Titus 1:10-16

Insubordinate: Men who do not obey God’s word are not qualified to be pastor’s. How can you teach something that you do not yourself follow? This is exactly like how the Pharisees governed themselves. Imposing rules on people that they themselves did not abide by. Men like this are empty talkers and liars. Driving for personal gain likely rather than seeking to please God. Whether it be money, or other desires, or he seeks the praise of men. One of the quickest signs to notice is a man who does not use a Bible. Joel Olesteen carries a Bible, but he never opens it. He will quote the scriptures, but he will not read form it. There are others who rather use books instead of the Bible. Be leery of these men as well.

Many people believe that these teachers being spoken about are Judaizer’s. Jews who were trying to mix their OT law with the gospel. But Jesus came to fulfill the law. No more need for sacrifices, not more need for circumcision. Only faith in Jesus. Nothing extra. Jews who believed in Christ should have known God’s word well enough to know that Jesus was the one and only way to enter heaven. Not by their old ways of snip snip.

Paul says that men like these need to be silenced. Not murdered, but that the pastors of the area must stand up high against those who would lead people astray. These men were sharing their false religions and causing unrest in the households of the church of Crete. The pastors who were to be appointed must stand up against these false teachers and put out the fires that he creates.

These men are also quick to turn a profit. Preaching what it takes, selling what it takes, maybe doing what it takes in order to get money. They are hungry for ill gain. They can enter homes by way of tv, radio, books, and even the internet. Which will all bring them profit. Look out for them.

vs 12- There was nothing much good about Cretans. One of their philosophers called them liars, evil animals, and lazy gluttons. After observation Paul back what the man said. These people were great problems. Their twisting of scripture was no light matter. They were drawing people away from God by using corrupt scriptures. These people were evil to their core. They were dangerous, and they needed to be stopped. Stomped out like a fire.

vs 13- Paul said that the pastors needed to rebuke these men. Which meant that they were to be physically confronted and reprimanded for what they are doing. Their works were to be exposed and the men were to be lead to repentance and restoration, if they would follow. Even false religions are not our greatest threat if we have men preaching a twisted gospel. Think of how sweet the gospel is? How attractive it is to follow. Now twist other scriptures to fit your agenda, along with the allure of the gospel, and see why these false teachers are a huge issue. They must be confronted and either corrected and restored, or they must be driven away by correct teachings and lighting a spiritual fire under them.

14- Do not listen to them. A broken clock is correct twice a day. False teachers will say things that are correct from time to time, but they will also say things that seem correct but are certainly false. Then they will say things that are wildly untrue. Do not waste your time giving them your attention at all. Even if at some times they say things that seem really clever or nice to the ear. It will do far more damage than good.

15-16 All things are pure to the pure. All things that are deemed holy by God are safe for His children. All things that are defiled are bad for those who are unrighteous, even if God called them good. (Such as eating ham and such) God’s people are not made pure by religious deeds, such as the false teachers were preaching. False preachers profess to know God, but deny Him by their actions. Actions speak louder than words, and when people speak ear tingling words but their lives and actions say otherwise, we know not to give people the authority to guide us spiritually. But look to those who talk the good talk, and walk the righteous walk.