Titus 1 They must be silenced! Part 15

 

Titus 1:11 

“They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach – and that for the sake of dishonest gain”

We saw in our last text how Satan can work in subtle ways. There were deceitful men in the church, teaching false doctrine, and here Paul tells us it was for “dishonest gain”. These men had the wrong motives and were trying to convince others of their lies. Even today, it’s easy to see that many preachers are in it for money or fame. They put themselves out there as men of God, but they subvert the gospel and have selfish reasons for preaching. Their message does not align with God’s word; it may sound close to the truth, but they slip in falsehoods and give more attention to the wants and desires of man.

So how does Paul tell us to deal with these men? Paul tells us “They must be silenced” meaning we must rebuke them! This may sound harsh, but the Bible tells us in Matthew 18:6 that “If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in Me – to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” While it is wrong to be a false teacher, it is so much worse when they lead others astray with them! Paul says they were disrupting whole households so we must rebuke them! In Matthew 18:15-17 Jesus says, “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses! If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or tax collector.” It seems harsh, but this is an act of love; Revelations 3:19 says, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent”. The goal of rebuke is to bring repentance. Better to be offended and repent, than the alternative! When we see people teaching things that go against God’s word, in love, we must go to them and rebuke them. It is for their eternal souls that we are concerned, but also for those who are listening to them! They must be silenced and not allowed to teach or they will bring condemnation to those who fall for their lies.

Seek God in prayer, ask Him to give you wisdom to recognize false teaching, and strength to approach those who teach it. By the working of the Holy Spirit, and the continuous study of God’s word, God will give you what you need to recognize and deal with false teachers.

1. Why must false teachers be silenced?

2. What are some examples of subtle subverting of the gospel?

3. Look up Proverbs 1:23 and 1 John 1:9. What do they tell us about repentance?

4. Why is it necessary to be harsh when rebuking false teachers?

5. What steps should we take when rebuking false teachers? Look up Matthew 7:1-5, what does this tell us about our own conduct, and how does it relate to today’s passage?

Gracious God and heavenly Father, I come before you in humility to praise You for Your awesome work of salvation. Great is Your grace and mercy! Fill me with Your gospel truth that I may not succumb to the lies of false teachers and help me to recognize them. By the Holy Spirit, make me heartily willing and able to rebuke those who teach lies and false doctrine, without being haughty or filled with pride. Forgive me when I act in sinful and selfish ways, not because I am worthy, but by Your grace in Christ Jesus, Amen.