Titus 1:10-16

Introduction:

For this reason I left you in Create that you should set in order the things that are lacking

Appoint elders in every city as I have commanded you

Place godly men in position of leadership

Titus 1:9 “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”

a) Hold fast to the faithful word

Hold fast means to cling firmly to the faithful Word of God without compromise

Paul is instructing Titus to find qualified elders with sound character who hold fast to the word of God

God’s Word is faithful, we can trust it and live by it, it’s life changing

My life has been changed by the power of the Holy Spirit and through the systematic teaching of God’s word, verse by verse, book by book through the Bible

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

I’ve been asked what about my methods or what is my vision for the church

My philosophy for ministry is to hold fast to the faithful word without compromise, pray for the people, and love the people and trust God with the results

Transition: Holding firmly to God's faithful Word is not merely a personal commitment; it is the foundation that enables an elder to effectively minister to others.

b) By sound doctrine both exhort and convict those who contradict the faith

The elder has a two-fold ministry to build up the church with sound doctrine and refute the false teachers who spread unhealthy doctrine

Exhort means to strengthen, encourage, and instruct people in truth.

c) Titus must ordain leaders who use the word correctly

Titus was instructed to appoint leaders who handled God’s Word faithfully and accurately.

1. (V10) For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision

Wherever God sows truth, Satan quickly comes behind to sow deception.

Paul warns Titus that the churches in Crete were under attack from false teachers who opposed the gospel and disrupted the people of God.

These enemies were similar to those mentioned in 1 Timothy 1 — promoting Jewish legalism, man-made traditions, empty speculation, and mystical teachings instead of the simplicity of Christ.

Faith in Christ, plus something else

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”

a) For there are many insubordinate

Not just a few, but many

He noted the their three most prominent characteristics; there are rebellious, mere talkers, and deceivers

The word insubordinate describes someone who refuses to submit to God’s established authority.

These false teachers were unruly, rebellious, and unwilling to be governed by truth

Their problem was not merely doctrinal error — it was a heart unwilling to submit to God

b) Idle talkers and deceivers:

They were smooth talkers who used persuasive speech to mislead people.

Their words sounded spiritual, but they were empty, fruitless, and dangerous.

It reminds of the serpent smooth talking Eve into eating of the forbidden fruit

False teachers often gain influence through:

Endless arguments

Empty speculation

Religious-sounding language

Clever manipulation

They deceived others with false doctrine because their own hearts had already been deceived.

A person’s speech often reveals the condition of their heart. Uncontrolled speech and deceptive teaching expose spiritual corruption

c) Especially those of the circumcision:

Paul specifically warns about certain Jewish teachers who insisted that faith in Christ alone was not enough for salvation

These false teachers tried to persuade believers that:

The simple message of Jesus and the Cross was insufficient

Grace alone was not enough

Extra religious rules and ceremonies were necessary

This was dangerous because it added human works to the finished work of Christ.

1.1 (V11) Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gains

Paul shows that these teachers were actively damaging families, corrupting churches, and spreading spiritual destruction, for dishonest gain

a) Whose mouths must be stopped:

Paul speaks strongly here because spiritual leaders must protect the flock.

The phrase “must be stopped” means to silence or muzzle.

Titus was not instructed to tolerate these men or endlessly debate them while they spread destruction.

These men were to be warned, corrected, and if necessary, removed from fellowship and leadership.

It spreads like a cancer

James 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.”

Paul gave similar instructions elsewhere:

1 Timothy 1:3–4 “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.”

2 Timothy 3:6 “For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,”

False teachers often work subtly and to target vulnerable people in order to gain influence.

Biblical leadership is not passive when truth is under attack. Shepherds are called not only to feed the sheep, but also to protect them from wolves.

b) For the sake of dishonest gain:

At the root of their ministry was selfish ambition.

Paul primarily refers to dishonest financial gain. These false teachers used religion as a means of profit, manipulating people for money and personal advantage.

But dishonest gain is not always financial.

Some desire:

Recognition

Influence

Attention

True servants of God seek to glorify Christ. False teachers seek to glorify themselves.

1.2 (V12) One of them a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons

a) Paul quoting one of their own prophets

Even prophets among the Cretans described the island people as liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons, it indicates that there is a character problem

If the Cretans had this basic character, it shows why it was so important for Titus to appoint elders to lead the church.

2. (V13) Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith

The spiritual condition of the people demanded strong leadership and clear correction.

Softness toward destructive doctrine would only allow greater damage to the church.

a) Rebuke them sharply

Paul tells Titus to “rebuke them sharply.” This means to confront error plainly, firmly, and decisively.

The people in Crete had developed a reputation for stubbornness, deception, and moral compromise. Because of this hardened condition, Titus could not afford to be passive or vague in dealing with false teachers.

There are times when spiritual leaders must speak with tenderness, but there are also times when they must speak with urgency and authority in order to protect the flock.

A sharp rebuke was necessary because:

False doctrine was spreading

Families were being divided

Churches were being corrupted

Souls were being led astray

Biblical correction is not cruelty — it is protection.

A faithful shepherd does not remain silent while wolves destroy the sheep

A hireling turns a blind eye from the sin, a shepherd deals with it

b) Appoint leaders who can do the same

Titus could not confront these problems alone.

Paul instructed him earlier in the chapter to appoint qualified elders because the churches needed leaders who were spiritually mature, grounded in truth, and courageous enough to defend sound doctrine.

Titus needed like-minded elders who would:

Stand firmly on God’s Word

Refute false teaching

Protect the congregation

Confront error without compromise

Lead with both truth and courage

When leaders refuse to confront error, confusion spreads quickly through the church.

But when godly leaders stand together in truth, the church is strengthened and protected.

c) The goal of correction is restoration

Even though the rebuke was to be sharp, Paul’s ultimate goal was not destruction, but restoration.

The purpose of biblical discipline is always to bring people back to spiritual health and doctrinal truth

The easiest thing to do is to turn a blind eye to sin, but its the worst thing you can do for the person and for the church

Godly correction should aim to:

Restore the wandering believer

Bring repentance

Preserve the purity of the church

Recover those trapped in error

2 Corinthians 13:10 “Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.”

Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

2 Thessalonians 3:14–15: “And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

Biblical discipline is redemptive in purpose. The goal is not merely to silence error, but to restore people to soundness in the faith.

2.1 (V14) Not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth

As mentioned earlier in Titus 1:10 (“especially those of the circumcision”), the major issue troubling the churches in Crete was Jewish legalism mixed with man-made religious traditions.

These teachings were not rooted in the authority of God’s Word, but in:

Jewish myths and speculations

Rabbinical traditions

Human regulations

Religious rules invented by men

Instead of leading people to Christ, these teachings pulled people away from the simplicity and sufficiency of the gospel.

a) “Not giving heed to Jewish fables”

The phrase “giving heed” means to devote attention to, cling to, or become occupied with something.

False religion often distracts people with things that sound deep and spiritual while pulling them away from Christ Himself.

Satan does not always attack the church through obvious evil.

Sometimes he distracts believers with religious confusion that appears wise but lacks truth.

Give no heed to it, focus on the scriptures

Transition: The danger does not end with religious myths and speculations.

False teachers often go a step further by replacing God's truth with human traditions, giving man-made rules an authority that belongs to Scripture alone.

b) “And commandments of men”

These false teachers elevated human traditions to the level of divine authority, repeating the error Jesus condemned in the Pharisees when they placed man-made rules above God's Word.

Legalism replaces grace with performance, exalts tradition over Scripture, and focuses on outward conformity rather than the inward transformation that comes through faith in Christ.

c) “Who turn from the truth”

The tragic result of these teachings was that people were being turned away from the truth.

Which is why Paul commanded Titus to rebuke them sharply, eternal life is at stake

2.2 (V15) To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled

a) To the unbelieving nothing is pure

The false teachers in Crete, influenced by Jewish legalism, viewed many things as impure that God had never forbidden.

Like the error Paul addressed in 1 Timothy 4:3, they prohibited God-given blessings such as certain foods and even marriage.

Paul teaches that purity is not determined by man-made rules but by the condition of the heart.

Those who trust Christ and walk in His truth can receive God's gifts with thanksgiving because “to the pure, all things are pure.”

2.3 (V16) They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work

a) They profess to know God

What made these false teachers so dangerous was that they appeared religious.

They claimed to know God and spoke like believers, yet their lives contradicted their profession. Their actions denied the very God they claimed to serve.

Paul describes them as abominable—morally polluted and corrupted—and disqualified, a term used for something counterfeit or rejected after testing.

Though they had an outward form of religion, they lacked genuine obedience and spiritual fruit.

Jesus warned, “By their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20), and Paul described such people as “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5).

Genuine faith is not proven merely by what we profess with our lips, but by a life transformed through obedience to Christ.

Baptism:

Reasons for Christian Baptism

Obedience to Christ's Command

Jesus commanded His followers to be baptized (Matthew 28:19-20).

Public Profession of Faith

Baptism is an outward declaration of an inward faith in Jesus Christ.

Identification with Christ

Baptism symbolizes our union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4).

Testimony of Salvation

Baptism does not save us; it testifies that we have already been saved by grace through faith in Christ.

Commitment to Follow Jesus

Baptism publicly declares a believer's desire to live as a disciple of Christ.

Questions to Ask Before Baptism

Have you repented of your sins and placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

Do you believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day?

Have you received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?

Is it your desire to follow Jesus Christ and obey His Word for the rest of your life?

Do you publicly confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?