Jude 22-23 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
Jude opens verse 22 by telling his readers to be merciful. Those who expect mercy must show mercy. A lot of us want mercy for ourselves and justice for everyone else, but God expects His children to be merciful. The word “mercy” appears 55 times in the NIV translation of the New Testament. Jesus said in Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” In the context of Jude mercy should be shown to those who had been damaged by the false teachers – those who doubt. Apparently the false teachers had caused doubt in some and had caused others to share in their corrupted lifestyle. There is no sin in the life of another that is beyond a Christian’s call to show mercy. Christians are to reach out to snatch others from the fire and one way to do that is by showing mercy to those who have stumbled.