with discernment. It highlights the importance of addressing error with care and seeking restoration.
1 Corinthians 5:11While Jude urges compassion for those who doubt, this passage emphasizes separation from those who are openly unrepentant in their sin. Together, they show the nuanced approach needed: compassion for the wavering, but firm boundaries with the defiant.
Galatians 6:1This verse directly echoes Jude's counsel, instructing believers to restore gently those caught in a sin. It emphasizes the compassionate and discerning attitude required when dealing with those who have stumbled, rather than judgment.
2 Timothy 2:24-25Paul's instruction to the 'servant of the Lord' to be gentle and patient in correcting opponents, even those who oppose him, aligns perfectly with Jude's call for compassion and making distinctions. It underscores the spirit needed when dealing with those who doubt or err.
Zechariah 3:2This Old Testament vision of Satan accusing Joshua the high priest, and God rebuking him, provides a backdrop for Jude's instructions. God's intervention to rescue Joshua ('a brand plucked from the fire') illustrates the principle of rescuing those who are struggling and vulnerable, akin to showing mercy to doubters.
gillJude 1:22: "And of some have compassion, making a difference:"
And of some have compassion,.... That is, of such who have gone astray, being drawn aside; who are simple and ignorant, and out of the way; who sin through infirmity, and the force of temptation; and who are tractable and open to conviction, and whose mistakes are in lesser matters of religion; as also such who are convicted and wounded in their consciences for their sins and mistakes: and to these compassion is to be shown, by pray…
ellicottJude 1:22: "And of some have compassion, making a difference:"
(22, 23) Exhortation to treat these libertines with discrimination, making three classes. (22) And of some have compassion, making a difference.—The evidence is very strong in favour of a widely different reading: And some indeed convict (Jude 1:15) when they are in doubt (Matthew 21:21; Acts 10:20; Acts 11:12; Romans 4:20; Romans 14:23; James 1:6); or, when they contend with you (Jude 1:9; Acts 11:2); or, when they separate from yo…
The verse doesn't just say to be merciful; it highlights the crucial element of discernment. Jude urges believers to "make a difference," meaning we're called to compassion, but with wisdom, understanding that different people struggling with doubt need different approaches to find their way back.
Jude is urging his readers to actively contend for the faith against false teachers who have infiltrated the church. Having described the dangerous nature of these individuals, he now shifts to instructing believers on how to respond to those affected by them, distinguishing between different groups to offer them appropriate help. He calls for a wise and discerning approach, showing mercy to those who are wavering and doubtful, while also urging them to be saved from the destructive path they are on.
Jude is urging his readers to actively contend for the faith against false teachers who have infiltrated the church. Having described the dangerous nature of these individuals, he now shifts to instructing believers on how to respond to those affected by them, distinguishing between different groups to offer them appropriate help. He calls for a wise and discerning approach, showing mercy to those who are wavering and doubtful, while also urging them to be saved from the destructive path they are on.
"And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh." — The verse doesn't just say to be merciful; it highlights the crucial element of discernment. Jude urges believers to "make a difference," meaning we're called to compassion, but with wisdom, understa…
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Last reviewed October 2026