Profile of a False Teacher – Titus 1:10-16

Titus verse by verse: Paul exposes the true identity of the Cretan false teachers.

Paul has outlined the priority to Titus of electing godly men to oversee the Cretan churches.

One of the key reasons for this was the threat of false teachers. A large part of the shepherd’s work is to protect the flock from predators. Paul instructed Timothy in 1 Timothy 4 that he would be a “good minister of Jesus Christ” if he regularly warned the believers about apostasy. Illustration: David’s experience with the lion and bear (1 Samuel 17:34-36)

There are many, many warnings of false doctrine in the N.T. as it is one of the main super weapons in the devil’s arsenal to use against the church. False prophets are seen in both the Old and New Testaments

This lesson: Paul exposes the Cretan false teachers

The Character of a False Teacher (Vs. 10-11)

Disobedient

1. ‘unruly’ = disobedient, un-subjected, rebellious
2. Same word used in Vs. 6 of unruly children

Empty

1. ‘vain’ = empty and worthless
2. Their words were impressive but there was no substance or content to them. Their words were like hot air!

Deceptive

1. ‘deceivers’ = they mislead people
2. “specially they of the circumcision” = constant problem in the early church

Subversive

1. ‘subvert’ = to turn upside down, overthrow
2. “whole houses” = entire families/groups of people affected at one time. Heresy is like a cancer that spreads through whole families.

Covetous

1. “filthy lucre’s sake” = exposes underlying motive. They used their false teachings to gain a following so that they might benefit financially!
2. 2 Peter 2:3 “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
3. Illustration – Joel OsteenPastor of the Lakewood Church in Housten Texas that boasts a weekly attendance of 47,000. Osteen lives in a mansion in Houston Texas valued at 10.5 million. He makes multiple millions from his book sales. He was reportedly paid a $13 million dollar advance by the Publishing House, Free Press for one of his latest books. Due to the lucrative returns on his book sales, he stopped taking the $200K salary from his church in 2005. Osteen’s popularity is undoubtedly due to his positive only, non judgmental, prosperity preaching. Osteen describes his calling as this: to give hope. “Most people are beaten down by life already,” he says in a soothing southern accent. “They don’t come to hear me say, ‘You know what? You’re all sinners.’ They already know that. I’d rather say, ‘You know what? God’s on your side.’”¹

The Correction of a False Teacher (Vs. 12-14)

Silence Them (Vs. 11a)

Rebuke Them (Vs. 12-13)

1. The quotation (12)
   1. Paul quotes one of the Grecian philosophers, Epimenides of the sixth century B.C. He was considered a prophet and one of the seven wisest men of greater Greece.
   2. Paul endorses this testimony in the words, “This witness is true”
   3. ‘liars’ = the Greek verb ‘kretizein’ meaning “to act as a Cretan” became synonymous with the concept of “playing the liar,” just as “to act as a Corinthian” was tantamount to “indulging in sexual immorality.” (Hester)
   4. “evil beasts” = wild and ferocious
   5. “slow bellies” = describes their greed & gluttony
2. The command (Vs. 13)
   1. Sharply censure – ‘sharply’ = abruptly, severely, curtly
   2. The goal – to bring them to soundness in faith. Note: The desire behind such a rebuke is to see the individual recovered to truth.
   3. Psalm 141:5 “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.”
   4. Prov. 27:5-6 “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

Refuse Them (Vs. 14)

1. Jewish Fables (14a)
   1. “give heed” = to give assent to, to adhere to, to attach oneself to, to commit oneself to
   2. ‘fables’ = myths, fictional ideas. Popular with the Cretans (S. Vs. 12)
   3. Examples of myths in the writings of the Jewish Rabbis: Adam and Eve were of gigantic stature. God gave Adam a jewel which could cure all diseases. The soul of Adam passed into the body of Noah and David and would eventually pass into the Messiah!
   4. Modern illustration: The Roman Catholic church with its unbiblical myths such as Peter being the first pope; Mary as the immaculate, perpetual virgin and Queen of Heaven; purgatory; the mass the literal body and blood of Christ etc…

The Conduct of a False Teacher (Vs. 15-16)

Perverted Perspective (Vs. 15)

1. Contrast between true believers and false teachers.
2. Jewish dietary laws likely in view (note “Jewish fables” Vs. 14a)
3. “mind and conscience” = their inner life is corrupted through false teaching. The result is a perverted perspective of life.

Perverted Practice (Vs. 16)

1. The talk of their lips (16a)
   1. ‘profess’ = to confess
   2. “but in works” = there is no substance to their words
2. The fruit of their lives (16b)
   1. Their mouths say one thing but their actions say the opposite!
   2. ‘abominable’ = detestable
   3. ‘disobedient’ = un-submissive to God and His Word “…obedience of faith.” Rom. 16:26
   4. ‘reprobate’ = rejected after being tested. Same word translated ‘disqualified’ in 1 Cor. 9:27 (athletic context)
   5. 1 John 2:3-4 “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (See also 1 John 3:6-10)
   6. Mat 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
   7. You are not saved by works, but if you are truly saved, you’ll work!

Conclusion

What is our attitude to error? Do our lives shew forth evidence of the salvation we profess?

References

1. Joel Osteen Counts His Blessings, People Magazine Article Dec 17^th 2007, http://people.com/archive/joel- osteen-counts-his-blessings-vol-68-no-25/

Sermon 3 of 9 in Titus Series

Sermon Audio Id: 61817613364