Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Titus Volume 10

Paul Gives Titus a Description of what People who Turn Away from the Truth will Look Like

Titus 1:14-16 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 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. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. KJV

Paul ended the last verse in this first Chapter of the only recorded letter we have of him writing to Brother Titus with the reason for his wanting him and all the Elders that would be appointed to the various Churches in Crete of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus to rebuke sharply those who had displayed evidence of turning around or going backwards in their faith walk and that was so that they would be sound or spritually healthy in the faith. Paul now concludes this Chapter with what happens to those who have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, but now their lives exhibit that faith has been eroded or errored or even eradicated all together. First, he declares these words to Brother Titus, "Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth." (Titus 1:14) (KJV). This verse was a reference then to the Judaist who then still wanted to mix the Gospel of Christ with Judaism and keeping the law of Moses. This Paul knew would cause men and women to turn away from the truth of the Gospel to these Jewish myths that had no power to save the souls of sinners, nor to give them power for living everyday life in the flesh on the earth. Jesus Christ is the truth and the truth is found only in Him and in His Gospel of Grace (Ephesians 4:21). Paul wrote to Timothy that some people would indeed turn away from the truth and listen to fables or myths, "For a time will be when they will not endure sound doctrine, but they will heap up teachers to themselves according to their own lusts, tickling the ear. And they will turn away their ears from the truth and will be turned to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4) (MKJV). Paul now reminds Titus of the absurdity of the commandments of men that many of the Jewish religious rulers had established during the years and had added hundreds of little rules, regulations, and rituals on top of the law of Moses that must be followed to make oneself pure before going before God. Paul condemns them with these words, "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." (Titus 1:15) (KJV).

The English word 'pure' is translated by the Greek word katharos meaning clean (literally or figuratively): - clean, clear, pure. The little English pharse 'that are defiled' is translated by the Greek word miainō meaning to sully or taint, that is, contaminate (ceremonially or morally): - defile. The English word 'unbelieving' is translated by the Greek word apistos meaning (as used here) (actively) disbelieving, that is, without Christian faith. In other words, these Judaizing Christians had brought those rules, regulations, and rituals from Jewish religious rulers into the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and in so doing they were making the Word of God of no effect to themselves and to those to whom they taught to do and believe likewise.  Paul wrote to the Colossian Church these words condemning this practice, "If then you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to its ordinances: touch not, taste not, handle not; which things are all for corruption in the using, according to the commands and doctrines of men? These things indeed have a reputation of wisdom in self-imposed worship and humility, and unsparing severity of the body, but are not of any value for the satisfying of the flesh." (Colossians 2:20-23) (MKJV). Our Lord Jesus had earlier already condemned these false forms of worshipping God to the Scribes and  Pharisees as documented for us by the Apostle Matthew, "Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread. But He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and mother'; and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him die by death.' But you say, Whoever says to his father or mother, Whatever you would gain from me, It is a gift to God; and in no way he honors his father or his mother. And you voided the commandment of God by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 'This people draws near to Me with their mouth, and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:1-9) (MKJV).

Paul lastly, declares to Brother Titus and to we true Christians today and of every era and generation that those Judaizers then and many in Churches today and of every era and generation since our Lord Jesus' death, buriel, resurrection from the dead and ascension back to heaven claim to know God, but their words, ways, and worship testify that they have never been born again by the Holy Spirit of God as Paul writes to Brother Titus with these words, "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." (Titus 1:16) (KJV). Paul did not then deny that these men held a theoretical knowledge of God, but Paul declares that they did not have a practical, purposeful, and personal relationship with God (who is the Lord Jesus Christ). This first statement in the concluding verse of this Chapter 'they profess' is a little English phrase translated by the Greek word homologeō meaning (as used here) to assent or to acknowledge. In other words, those Judaizing teachers back then were full of pretentions (a false or unsupportable quality) to the knowledge of God. They saw themselves of having a special knowledge of God, even though they did not know the true God at all. When Christ was on the earth, these same Scribes, Pharisees, and Saducees had the ONE TRUE GOD right in front of them, yet they were blind to His presence. Today this continues with people in Mormonism and Islam just to name a couple, for these people think they know God, but their worship, their beliefs, and even their practices deny their knowledge of the ONE TRUE GOD. To know God really and truly is as our Lord Jesus declared with these words, "And this is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:3) (MKJV). Paul declares that in deeds they deny Him or contradict their profession of faith. The English word 'abominable' is translated by the Greek word bdeluktos (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning detestable, that is, (specifically) idolatrous: - abominable. The English word 'disobedient' is translated by the Greek word apeithēs meaning unpersuadable, that is, contumacious (wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient). The English word 'reprobate' is translated by the Greek word adokimos meaning unapproved, that is, rejected; by implication worthless (literally or morally): - castaway, rejected, reprobate. In other words, these professors of faith in Jesus Christ are actually detestible, wilfully obstinate and stubborn rebellious disobedient sinners who have never been born again and who are in God the Father's eyes rejected worthless castaways because they have not truly obeyed the Gospel of Grace.

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say about these last two verses here in Chapter 1, "He gives the reasons of this, from the liberty we have by the Gospel from legal observances, and the evil and mischief of a Jewish spirit under the Christian dispensation in the last two verses. To good Christians that are sound in the faith and thereby purified all things are pure. Meats and drinks, and such things as were forbidden under the law (the observances of which some still maintain), in these there is now no such distinction, all are pure (lawful and free in their use), but to those that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; things lawful and good they abuse and turn to sin; they suck poison out of that from which others draw sweetness; their mind and conscience, those leading faculties, being defiled, a taint is communicated to all they do. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, Proverbs 15:8. And Proverbs 21:4, The ploughing of the wicked is sin, not in itself, but as done by him; the carnality of the mind and heart mars all the labour of the hand. But are not these judaizers (as you call them) men who profess religion, and speak well of God, and Christ, and righteousness of life, and should they be so severely taxed? Answer, They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate. There are many who in word and tongue profess to know God, and yet in their lives and conversations deny and reject Him; their practice is a contradiction to their profession. They come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness, Ezekiel 33:31. Being abominable, and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate. The Apostle, instructing Titus to rebuke sharply, does himself rebuke sharply; he gives them very hard words, yet doubtless no harder than their case warranted and their need required. Being abominable - bdeluktoi, deserving that God and good men should turn away their eyes from them as nauseous and offensive. And disobedient - apeitheis, unpersuadable and unbelieving. They might do divers things; but it was not the obedience of faith, nor what was commanded, or short of the command. To every good work reprobate, without skill or judgment to do any thing aright. See the miserable condition of hypocrites, such as have a form of godliness, but without the power; yet let us not be so ready to fix this charge on others as careful that it agree not to ourselves, that there be not in us an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God; but that we be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God, Philippians 1:10-11."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…