Titus 1:14-16
Titus 1:14
Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from
the truth.
The phrases which follow describe the doctrine of the false teachers, as
the previous verses have spoken of their character.
"not giving heed": (prosecw), "to apply the mind to; to consider;
to adhere to; to give one's self up to; to follow"
"to Jewish fables": (muthos), "myths; tales; fables; figments"
This refers to the vast body of speculative or fictional literature which
exists in the apocryphal and pseudepigraphical writings of Judaism. Some
of this writing contains wise and helpful teaching. But much of it tends
"to minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith"
.
To an uninformed group of Christians, very young in the faith, the "fables"
might well have seemed to be deep, esoteric truths. Sects that build on
such fictions have been with the church throughout its history, intriguing
and exciting the unstable and leading them astray.
Sayings like "the Lord helps them who help themselves" or "Everyone
has a divine spark in him" sound good, but they are not only not in
the Bible, but they are utterly false doctrine.
"and commandments of men": (entolei), "an injunction; a precept;
a commandment"
Refers to human viewpoint admonition, exhortation, advice, taboos.
This passage is often used wrongly to excuse civil disobedience.
We are reminded of the Lord Jesus rebuking the Pharisees by quoting Isaiah
in Mark 7:7,8. "In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines
the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandments of God, ye hold
the tradition of men..."
It is part of human arrogance that we insist on adding our own rules and
regulations to the Word of God. Our intentions may be good. But our uninspired
extensions of the law often hinder the effectiveness of the Word. The danger
is very great in a situation like that on Crete where the teachers were
men who had turned from the truth, and what they teach theoretically by
their myths and fables they bring to bear practically by means of their
precepts.
"that turn": (apostrephw), "to turn away; to remove; to incite
to revolt; to replace; to reject; to repulse; to desert"
READ 2 Tim. 4:2-4
(from the truth): (aleitheia), "truth"; in this context, divine
viewpoint. "They that worship him must worship him in spirit and in
truth."
When the Christian turns away from truth, he will naturally turn to something.
Usually that will be some pattern of thinking that is non-biblical.
READ Heb. 2:1-4 a warning against letting go of the things we know to be
the truth.
READ 2 Pet. 1:16-19
READ 1 Tim. 4:1-7
We are great followers of fads. We have an insatiable desire for entertainment,
for amusement, for sublimation through occupying ourselves with some activity.
Some fads are harmless, like hula hoops or pet rocks. But the unstable person
is intrigued by something that is new, exciting, and which appeals to his
emotions.
So, religious fads, or hobbies, come in many varieties, depending upon the
group of people to which they appeal. In some religious fads there is great
pageantry, ceremonialism without content. In others, there is emotionalism
and mass psychology, the ecstatics of participation, such as is found in
music, politics, and religion. There are religious hobby horses that are
designed to make people emote rather than think.
But fads get boring. A person always wants to move on to new things. So
each religious fad or hobby burns itself out in the light of day. The reality
is that life continues on with its routine, drudgery, boredom, suffering
-- and the hobbies do not hold up. We can't live on the froth of life.
The only sustaining commodity in life is the Truth of the Word of God. "Man
shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the
mouth of God.
Topic: JEWISH RELIGIOUS SYSTEM
Titus 1:15
"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."
"Unto the pure": (katharos), the usual Greek word for purity,
referring to ceremonial purity of a physical object such as a vessel in
a temple, or of a person who is a worshipper, or of the spiritual nature
of a person.
Modern examples of ceremonial purification are Hindu purification rites
and washings when touched by someone who is inferior, such as a Moslem.
Lady Mountbatten examined the ring of a Maharajah; and he carefully washed
it before putting it back on.
Here, the word refers to a person who has been cleansed by some means. In
ancient Greece, the cleansing would have been by some ritual. In the New
Testament, there is a deeper meaning; it refers to the cleansing of the
soul by God. In this context, "purity" is a characteristic of
a believer in fellowship.
"all things": refers to the things in life towards which it is
possible to have some sort of mental attitude; in other words, almost anything.
"pure": again, (katharos). See ...
Topic: PURITY
At this point the cynical person may draw the wrong conclusion, namely,
that a totally pure person can touch anything, do anything, think about
anything, and remain pure as the driven snow.
But this thinking involves lifting this phrase out of the whole context
of the Bible and misinterpreting it so that it becomes both meaningless
and false.
This does not mean, "All things are pure in the judgment of the pure."
A pure-minded man will not usually put evil constructions or interpretations
upon things, but for him to say that something is pure because he judges
it to be so, or because he cannot be defiled, is false. The context indicates
that Paul is referring to matters of Judaistic practice, ceremonial purifications,
among other things, that have been misconstrued by the false teachers.
READ Luke 11:37-44 Christ's warning of the Pharisees.
READ Acts 10:9-21, 34, 35 Peter's vision on the housetop.
Christ exalts purity to the realm of the spirit, which automatically does
away with ceremonial purity. A pure mind cannot be contaminated by physical
contact; and the purest minds will have no relish in seeking defilement.
READ 1 Tim. 1:4-7
This is love out of a pure heart, the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This is
not a ritual love; nor is it a labored love or a love gained by striving
for it. "Good conscience" means "cleansed; in fellowship".
1 Tim. 5:22 :...keep thyself pure..." Refers to physical morality and
to mental attitude purity, the most important and the most difficult.
READ James 1:25-27
How does one keep himself unspotted from the world? By staying out of bars?
By giving up booze and drugs? By turning over twenty new leaves and cleaning
up one's act? Answer: the sin problems in life are attacked in the area
of the mind.
Yes, we are to flee lusts. 2 Tim. 2:22 "Flee also youthful lusts: but
follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord
out of a pure heart."
How often just the first part of the above verse is quoted, so that the
believer never learns how to have victory over areas of weakness! Lust is
desire; and desire is a mental attitude. So to "flee lusts" is
to nip the sin problem in the bud, while it is still only in the mind. Confess,
isolate, and forget the sin. Then, enjoy one more measure of victory.
READ 1 Tim. 6:9-11
These things are the product of Christian growth, of edification, of applied
knowledge of doctrine in the human spirit, of conformity to Jesus Christ.
Recognize sin, confess it, and turn away. Prov. 1:23; 2 Chron. 7:14
READ Job. 11:13-20
READ 1 Pet. 1:18-25
Salvation is not by ceremony, but by the sacrifice of Christ. Morality is
not by ceremony, but by the purification of the soul through the Word of
God.
Eph. 5:25,26 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved
the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse
it with the washing of water by the word."
This purity is required as a qualification for the following people:
The elder Titus 1:6
Older men Titus 2:2
Older Women Titus 2:3
Young women Titus 2:4,5
Young men Titus 2:6
"but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but
even their mind and conscience is defiled."
The word "defiled" is the perfect passive participle of (miainw)
which means "foul pollution".
Mental attitude sins are the polluters of the mind. Sin, human viewpoint,
religion, false teaching -- these things destroy the capacity to enjoy life.
They destroy the important things in life such as the capacity to love,
the capacity to serve. These types of mental attitude problems are corrupters
of good things. Many believers tear down their own happiness through mental
attitude sin and never develop the capacity for the happiness that belongs
to them as Christians.
Topic: MENTAL ATTITUDE
Titus 1:16
"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being
abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."
READ Matt 7:15-23
"They profess": (homologew), "to declare publicly; to acknowledge;
to confess."
This word is translated "confess" in 1 John 1:9, where
it refers to making a statement regarding personal sin. Acknowledgement
of personal sin is made to God in order to receive temporal cleansing.
Here, the context indicates a public declaration.
Acts 23:8 "For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither
angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both." The word simply
refers to public acknowledgement or statement.
Romans 10:9,10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus, and shall believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness;
a with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
In the Romans verse, confession of sin is not the issue. There the word
refers to open declaration of faith in Christ.
1 Tim. 6:12 "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,
whereunto you are also called, and have professed a good confession before
many witnesses." Here the word is used in both noun and verb forms,
both meaning the making of a public testimony.
In the context of Titus 1:16, it is the false teachers who are making a
false profession -- a hypocritical show of religious fervor.
"that they know God": "to know; to understand; to be acquainted
with"
Hence, "They profess that they are acquainted with and understand God."
This is a profession of some kind of knowledge of God. But we have seen
that they are essentially unbelieving people, either at the point of hearing
the Gospel, or at the point of doctrinal teaching .
There are many types of pseudo-religions exposed in the Bible.
READ Isa. 65:1-5 Pharisaical separation
READ Matt. 6:5-8 Religious display for public consumption
READ Matt. 7:15-23 False religion that does not honor Christ
Prov. 20:6 "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness, but
a faithful man who can find?"
Prov. 30:12 "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes
and yet is not washed from their filthiness."
2 Cor. 10:12 "Wherefore, let him that thinks he stands take heed lest
he fall."
"but in works": (ergon), "a deed; an action; a work; the
product or result of activity"
"they deny him": (argeomai), "to disclaim; to disown; to
deny"
Isa. 29:13,14 "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw
near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed
their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept
of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work and a
wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding
of their prudent men shall be hid."
This is a word of negative volition. The false teachers have deliberately
disclaimed the Lord; they have disowned Him.
The word is used in Matt. 26, and other passages, to refer to Peter's disclaiming
any knowledge of Christ during His trials. Peter's denial was by word of
mouth. In our context, the denial is by actions or deeds. That is, the public
can tell by observation that the actions, or works, of the false teachers
show their testimony to be false.
The Bible, from beginning to end, insists upon a harmony of faith and works,
a correspondence between profession and practice. The false teachers were
acting as if the Creator, the Father, was some kind of metaphysical abstraction
which had no moral relationship to human life. They behaved, and taught,
as if He were neither Savior or Judge.
There are many ways by which an individual can deny Christ:
* By word of mouth; saying "I am not a Christian", such as Peter's
denial.
* By hypocritical life and speech:
READ Eze. 33:30-33
* By a display of covetousness. Any activity which indicates that one is
covetous shows a denial of Christ, His Person and Word, and of the Plan
of God.
- Covetousness is a denial of Grace provision; taking, rather than not
taking, thought for the morrow.
- Covetousness is a denial of Grace promotion; seeking for
status, fame, prominence.
- Covetousness is a denial of God's sovereignty, rulership;
one covets his own rights.
- Covetousness is a failure to claim promises, failure
to be occupied with Christ.
Every mental attitude sin is an example of denying Christ by means of works
-- worry, jealousy, guilt complex, implacability -- with all these the Lord
is disclaimed, disowned, while we try to work out our own plans and schemes
to get what we want.
"being abominable": "detestable; loathsome"
With these three words, "abominable", "disobedient",
and "reprobate", the apostle brands the works of the false teachers.
"Abominable" is used in the Septuagint of Prov. 17:15 to describe
the man who "perverts moral distinctions." Another form of the
same root is found in Matt. 24;15 and Rev. 17:4,5 to describe that culmination
of all ungodliness and evil, the Anti-Christ and Babylon. The word signifies
that these works are abhorrent to the purity and perfection of God.
Isa. 64:6 **
Luke 16:15
"and disobedient": (apeitheis), "disobedient; not submissive
to authority"
John 14:23 "...if a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father
will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."
Note that true love for the Lord Jesus Christ comes from a love for His
Word and a desire for His rulership.
Luke 6:46 "And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which
I say?"
READ Titus 2:17-24
"and unto every good work": this refers to work that is good from
God's viewpoint; divine good; gold, silver, and precious stones.
"reprobate": (adokimos), "not approved; untested; unqualified;
not esteemed", hence, "unqualified, worthless, or unfit for any
good deed."
This individual is unqualified because he lacks divine viewpoint, a categorical
knowledge of Bible truth. Two things hinder his production for the Lord.
First, his life witness is bad, so he has no appeal as far as attracting
people to Christ is concerned.
Then, his verbal witness is useless because it comes from human viewpoint.
He does not have the gospel straight, so he cannot evangelize. He doesn't
have life doctrines straight, so he cannot help members of the Body of Christ.
For a contrast, READ Titus 2:1-5. These qualities of mature believers are
built up over years of study, devotion to the Lord and His Word, and positive
volition to truth.
READ James 3:8-18
In spite of all this, we are amazed at Paul's faith and the magnitude of
God's grace. Remember that this exhortation has as its goal the restoration
of the false teachers. They can be transformed, by the renewing of their
minds, from being defiled in conscience and mind to spiritual soundness
and uncorrupted faith.
Summarizing the passage:
Titus 1:14 "Not paying attention to fables of the Jews and the commandments
of men that turn away from the truth."
Titus 1:15 "To the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are
polluted and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience
is defiled."
Titus 1:16 "They declare that they understand God; but by their works
they disclaim him, being detestable and disobedient and unqualified for
every good work."
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