Albert Barnes Commentary Jude 1:23

"and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." — Jude 1:23 (ASV)

And others. This refers to another class of people—those whose character or circumstances make a more bold, earnest, and determined approach better suited for them.

Save with fear. This means using appeals designed to produce fear. The idea seems to be that the arguments used should be drawn from the dangers these individuals face, or from the dread of future wrath. It is undoubtedly true that while one group of people can be won to embrace religion through mild and gentle persuasion, another group can be aroused only by the terrors of the law. Every method is to be employed in its proper place, so that we by all means may save some.

Pulling them out of the fire. This is like snatching people out of a fire, or seizing someone who was walking into a volcano. In such a situation, a person would not use mild and gentle language of persuasion, but by word and gesture would show that they were deeply in earnest.

Hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. The allusion here is not entirely certain, though the idea the apostle meant to convey is not difficult to understand. By the garment spotted by the flesh, there may be an allusion to a garment worn by someone who had the plague or some offensive disease that could be communicated to others by touching even the clothing they had worn. Or there may be an allusion to the ceremonial law of Moses, by which all those who came in contact with dead bodies were regarded as unclean (Leviticus 21:11; Numbers 6:6; Numbers 9:6; Numbers 19:11).

Or there may be an allusion to the case mentioned in Leviticus 15:4, 10, 17, or perhaps to a case of leprosy. In all such instances, the idea would be that the thing referred to, by which the garment had been spotted, was polluting, contagious, or loathsome, and that it was proper not even to touch such a garment or to come into contact with it in any way.

To something of this kind the apostle compares the sins of the people referred to. While the utmost effort was to be made to save them, they were in no way to partake of their sins. Their conduct was to be regarded as loathsome and contagious, and those who attempted to save them were to take every precaution to preserve their own purity.

There is much wisdom in this counsel. While we endeavor to save the sinner, we cannot too deeply loathe his sins. In approaching some classes of sinners, as much care is needed to avoid being defiled by them as would be needed to escape the plague if we had any dealings with someone who had it.

Many have been deeply corrupted in their attempts to reform those who are polluted by sin. For example, one can never exercise too much circumspection and prayer for personal safety from such pollution when attempting to reform women who are licentious and live dissolute lives.