TITUS 1:10-16 - REBUKE FALSE TEACHERS

TITUS 1:10-16

REBUKE FALSE TEACHERS

Titus 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

Susie: There were many false teachers in Crete which meant that appointing godly elders was crucial to the ministry. Timothy needed the help of others who were strong in the word and the Apostles’ teaching to help him guide believers away from false teaching and back to the truth.

Susan: Many of these teachers were Jews who taught that Christians must first submit to physical circumcision and follow Jewish customs in order to be saved. Where they went wrong was declaring circumcision a prerequisite for salvation and not a willing, outward expression of their commitment to God.

Susie: The Lord had shown Paul that circumcision was not required at all and put the emphasis on the spiritual surgery the Lord performs in the heart of each one who trusts Jesus:

Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Susan: The Judaizers were teaching that the most important things were external works or acts of contrition rather than grace⁵⁴⁸⁵, “the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life.”

Susie: Salvation is by grace alone, not grace and anything else.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

Susan: Paul insisted that the message of these false teachers be halted. Titus needed to rebuke them because the message they were espousing was leading entire families away from the truth of the gospel. They were teaching only for the money they could gain with total disregard for the fact that they were stunting the spiritual growth of whole family units.

Titus1:12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

Susie: Paul quoted Epimenides, poet from Crete who wrote in the 6^th century B.C. who wrote concerning his own people. To call someone a Cretan is still considered an insult even though many people do not know the history of the term. “Slow bellies” is often translated “lazy gluttons.” Needless to say, the people of Crete did not enjoy a good reputation in the Greek world.

Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Susan: Paul said that every label Epimenides put on the people of Crete described many of them to a T. Therefore, Titus needed to not let them stay in that state. Instead, he needed to preach strong words of correction in light of their condition in hopes that they may turn from those ways and receive Jesus. He needed to declare boldly the Gospel message as his father in the faith, Paul, had done.

Susie: Rebuking is never pleasant, but is the most loving thing a minister can do if it brings a person into right relationship with the Lord.

Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Susan: These Jewish false teachers were more interested in adhering to the traditions of men rather than the scripture. They were not be given credence by the believers or the Messianic Community as we like to call them.

Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Susie: Have you ever heard someone say, “Well, she just has a dirty mind”? The false teachers’ minds were corrupted, and therefore their consciences did not function properly; and nothing they taught was pure, but was tainted by their insistence on works and traditions.

Matthew 7:15-16 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Susie: Whoa! We just said the Judaizers emphasized works, but now we see that their works “deny him.” Even their “good” works were done in their own effort rather than as a result of faith and the Holy Spirit’s indwelling.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Besides that, often the false teachers were found to be sexually immoral, even worming their way into homes by flirting with young women who were possibly widows:

2 Timothy 3:6-7 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Susan: These false teachers declared that they were God’s children, yet everything they did denied God and His work of deliverance upon the heart. To deny God is to reject Him. When one rejects God’s gospel and yet claims to believe, they have a sentence of damnation and separation from the Life Source. Therefore, they have made their choice to live in hell by their false claims and refusal to repent.

QUESTIONS

1.       Who did Paul refer to as “they of the circumcision?”

2.       What was the main motivation for the false teachers? Are there false teachers with that same motivation today?

3.       Who gave the unkind description of the people of Crete quoted in verse twelve?

4.       Why did Titus need to rebuke the Cretans?

5.       What was the fallacy in the Judaizer’s teaching?