MAY LOVE BE MULTIPLIED
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who are called, lovedG25 by God the Father, and kept in Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace, and loveG26 be multipliedG4129 to you.
Jude 1:1-2
Jude identifies himself as a servant or bondslave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, the recognized head of the church in Jerusalem. This would make him a half-brother of Jesus. Jude does not claim that kinship here. Perhaps that humility stems from the fact that he did not believe Jesus to be the Messiah until after the resurrection. Although not an Apostle, Jude’s familial relationship with James gives him the right to speak with authority to believers. Mercy and peace were common Jewish greetings, but Christians added “love”. Here Jude prays that all three will be multiplied to his readers who were brothers and sisters in Christ. Multiplied is even more emphatic than added.
G4129 πληθύνω plēthýnō – . . . meaning to abound to someone; 2 Peter 1:2, Jude 1:2
The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament, Zodhiates, Spiro.
Jude was praying that mercy, peace, and love would be abundant to believers. He was writing at a time when Christians were being persecuted and many people were turning from the true faith. False teachers were common. The believers needed God’s mercy, peace, and love in order to stand firm in their faith. We need these same three things in abundance today because we face some of the same challenges.
Do an experiment this week. Greet a brother or sister in Christ with, “Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you” and note their reaction. Perhaps begin your email correspondence this way. Might we start a revival of encouragement by letting other believers know that this is our prayer for them? Would you like to be sincerely greeted in this way?
Father, let us know Your mercy, peace, and love in abundance. We know You give these freely, but sometimes we forget they are ours to embrace and share. Help us to assure other believers of Your mercy, peace, and love and use those traits in our lives to draw those who do not yet know Jesus into relationship with You.