The Need to Show Mercy to Others

11. What did Jude say about mercy, and in showing it between whom was it necessary to distinguish?

¹¹ Regarding the need to show mercy, Jude said:

“Also, continue showing mercy to some that have doubts;

Jude 22,

If Jude’s fellow believers were to continue receiving divine mercy, they had to be merciful to others whose eternal life was at stake. (James 2:13) But for the faithful to ‘continue showing mercy to some having doubts,’ it was necessary for them to distinguish between those eligible for mercy and the ‘dreamers.’

12. (a) Because of being influenced by the “ungodly men,” some may have had what doubts? (b) How would it be possible to ‘snatch some out of the fire’?

¹² By their false teaching, murmuring, complaining, and so forth, the “ungodly men” were causing spiritually unsteady persons to be filled with doubts. Shaken by the swelling words of the false teachers, the doubting ones may have wondered whether dedicated Christians really were Jehovah’s people and may have stopped sharing with them in worship and in preaching the good news.