Scriptures for Today
Titus 1:10-16
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 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. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Introduction — What This Passage Is About
Paul is telling Titus there are people inside the churches speaking and teaching who are doing damage. Remember, Paul left Titus in Crete to set things in order.
That happens in churches all the time. It’s happened in this church.
These are not outsiders. It’s not people outside of the church. These are voices within, and they are leading people the wrong way.
So the instruction is not to ignore it. It is to deal with it directly. Let’s look closely at the Scriptures.
Many — Not a Few
Titus 1:10
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
“There are many.” This is widespread. “Unruly.” They refuse to stay under authority. They do not submit to truth.
“Vain talkers.” They speak a lot, but it is empty. It sounds spiritual, but it does not build anything. “Deceivers.” They mislead people.
Matthew 7:15 says: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” They appear right on the outside, but they are not.
They Spread and Destroy
Titus 1:11
Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
“Mouths must be stopped.” This is direct action. You do not let it continue. They must be stopped.
“Subvert whole houses.” Entire families are affected. This spreads quickly.
2 Timothy 3:6 says “For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.”
False teaching works its way in and takes hold.
“Teaching things which they ought not.” It is clearly wrong. “For filthy lucre’s sake.” They are doing it for gain. Money, influence, or control.
This Was Already Known
Titus 1:12
One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
“One of themselves” means one of the Cretians—someone from their own people. And remember again that Paul left Titus in Crete to fix these things.
Paul is not quoting an outsider criticizing them. He is quoting their own source, someone from their own culture who already described what they were like.
“Even a prophet of their own” means someone they respected, someone known among them. Not a prophet of God in Scripture, but a recognized voice among their people.
So the point is this: even their own people said this about them. This was already recognized. “Liars.” No concern for truth. “Evil beasts.” No restraint. “Slow bellies.” Focused on themselves. That environment allows false teaching to spread easily.
Crete is an island. The people there had a reputation, and it wasn’t a good one.
Always liars means constant dishonesty. Evil beasts means they have no restraint. Slow bellies means lazy and self-focused. They live for comfort, appetite, and ease. Not working. Not disciplined. Focused on themselves and what they are going to get out of something.
This explains why false teachers strive there. If people don’t care about the truth, don’t restrain themselves, and only live for themselves they are very easy targets for deception.
Rebuke Them Sharply
Titus 1:13
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
Paul confirms it — this is accurate. What is being said about the Cretians is true. Because this is true, “Rebuke them sharply.” This is not soft correction. This is direct.
For example, I have rebuked some people around here SHARPLY and they didn’t take it well because they have no authority in their life telling them what to do. And that’s how they like it. For example, they might show up to get them some lunch on Sunday and then on they go while they cause trouble for me throughout the week.
Proverbs 27:5 says “Open rebuke is better than secret love.” The goal is clear — “that they may be sound in the faith.” Rebuke means direct and clear correction of something that is wrong.
The purpose is correction. Bring them back to truth. But many people who are only in this for themselves will NEVER take rebuke. They will never take correction. They will get mad and start attacking. That’s what happens.
They Turn People Away from Truth
Titus 1:14
Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
“Jewish fables.” Stories and teachings not from Scripture. An example given in the Bible is they were teaching you must wash your hands before eating or spiritually you aren’t right. God didn’t give that command. Or being circumcised to be saved. Not a commandment from God.
“Commandments of men.” Rules created by people. Man made rules that aren’t God’s rules.
Mark 7:7 says “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” These things do not build truth. They move people away from it.
The Issue Is Internal
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.
This is about the inside. If someone is pure, they understand correctly. If someone is defiled and unbelieving, everything is twisted. They just won’t believe what God says.
“Mind and conscience is defiled.” Their thinking and judgment are off.
Romans 8:7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
When you won’t believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, God is an actual enemy of your very own mind. And that’s not a good place to be. That’s why church is so important but yet so many people don’t actually listen. It’s very important to listen and believe God’s words.
They Claim God — But Deny Him
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.
They say they know God. But their actions and teaching contradict that. This is not about losing salvation. This is about contradiction. They claim truth but oppose it.
“Abominable, and disobedient.” They are not aligned with God.
“Unto every good work reprobate.” They are rejected in what they are doing. They might try to be doing good, but it’s not good in God’s eyes. There are many religions that are out there that are trying to do good, but God rejects what they think are good works.
Their works are not truly good in God’s eyes. They are not approved by God. They claim to know God, but because they reject the truth, their works are not accepted as good by God. “Unto every good work reprobate” or rejected by God.
What This Looks Like Today
- Someone claims to follow God but teaches salvation by works.
- Someone adds traditions and rules not found in Scripture.
- Someone sounds confident and uses Bible language but twists the meaning.
That is exactly what this passage is describing. And there are people everywhere that are doing these things. And they don’t care what the Bible actually says.
For example, the Bible says that there’s none good. But they will say that they have no sin. The Bible even addresses that directly, but so-called pastors directly go against God’s words. So, what they do is sin constantly while they profess to not sin.
What This Means for You
You cannot accept something just because it sounds right. You test it against Scripture.
Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Truth is the standard. And you MUST do this. Use the Scriptures to test the truth.
Practical Applications
- False teachers are common. You must be able to recognize them.
- False teaching must be confronted and stopped.
- Not everything that sounds religious is true.
- The Word of God is the standard, not tradition or personality.
Conclusion
There are many voices, but not all are right. Some talk a lot, but they deceive.
Some claim to know God, but deny Him in what they teach and do. So do not just listen.
Test everything by the Word of God. And when it is wrong — Shut it down. That’s what this passage of Scripture is teaching us today.
And this is a commandment. If you don’t put a stop to it, you don’t follow Jesus Christ. Our job is to call it out and put a stop to it immediately.
Let’s pray.
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