10 For many rebellious people engage in useless talk and deceive others. This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation. 11 They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money. 12 Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.”* 13 This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith. 14 They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth. 15 Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.
In the book of Titus, the apostle Paul writes to his fellow worker, Titus, who he left in Crete to set things in order and appoint elders in every city. In this passage, Paul warns Titus about certain individuals causing trouble in Crete's churches.
Paul describes these troublemakers as "insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision" (v.10). These people were likely Jewish Christians who insisted on imposing Jewish customs and traditions on Gentile believers, even though these practices were no longer required under the new covenant.
According to Paul, these false teachers were dangerous because they "subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain" (v.11). They were leading people astray from the truth and causing division in the church for their own personal gain.
Paul even quotes a Cretan prophet who said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons" (v.12). Although this may seem harsh, Paul affirms that this testimony is true (v.13). He urges Titus to rebuke these false teachers sharply so that they may be sound in the faith and not give heed to "Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth" (v.14).
Paul emphasizes that to the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure (v.15). This means that our inner state determines how we view the world. If our hearts are pure, we will see things in a positive light, but if our hearts are defiled, we will only see evil.
Finally, Paul warns that these false teachers may profess to know God, but in their works, they deny Him. They are abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work (v.16). This is a sobering reminder that our actions must align with our beliefs.
As Christians, we must be vigilant against false teaching and remain firmly grounded in the truth of God's Word. We must also guard our hearts and minds against the defilement of sin and strive to live a life that is pleasing to God. May we heed Paul's warnings and be faithful to the call of Christ in our lives.
Comments