Free Bible Commentary
“Titus 1:10-16”
Categories: Titus“For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.”
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“Rebellious men…must be silenced” (verses 11-12). There is no room for rebellion in the kingdom of God. In a real sense, all sinfulness is rebellion against God and places our souls in peril of destruction. But this type of open sedition, where “deceivers” teach damnable heresies in order to acquire personal advantage, is personally destructive for them, and also upsets “whole families” and the entire spiritual family of the Lord. Dialogue and reprimand do not work in situations such as these. The only appropriate action is to shut the “empty talkers” down.
The inhabitants of the island of Crete had the reputation for being “always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (verse 12). Sometimes a bad reputation is undeserved, and sometimes it is spot on. Paul said “this testimony is true,” as corroborated by “a prophet” (poet) “of their own” (verses 12-13). If we get a bad rap for our faithful service to the Lord Jesus Christ, we have no reason to be ashamed and can even wear it as a badge of honor. But if what they are saying about us is true, we need to take a good look in the mirror and make sure we are being faithful doers of the word and not hearers only.
“To the pure, all things are pure” (verse 15). This refers back to the “Jewish myths and commandments of men,” and likely was said in reference to food restrictions that the deceivers from “the circumcision” (verse 10) were trying to impose upon the brethren of Crete. When a person’s “mind and their conscience” have been defiled (verse 15), everything they try to do comes out twisted and tainted, even when they vainly endeavor to operate within the sphere of the doctrine of Christ. There are multitudes and multitudes of men who “profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him” (verse 16). You let a person talk long enough and eventually he will reveal his true heart to you. You will know the bad trees by the bad fruits that they produce. The same is true with the good trees!
Please read Titus 2:1-5 for tomorrow.
Have a super day!
- Louie Taylor
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