Unpleasant but necessary: Verse 11 – Rebuke them sharply
The Book of Titus: A Sound Church
Article 4: An unpleasant but necessary duty
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Verse 11
Their teaching is flawed in both content and motive. Verse 11 reveals that they are teaching things “for the sake of dishonest gain”. This implies not only financial exploitation, but also exploitation in various forms. Their focus is on what they can extract from people, rather than on investing in people and thereby making a positive contribution to their well-being.
This aligns with the qualifications for elders, which emphasize that they shouldn’t be given for dishonest gain. Paul is making it clear that these people should not be allowed to become elders or be regarded as qualified leaders.
In verse 12 Paul quotes a Cretan poet who describes Cretans as “always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons”. Paul recognises the truth in this description. It’s not necessarily a categorical statement about all Cretans, but he’s just saying that’s the way things are on the island of Crete, and we all know it.
Paul urges Titus to “rebuke them sharply”, emphasising the seriousness of the situation. This rebuke is not intended for starting a conversation to find middle ground, but to confront the problem head on.
Remember the incident in Galatians 2 when Peter made a significant mistake and wasn’t entirely honest about the truth of the gospel. Paul said, “I rebuked him to his face”. This is remarkable because even someone as authoritative as Peter, as an apostle, remains subject to the authority of the gospel. The Gospel is not negotiable. If Peter can make mistakes, and he’s certainly capable of, then so can we. Everyone should be confronted when they go astray”.
It’s important to note Paul’s heart in this. It’s not just to point out their faults, but to see them become healthy in the faith. Health is the ultimate goal here. Paul does not just want to stop their false teaching, but to see them return to sound doctrine and true faith. That’s why we’ve titled this series “A Sound Church”.
In verse 14 Paul says that they should not “give heed to Jewish fables and the commandments of men who turn away from the truth”. This underlines the importance of holding fast to the truth (Verse 9). Have you ever met someone in your life who you would say has strayed from the truth? They used to hold to sound doctrine, but not anymore. Their theology may have evolved into something different, perhaps more Catholic or more inclusive. They have really turned away from the truth, renouncing and denouncing it, embracing what they used to call heresy.
This situation can be delicate because people can turn away from the truth by focusing on peripheral issues that are at best of secondary importance. They may begin to prioritize social concerns over the fundamental aspects of the redemptive storyline of the Gospel. There’s nothing wrong with caring about these issues, but when they become the primary focus, it can lead to a gradual departure from the right path.
Now let’s look at verse 15: “To the pure all things are pure”. This is in line with what Jesus taught, that it’s not what goes into a person that defiles them, but what comes out. Of course, he doesn’t mean that sin is pure. For example, spending money in a brothel would never be considered pure. It’s an extreme example, but it serves to illustrate the point. Paul’s message is that for the pure, all things can be enjoyed as God has freely given them for our enjoyment, as long as we do so in a way that glorifies Christ.
But notice: “but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure”.
Have you ever noticed that if you’re not a Christian, you can’t really enjoy things to the full? You may still find enjoyment, but true, complete enjoyment is only experienced when something is under the lordship and love of Jesus Christ. In essence, being a Christian allows you to enjoy life to the full.
Moving on to verse 16, it points to their wrong actions: “They profess to know God, but in their deeds they deny Him.” Their words profess him, but their deeds deny him. This highlights the connection between belief and behaviour, two essential aspects of the Christian faith. Paul doesn’t demand perfection; rather, he emphasises the pursuit of alignment between faith and action.
When He says that they deny Him, He is using the same term used to describe Peter’s denial of Jesus. These people, despite their proud and pompous displays of spirituality, are essentially hypocrites. They present themselves as spiritual heroes, always doing the right thing, but in reality they are deceivers. Paul has already labelled them as abominable, disobedient and disqualified for any good work.
When he says that they are disqualified for any good work, he may be thinking specifically of the good work of teaching, a crucial aspect of the role of an elder. These men are totally unfit for such a role. In essence, no matter what they claim or what others may say about them, God’s verdict is clear: they are disqualified for any good work. Paul’s words are strong, emphasising the importance of sound teaching and leadership within the church.
The importance of Paul’s message cannot be overstated. The Bible uses strong language about strong issues, especially when it comes to teaching in the church. Bringing this discussion back to the concept of leadership in verse 9, it is clear that leaders are entrusted to hold fast to the faithful word. This commitment equips them to effectively exhort, rebuke and condemn those who would subvert it.
While these guidelines are addressed to Titus, they serve as a universal principle that applies to all of us when considering potential leaders within the church. While other qualities have their place, it’s vital to prioritise this standard of ‘holding fast’ to the faithful word. It’s not whether they make people feel good, whether they have charisma, or whether they seem to have it all together. This is the standard: hold fast.
God’s leaders are to protect the Church. Without wishing to sound sensational, we recognise that the church is constantly under attack in a variety of ways. The primary target is often God’s Word, which is why Genesis 3 remains a fundamental reference point. We must remain steadfast in our commitment to God’s Word.
When we allow compromise in the purity of doctrine and overlook heresy, cracks appear in the foundation of the church. These cracks can lead to the collapse of its security. Titus had the challenging task of dealing with this problem. It may not have been easy or pleasant, but for him to do it was a matter of faithfulness.
God’s chosen leaders may face similar challenges, and the church should support them because that is what God has ordained. Before moving on to practical matters, Paul addresses the main threats. Truth matters, always has and always will. That’s why it’s important for all of us to know our Bibles well and to resist the prevailing culture of tolerating heterodox teaching.
