Titus 1:10-16 (NKJV) For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
V10 “For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision…” Paul speaks about false teachers (Judaizers, unbelieving Gentiles who mock and persecute, and those who appear to be believers yet take horrible heresies). Compare for Judaizers–Acts 15:1-2 and Galatians 2:14 who add the necessity of keeping Mosaic law for salvation. Compare for unbelieving Gentiles–Colossians 2:8, Colossians 2:23, Acts 17:18, and 2 Timothy 2:13 who mock Christian teaching or add their own philosophy. For either fake Christians or heretical Christians–2 Corinthians 11:13, 2 Peter 2:1, Ephesians 5:6, 1 Timothy 6:20, and Romans 16:17 who change the interpretation of Scripture, add to Scripture, or substitute Scripture with their own writings. The Greek word for insubordinate is (G506) ἀνυπότακτος anupótaktos, which means defiant, uncontrollable, and noncompliant. Barclay (beware) commenting on this word writes: “They were undisciplined; they were like disloyal soldiers who refused to obey the word of command.” The Greek word for idle talkers is (G3151) ματαιολόγος mataiológos, which means talk nonsense and babbling on about something. The Greek word for deceivers is (G5423)φρεναπάτης phrenapátēs, which means to deceive the mind. They deceive themselves first and lie. They tell the lie so much they believe it and teach it. The “circumcision” refers to the Judaizers.
V11 “…whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.” These false teachers have an effect–subversion, teach lying beliefs and interpretations, for one purpose–money. The want to write a book and sell it. How do we stop their mouths. Some suggest killing them as happened with those who refused the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church and some in Calvin controlled Geneva. Augustine was the first major teacher that taught this. See Letter 93 to Vincentius . We are not to use the sword to enforce our doctrine, for 1) we are to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), 2) have ready answers for what we believe (Colossians 4:6 and 1 Peter 3:15), 3) pray (James 5:13), 4) look to Jesus as our example (John 18:35-37), and 5) suffer if need be (1 Peter 4:16). We must let the Holy Spirit work in people’s lives, lest we also be found in error. It is one thing for God to chasten us but entirely wrong for us to chasten each other. We do not have the sinless and pure character, not the wisdom, love, and holiness to do such things.
V12 “One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” Adam Clarke writes: “This was Epimenides, who was born at Gnossus, in Crete, and was reckoned by many the seventh wise man of Greece, instead of Periander, to whom that honor was by them denied. Many fabulous things are related of this poet, which are not proper to be noticed here. He died about 538 years before the Christian era. When St. Paul calls him a prophet of their own, he only intimates that he was, by the Cretans, reputed a prophet. And, according to Plutarch, (in Solone), the Cretans paid him divine honors after his death.” Paul knew the Cretans reputation and wishes for the Christians to live a different life–the Christian life. Paul wanted Titus to teach the people and live it before their eyes. A good principle for all of us.
V13 “This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith…” Sound in the faith has the idea of solid, confident, committed to living the Christian life of the Spirit instead of the flesh. See Romans 8 especially Romans 8:12-17 and Galatians 5 especially Galatians 5:16-26.
V14 “…not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.” The “commandments of men” were addressed by our Lord Jesus in Matthew 15:9 (LHB) “But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” These rules superseded and became the standard for Jewish life in the times of Jesus. He condemned them. See Matthew 15:1-9, Isaiah 29:13, Ephesians 5:6, Colossians 2:20-23, and 1 Timothy 1:3-7. Also, see Ephesians 4:14. The Jewish fables were some of the mystic practices that Jews picked over the years for false religions. They would include gnostic, Babylonian, Assyrian, and other “fables” of mythology.
V15 “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.” Christians are pure by the redeeming blood of the Lord Jesus (1 Peter 1:18-19, Matthew 26:28, and Hebrews 10:10-12). We know what is pure and impure 1) by the Scriptures (the 1,000+ rules in the New Testament) and 2) by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23. A unbeliever still is completely impure in body, soul, and spirit. Some of much worse than others. God judges purity by our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. Unless we, by faith in the Lord Jesus alone, are born again, then we remain impure, defiled, and condemned.
V16 “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” Many claim to know God but their fruit shows something different. There is denial, detestable, disobedience, and being disqualified for heaven. It is interesting that being deniers, detestable, disobedient shows their rejection of God and His ways. This is a warning that Paul encouraged Titus to teach, and it is one for us to heed as well.