Counterfeit Coins

Titus 1: 10-16

(10) For there are many rebellious men,

"For" gives the justification for the requirement that elders must be able to expound and defend the Truth (verse 9). This is essential.

The many rebellious men are generally an external danger facing the churches on Crete, refusing to subordinate themselves to any authority.

empty talkers and deceivers,

They are empty talkers, fluent and impressive, but accomplishing nothing constructive; and deceivers whose glib tongues exercise a fascination over others to lead them astray.

especially those of the circumcision,

The most active offenders were Jewish "believers."

(11) who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.

Paul demanded that these people be silenced. This is a moral imperative, to be refused opportunity to spread their teachings. This is necessary because they are upsetting whole families, or "ruining whole households," disturbing the faith of whole clans of people, teaching things they must not as Christian truth, but twisted and misleading. All to just fill their own pockets to their personal dishonest financial gain.

(12) One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."

(13) This testimony is true.

These false teachers were all the more dangerous in light of the known nature of these Cretan people on whom they preyed.

Paul quoted a line from Epimenides (6th-5th century B.C.) who was held in high honor on Crete as a poet, prophet, and religious reformer. This quote came from one who had intimate knowledge of his own people and esteemed by them.

Paul gave this evaluation in order to underline his authority without exposing him to the charge of being anti-Cretan. Perhaps Paul's own observations confirmed this verdict.

For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,

Paul tells Titus to "rebuke them sharply," to refute these false teachings, so that the listeners will be healthy in their beliefs, and not be impaired by feeding on unhealthy doctrine.

(14) not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

True believers will turn away from Old Testament apocryphal and pseudepigraphical writings that are not accepted into the Canon of Scripture; and also ritual observances that the false teachers sought to make binding on Christians. There is a close connection between false doctrine and evil character.

(15) 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.

Evidently these Cretan false teachers were making distinctions between ceremonially clean and unclean, laying the emphasis on outward appearance. However, material things receive moral character from the inner attitude of the user. Jesus also spoke of this inner quality of thought (see Matthew 15:10-11; Mark 7:14-23; Luke 11:37-41). Basically, we find what we're looking for.

But those who do not have the faith are victims of their own mind and conscience, as God says that our own heart itself is already desperately wicked and lies to us (Jeremiah 17:9), so everything they think about is poisoned by their defilement.

(16) They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.

These teachers claim to know God and be Christians, but their lifestyles and actions prove they aren't (I John 2: 4). Three terms describe them:

(1) Detestable, loathsome, causing horror and disgust because of their hypocrisy;

(2) Disobedient, insubordinate to God's truth because of their willful adherence to their man-made rules and regulations; and

(3) Worthless for any good deed, disqualified by their impurity from performing anything morally good. They are like coins, when tested found to be counterfeit, to be utterly rejected as worthless. 

These are the kind of teachers we are to run from, and never listen to at all. And Paul is very stringent in his directions to Titus in this letter. There are real problems there on Crete in the church, and Paul spares no words in his condemnation of these false teachers who are destroying so many precious people.

O my Father, please help us to recognize these character flaws in every person we might consider sitting under. Teach us to examine every prospective pastor or teacher to determine if they are qualified to be trusted, and even then, if they are positively preaching or teaching Your true Word.

My Father, teach us discernment, and help all Your children to know You better, and love You more, then we will also love one another as You have loved us.

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!