Titus 1:10-14
“The Danger of False Teachers”
1. The Fact of False Teachers.
“For there are”
2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Paul Speaking to the Elders at Ephesus:
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
2. The Multitude of False Teachers.
“For there are Many”
It has always been the case that the False prophets were in the Majority, even in the days of the Apostles.
The Lord Jesus could say;
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
The Apostle John says;
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Consider,
This was already happening at the early stages of Church History.
Listen,
That is why the Bereans were described as Noble!
Act 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.
Consider,
They checked out even the words of the Apostle Paul against scripture!
3. The Attributes of False Teachers.
I. “Unruly”
II. “Vain Talkers”
III. “Deceivers”
Note,
There is a progression here!
These False teachers are firstly unable to submit to Rule, therefore they talk Vain things and as a consequence Deceive those around them!
Let us briefly look at these words.
I. “Unruly”
G506 ἀνυπότακτος anupotaktos an-oo-pot'-ak-tos
From G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G5293; unsubdued, that is, insubordinate (in fact or temper): - disobedient, that is not put under, unruly.
The Greek word is translated disobedient in first Timothy.
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
II. “Vain Talkers”
Gk
G3151 ματαιολόγος mataiologos mat-ah-yol-og'-os
From G3152 and G3004; an idle (that is, senseless or mischievous) talker, that is, a wrangler: - vain talker.
III. “Deceivers”
The following quote is from;
{Niccolò Machiavelli (May 3, 1469 – June 21, 1527) was a Florentine political philosopher, musician, poet, and romantic comedic playwright. Machiavelli was also a key figure in realist political theory, crucial to European statecraft during the Renaissance.}
He formulated the idea “The end Justifies the Means”
This is what he said on the subject of Deception.
Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.
Niccolo Machiavelli
GK
G5423 φρεναπάτης phrenapatēs fren-ap-at'-ace
From G5424 and G539; a mind misleader, that is, seducer: - deceiver.
Note,
These false teachers become like the Devil!!
‘Dictionary’
For he is called the Deceiver.
Deceiver (De*ceiv"er) (?), n.
One who deceives; one who leads into error; a cheat; an impostor. "The deceived and the deceiver are his." Job xii. 16.
Synonyms -- Deceiver, Impostor. A deceiver operates by stealth and in private upon individuals; an impostor practices his arts on the community at large. The one succeeds by artful falsehoods, the other by bold assumption. The faithless friend and the fickle lover are deceivers; the false prophet and the pretended prince are impostors.
Read Isaiah 8: 19-20
Isa 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
4. The Identifying of False Teachers.
Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Note,
Paul clearly identifies who he means!
Many today find it uncomfortable to name people.
Paul knew that the cause of Truth and the protection of the sheep was more important than peoples reputations.
Illustration,
A Shepherd who protects the Sheep does not concern himself with the feelings or welfare of the Wolf!
David before Saul
1Sa 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
1Sa 17:35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
1Sa 17:36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
5. The Required Response to False Teachers.
“Whose mouths must be stopped” Verse 11
Note,
We are not left here in any doubt what our response should be to False Teachers.
Note 2,
We are to Confront them in one specific area of their bodies;
“Their Mouth”
Their Teachings.
“Stopped”
G1993 ἐπιστομίζω epistomizō ep-ee-stom-id'-zo
From G1909 and G4750; to put something over the mouth, that is, (figuratively) to silence: - stop mouths.
Note,
We cannot afford to play around with false Doctrine or false teachers.
Illustration;
A head chef in a Hotel Kitchen who is aware of meat in the fridge that is rotting.
6. The Works of False Teachers.
Or the effect of False Teachers.
“who subvert whole houses,”
Note,
These men are not harmless individuals!
“teaching things which they ought not,” Verse 11
7. The Motive of False Teachers.
“for filthy lucre's sake.” Verse 11
Read Ezekiel 34:1-6
Also Jeremiah 23: 1-2
8. The Character of False Teachers.
Tit 1:12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
I. “Liars”
They cannot be trusted.
Illustration,
As my mother used to say; trust a Thief before a liar!
II “Evil Beasts”
Just like animals they live for their passions and wants!
III “Slow Bellies”
ASV: One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.
BBE: One of their prophets has said, The men of Crete are ever false, evil beasts, lovers of food, hating work.
YLT: A certain one of them, a prophet of their own, said -- 'Cretans! always liars, evil beasts, lazy bellies!'
Note;
The False Teacher like the OT hirelings hates hard work for the people of God!
9. The Manner in which False Teachers are to be challenged.
“Rebuke Them Sharply” Verse 13
10. The Purpose in challenging False Teachers.
Stated Positively and Negatively
I. Positively.
“that they may be sound in the faith” Verse 13
Note,
What the qualifying statement in Chapter 3
Tit 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
II. Negatively.
Tit 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
Note,
Paul was not concerned with “Political Correctness”
His concern was the Glory of God and the protection of God’s flock.
May God grant to us the same desire and conviction in these days of decline and challenges. |
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