Exposition of Jude 2, Biblical exegesis · Verse 11 · Commentary 1
EXPLICATION.
It may be demanded, In what ſenſe the words, Wo unto them, are here uſed, and how to be underſtood?
The uttering of this word, Wo, denoting in Scripture grievous calamities and miſeries, either preſent or approaching; is uſed three waies:
1.Vae condolentis, imprecantis, praedicentis. There is vae dolentis, and condolentis; when woe is uſed as an Exclamation of grief, pity, and commiſeration; and then it imports as much as if the Apoſtle had ſaid, Alas, how am I grieved, (in conſideration of their approaching ruine) for theſe wretched ſinners, that are running to their own deſtruction! and thus the word wo is often taken in Scripture: as Mich. 7.1. where the Church reſenting the general corruption of the times, and her ſmal number, cryes out, Wo is me, for I am as when they have gathered the Summer fruits, as the gleanings of the Vintage. The good man is periſhed out of the earth, and there is none upright among men. Thus alſo the Prophet Iſaiah, chap. 24.16. laying to heart the wickedneſs of the people, and the Judgments which were to follow, expreſſeth his holy ſympathy in theſe words, Wo unto me, the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherouſly, &c. Thus the ſame Prophet again, chap. 6.5. Then ſaid I, Wo is me, for I am undone, becauſe I am a man of unclean lips, &c. for mine eyes have ſeen the King, the Lord of Hoſts, &c. So Jer. 4.41. and 6.4. Jer. 13.27. and 45.3. Lam. 5.16. Now though it cannot be denyed, but that the faithful do, and ought with holy commiſeration to lay to heart the miſeries of others; yet I underſtand not this expreſſion of wo in this place, in this ſenſe; for beſides that Jude knew, that theſe Seducers were ungodly men, and appointed to this condemnation; his ſcope was not to expreſs his ſorrow for them, but to warne the Church of them, by diſcovering the Judgements of God againſt them.
2. There is vae imprecantis, a wo of curſing and imprecation, uſed ſometimes by Godly men, againſt the implacable, and irrecoverable enemies of God. Thus the Prophet Habakkuk utters it againſt the Caldean, who waſted the Church, Hab. 2.6, 9, 12, 15, 19. Pſal. 40, 14, 15 59.14.Thus David Pſal. 109.6, 7, 8, 9, &c. prayeth for the deſtruction of his enemies. That the Apoſtles had this power of curſing the incurable enemie, of the Church, whoſe deſtruction the Lord had extraordinarily revealed to th… …nd that they uſed it, is very evident; Paul prayeth … 2 Tim. 4.14.) that the Lord would reward Alexander the Copper-ſmith according to his work: And its hard to deny, Non dicit Apoſtolus foreign, reddet; ſol foreign, reddat: Sunt vota imprceantis, non verba praedicentis. Rivet. in Pſal. 40.that Jude in this place doth put forth that power againſt theſe Seducers: Sure I am, Paul, Gal. 5.12. prayeth, that the falſe Teachers might be cut off, who troubled the Church; and he who enabled the Apoſtles to foreknow the ruine of Seducers certainly, without error, might help them to deſire it holily without revenge. And never did either Chriſt or his Apoſtles, expreſs ſo much heavenly vehemency againſt any, as againſt thoſe who hindred the eternal ſalvation of ſouls; witneſs the woes eight times repeated by Chriſt againſt the Scribes and Phariſees, Matt. 23. As alſo Pauls carriage towards Elimas the Sorcerer, Acts 13. Some (indeed) of this impious rabble, who were not ſo obſtinate, malicious, and ſubtle as others, Jude might ſpare; he deſiring the Chriſtians afterward, that on ſome they ſhould have compaſſion, putting a difference.
And if it be here demanded, How the Apoſtle could lawfully ſay, Wo unto them?
I anſwer, 1. He expreſſeth not this wo unto them in reſpect of his own cauſe, but the cauſe of God; not as they were his, but Gods enemies.
2. He directs not his imprecations againſt perſons curable, but incurable; and he might know them to be ſo by ſome extraordinary inſpiration.
3. His affections herein were not carnal, but Divine and Spiritual, ſtirred up purly by Zeal to Gods glory, and the ſafety of the Church. In a word, If this wo here pronounced by Jude, were a wo of imprecation, he was carryed to the uttering thereof by the ſame Spirit, by which he penned the Epiſtle.
3. There is a vae praedicentis, a Wo of prediction and denunciation, whereby imminent and impendent evils are foretold and denounced againſt others; and in this ſenſe its …monly uſed and uttered in Scripture, Eccleſ. 4.10. Eccleſ. 10.16. Iſai. 3.9.11. 28.1. 30.1. 31.1. Hoſ. 9.12.24 Matth. 24.19,and moſt commonly by the Prophets: Iſai. 3.11. Wo unto the wicked, for it ſhall be ill with them: Iſai. 5.8. Wo unto them that joyn houſe to houſe, &c. And ver. 11. Wo to them that riſe early in the morning, that they may follow ſtrong drink. Matth. 24.19. Wo to them that be with child, and give ſuck in thoſe dayes, &c. And this ſenſe (though ſome Learned men exclude not that which was laſt mentioned) we may ſafely admit in this place: our Apoſtle concluding, that undoubtedly they who were as bad as the worſt of former ſinners in reſpect of ſin, ſhould be as miſerable as they were in regard of puniſhment.