This section, the last section in
chapter 1, has 4 verses.
To set the stage, let us read the previous four
verses.
Titus 1:9-12
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been
taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both
to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and
deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole
houses, teaching things which they ought not, for
filthy lucre's sake.
12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own,
said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts,
slow bellies.
Now to the last four verses of the chapter
Titus 1:13-16
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them
sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and
commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
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.
16 They profess that they know God; but in works
they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient,
and unto every good work reprobate.
We will begin with the Barclay. This commentary
covering all four verses [13-16]. The first
three sentences are verses 13-16 paraphrased.
THE PURE IN HEART
For that very reason correct them with severity,
that they may grow healthy in the faith and not pay
attention to Jewish fables and to rules and
regulations made by men who persist in turning their
backs on the truth.
‘To the pure, all things are pure.’
But, to those who are defiled and who do not
believe, nothing is pure, because their mind and
conscience are defiled. They profess to know God,
but they deny their profession by their deeds,
because they are repulsive and disobedient and
useless for any good work.
THE great characteristic of the Jewish faith was its
thousands of rules and regulations. Many things were
branded as unclean; many kinds of food were
classified as forbidden. When Judaism and Gnosticism
joined hands, even the body became unclean, and the
natural instincts of the body were held to be evil.
The inevitable result was that long lists of sins
were constantly being created. It became a sin to
touch certain things; it became a sin to eat certain
foods; it even became a sin to marry and to have
children. Things which were either good in
themselves or quite natural were considered unclean.
It is the heart which makes all the difference. If
someone is pure in heart, all things are pure to
that person. If someone is unclean in heart, then
everything that person thinks about or speaks about
or touches becomes unclean. This was a principle
which the great classical writers had often stated.
‘Unless the vessel is pure,’ said Horace,
‘everything you pour into it grows bitter.’ Seneca
said: ‘Just as a diseased stomach alters the food
which it receives, so the darkened mind turns
everything you commit to it to its own burden and
ruin. Nothing can come to evil men which is of any
good to them, nay nothing can come to them which
does not actually harm them. They change whatever
touches them into their own nature. And even things
which would be of profit to others become pernicious
[harmful] to
them.’ The person with a dirty mind makes everything
dirty, taking even the loveliest things and covering
them with smut. But the person whose mind is pure
finds purity in everything.
It is said of these people that both their minds and
their consciences are contaminated. We come to
decisions and form conclusions by using two
faculties. We use intellect to think things out; we
use conscience to listen to the voice of God. But if
the intellect is warped in such a way that it sees
the unclean everywhere and in all things, and if the
conscience is darkened and numbed by continual
consent to what is evil, it becomes impossible to
take any good decision at all.
If we allow impurity to infect the mind, we will see
all things through a mist of uncleanness. The
infected mind soils every thought that enters into
it; the imagination turns every picture which it
forms into a source of lust. Every motive is
misinterpreted. Every statement is given a double
meaning. To escape that uncleanness, we must walk in
the cleansing presence of Jesus Christ.
THE UGLY AND THE USELESS LIFE
WHEN people get into this state of impurity, they
may know God intellectually but their lives are a
denial of that knowledge. Three things are singled
out here about such people.
(1) They are repulsive. The word (bdeluktos)
is the word particularly used of idols and images.
It is the word from which the noun bdelugma, an
abomination, comes. There is something repulsive
about someone with an obscene mind, who makes
sniggering jokes and whose comments are full of
innuendo.
(2) They are disobedient. Such people cannot obey
the will of God. Their consciences are darkened.
They have made it almost impossible for themselves
to hear the voice of God, let alone obey it. People
like that cannot be anything but an evil influence
and are therefore unfit to be instruments in the
hand of God.
(3) That is just another way of saying that they
have become useless to God and to others. The word
used for useless (adokimos)
is interesting. It is used to describe a counterfeit
coin which is below standard weight. It is used to
describe a cowardly soldier who fails in the testing
hour of battle. It is used of a candidate rejected
for public office, someone whom the citizens
regarded as useless. It is used of a stone which the
builders rejected. (If a
stone had a flaw in it, it was marked with a capital
A, for adokimos, and left to one side, as being
unfit to have any place in the building.)
The ultimate test of life is usefulness, and those
who are a bad influence and who have a contaminating
effect are of no use to God or to other people.
Instead of helping God’s work in the world, they
hinder it; and uselessness always invites disaster.
~Barclay Commentary
Now to the other commentaries, beginning with the
general and going to the specific.
We will begin with the Matthew Henry Main where it
is speaking to verse 13. I am extracting this from a
commentary covering verses 6-16
3. Here is the verification of this by the apostle
himself: Titus 1:13. This witness is true, The
apostle saw too much ground for that character. The
temper of some nations is more inclined to some
vices than others. The Cretans were too generally
such as here described, slothful and ill-natured,
false and perfidious, as the apostle himself
vouches. And thence,
4. He instructs Titus how to deal with them:
Wherefore rebuke them sharply. When Paul wrote to
Timothy he bade him instruct with meekness; but now,
when he writes to Titus, he bids him rebuke them
sharply. The reason of the difference may be taken
from the different temper of Timothy and Titus; the
former might have more keenness in his disposition,
and be apt to be warm in reproving, whom therefore
he bids to rebuke with meekness; and the latter
might be one of more mildness, therefore he quickens
him, and bids him rebuke sharply. Or rather it was
from the difference of the case and people: Timothy
had a more polite people to deal with, and therefore
he must rebuke them with meekness; and Titus had to
do with those who were more rough and uncultivated,
and therefore he must rebuke them sharply; their
corruptions were many and gross, and committed
without shame or modesty, and therefore should be
dealt with accordingly. There must in reproving be a
distinguishing between sins and sins; some are more
gross and heinous in their nature, or in the manner
of their commission, with openness and boldness, to
the greater dishonour of God and danger and hurt to
men: and between sinners and sinners; some are of a
more tender and tractable temper, apter to be
wrought on by gentleness, and to be sunk and
discouraged by too much roughness and severity;
others are more hardy and stubborn, and need more
cutting language to beget in them remorse and shame.
Wisdom therefore is requisite to temper and manage
reproofs aright, as may be most likely to do good.
Jude1:22-23, Of some have compassion, making a
difference; and others save with fear, pulling them
out of the fire. The Cretans' sins and corruptions
were many, great, and habitual; therefore they must
be rebuked sharply. But that such direction might
not be misconstrued.
~Matthew Henry Main
Quoted verses:
Jude 1:22-23
...verses speaking to
members caught up in apostasy
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of
the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the
flesh.
Now to the Matthew Henry Concise which covers verses
10-16,
False teachers are described. Faithful ministers
must oppose such in good time, that their folly
being made manifest, they may go no further They had
a base end in what they did; serving a worldly
interest under pretence of religion: for the love of
money is the root of all evil. Such should be
resisted, and put to shame, by sound doctrine from
the Scriptures. Shameful actions, the reproach of
heathens, should be far from Christians; falsehood
and lying, envious craft and cruelty, brutal and
sensual practices, and idleness and sloth, are sins
condemned even by the light of nature. But Christian
meekness is as far from cowardly passing over sin
and error, as from anger and impatience. And though
there may be national differences of character, yet
the heart of man in every age and place is deceitful
and desperately wicked. But the sharpest reproofs
must aim at the good of the reproved; and soundness
in the faith is most desirable and necessary. To
those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is
pure; they abuse, and turn things lawful and good
into sin. Many profess to know God, yet in their
lives deny and reject him. See the miserable state
of hypocrites, such as have a form of godliness, but
are without the power; yet let us not be so ready to
fix this charge on others, as careful that it does
not apply to ourselves. ~Matthew Henry Concise
Now a couple of things from the Biblical
Illustrator.
Rebuke them sharply
Here we have another adoption of the phraseology of
health or “soundness” in relation to the faith.
Probably it was suggested to the apostle by the
previous adoption of phrases indicative of disease,
and of severe remedies. A sharp knife, instruments
of cautery [kaw-tuh-ree]
[hot iron used to destroy
tissue], firm handling, free incisions,
are needed for some poisonous and putrefying sores;
and as in former days Titus had to show the
Corinthians how to purge out the old leaven, to
deliver wicked persons to Satan, to rebuke
pretentious sciolism [sahy-uh-liz-uh
m] [superficial
knowledge] and proclaim “no quarter” to
certain kinds of vice, so once more he had to lift
up his voice like a trumpet, and out of sheer
kindness was commanded not to spare them.
~Biblical Illustrator
Different modes of dealing with different sins
According to the nature of sins and sinners we must
set an edge upon our reproofs and sharpen them; for
all sins are not of one size, nor all sinners of one
strain; but some sins are more enormous than others,
and some sinners are more obstinate than others.
Some sins are of ignorance, some of malice; some
secret, some open; some sinners are as wax to work
on; some are stony and stiff-necked; some have here
and there their freckles and frailties on them:
others are spotted all over like leopards, or, like
the Ethiopian, they never change their hue; no
washing doeth them good. Now, we must wisely put a
difference between both. Compassion must be showed
upon some; and others, whom love cannot allure, fear
must force. Some must be saved by love, and some be
pulled out of the fire. Some sores need but a gentle
lenitive, some a sharper drawer; some require but
the prick of a needle to open them, others a more
painful lancing and cutting; and some a cutting off.
~Biblical Illustrator
Christian reproof
I. Christian reproof should always be based on a
certain convicting. Mere hearsay insufficient;
general rumor unreliable. Inquisitorial curiosity
different from faithful watchfulness.
II. Christian reproof should be thorough and
effective. A cutting rebuke need not be unkind.
Sarcasm, satire, scorn—these are unbecoming a
Christian teacher. Soft words break hard hearts;
warmth melts, while coldness freezes.
III. Christian reproof should be for the sinner’s
good—“That they may be sound in the faith.”
Wrong motives:
1. To save appearances.
2. To maintain dignity.
3. To gratify revenge.
Right motives:
1. To save the purity of the Church.
2. To prevent the spread of contagion.
3. To restore to spiritual life and privilege.
~Biblical Illustrator
Sharp rebuke sometimes needed
The words is a metaphor taken from surgeons, who cut
out dead flesh to the quick, but it is in order to
healing. Cutting words have done great cures: many a
diseased, festered soul has been made sound, both in
faith and manners, by severe reprehension [reproof].
Learn hence, that although, generally speaking, we
ought to temper our reproofs with much gentleness
and meekness, yet there is a time when we must
reprove sharply, that men may be “sound in the
faith.” We may, we must speak cutting words when
kind words will not do.
~Biblical Illustrator
Now to the specific commentaries.
This verse is broken out in three parts:
1] This witness is true.
2] Wherefore rebuke them sharply.
3] That they may be sound in the faith.
1] This witness
is true. ...this phrase speaking of the character of the
Cretians
This witness is true -
That is, this testimony long before borne by one of
their own number, was true when the apostle wrote to
Titus. The fact that this was the general Character
of the people, was a reason why he should be on his
guard in introducing men into the ministry, and in
the arrangement of affairs pertaining to the church.
That it was true.
~Barnes Notes
This witness is true -
What Epimenides [ep-ih-MEN-ih-deez] said of them nearly 600 years before
continued still to be true. Their original character
had undergone no moral change.
~Adam Clarke
This witness is true -
The apostle confirms what the poet had said; he knew
it to be fact from his own experience, and by the
observation he had made when in the island: he does
not say, that all that Epimenides
[ep-ih-MEN-ih-deez] had said, in the
poem referred to, was true; but this character,
which he had given of the Cretians, and which he
cites, and uses to a good purpose; from whence it
may be observed, that the writings of the Heathen
poets may be read with profit, and be used to
advantage, if carefully and prudently attended to;
for what is truth, let it come from whom, or by what
means it will, ought to be received.
~John Gill
2] Wherefore
rebuke them sharply.
Wherefore rebuke them -
Notes, 2 Timothy 4:2.
2 Timothy 4:2 [see
Lesson]
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine.
Sharply - ἀποτόμως
apotomōs - “cuttingly, severely” - from ἀποτέμνω
apotemnō, “to cut off.” The word is used here in
the sense of severity, meaning that the reproof
should be such as would be understood, and would
show them plainly the wickedness of such traits of
character. He was not to be mealy-mouthed, but he
was to call things by their right names, and not to
spare their faults. When men know that they are
doing wrong, we should tell them so in few words; if
they do not know it, it is necessary to teach them,
in order to convince them of their error. ~Barnes Notes
Rebuke them sharply -
Αποτομως· Cuttingly, severely; show no indulgence to
persons guilty of such crimes.
~Adam Clarke
Wherefore rebuke them sharply
- not merely upon the testimony of the poet,
but upon the confirmation of it by the apostle; and
not because of these general and national
characters, but because these things personally and
particularly belonged to the persons before
described; whom the apostle would have rebuked, both
for their bad principles, teaching things that they
ought not; and for their immoralities, their lying
and deceit, their intemperance, luxury [wrongly
handled], and
idleness, things very unbecoming the Christian name;
and therefore since their offences were of an
heinous nature, and they lived in them, and were
hardened and obstinate, and were like to have a bad
influence on others, they must be rebuked "sharply":
rebukes ought to be given according to the nature of
offences, and the circumstances of them, and the
offenders; some are to be given privately, others
publicly; some should be reproved with gentleness
and meekness, and be used in a tender and
compassionate way; others more roughly, though never
in a wrathful and passionate manner, yet with some
degree of severity, at least with great plainness
and faithfulness; laying open the nature of the
evils guilty of in all their aggravated
circumstances, without sparing them in the least;
doing, as surgeons do by wounds, though they take
the knife, and use it gently, yet cut deep, to the
quick, and go to the bottom of the wound, and lay it
open: and so the phrase may be rendered here,
"rebuke them cuttingly"; cut them to the quick, and
spare them not; deal not with them as Eli with his
sons, 1 Samuel 2:23 but speak out, and expose their
crimes, severely reprove them, that others may fear. ~John Gill
Quoted verse:
1 Samuel 2:23
And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I
hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
3] That they
may be sound in the faith.
That they may be sound in the
faith - That they may not allow the
prevailing vices to corrupt their views of religion.
~Barnes Notes
That they may be sound in the
faith - That they may receive the incorrupt
doctrine, and illustrate it by a holy and useful
life. ~Adam Clarke
That they may be sound in the
faith - that they may be recovered from their
errors, to the acknowledgment of the truth; that
they may receive the sound doctrine of faith, the
wholesome words of Christ, and speak the things
which become them, and use sound speech, which
cannot be condemned; and that they may be turned
from their evil practices, and appear to be sound,
as in the doctrine, so in the grace of faith; or
that that by their works may appear to be genuine,
true, and unfeigned; and that they may be strong and
robust, hale and healthful, and not weak and sickly
in the profession of their faith. Rebukes being to
persons infected with bad principles and practices. ~John
Gill
So, the church sees immorality, lying or
false doctrine being held or preached and action is
taken. In such cases, strong correction and
rebuke is needed. The correction and rebuke is
applied to bring the member back to strong faith and
obedience to God; to get the brother/sister back to
moving forward in the salvation process. This
is the lesson of verse 13.
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