THE CIRCUMCISION. Titus 1:10 Refuting false teachers starts with recognizing them as false. The most common false teaching in Titus's time came from Jews who would not accept that our Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God. They refused to believe in Him. The Cretan people might have been more prone to accept false teaching than others because they were known to have little ambition and were often seen as habitual liars. We are responsible for discerning what is right and wrong and for making the truth relevant to our listeners. The Holy Spirit will reveal what is correct teaching when we "try the spirits (teachings)." The character of false teachers is that they tend to be "unruly." This means they refuse to submit to authority and become disorderly among God's people. Not only does this cause confusion, but it also brings about an uneasiness that disrupts the peace and fellowship of the saints. "Vain talkers" describes them further because they have a lot to say that is pointless and leads nowhere good. For some reason, they believe they deserve to have a say in everything and that people should consider their unprofitable opinions. The Jews in Titus's time believed that the assembly of believers should heed their complaints and exchange the freedom they had in Christ for the bondage they wanted others to experience. "Deceivers" have their own agenda, which includes gaining followers who will follow their commands. It may be an attempt to financially benefit from their teachings or to sabotage a work of God, ultimately ending the testimony of an assembly and transforming it into someone's private "church." The Jewish Christians in Crete were influenced by the Judaizers, “the circumcision,” who taught that Gentiles had to obey the law before they could become Christians. This would lead to dissension and division. To the Jews, circumcision was the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham, making them His chosen people through whom the Messiah would come. Judaizers believed that only Jews could be accepted by God. Circumcision is an external ritual meant to symbolize a change within a person for the Jews. It accepts a person of faith who “fears God and works righteousness.” True circumcision is reflected in humble, ethical, righteous, and godly people who are committed to God and His word. The act of circumcision does not transform the heart, mind, or soul of an individual. God’s covenant is with those who look past the outward signs, rituals, and symbols of piety because He examines the heart of every person. What He states about humanity by nature is, “There is none righteous, no not one.” The troublemakers in Crete believed that to be saved and sanctified, one needed to be circumcised and follow Jewish ceremonial laws. Jewish “myths” were not based on scripture, and the “genealogies” were pointless even though they held some significance for them. They were additions made by human opinions that crept into Jewish tradition. Things God declared good, they had unwarranted scruples about. To push others to follow their views, they resorted to pointless talk. Insubordinate people defy authority in the same way false teachers denied the teachings of the apostles. Idle talk and deception often go hand in hand, producing nothing good or spiritual. Instead, it results in error and opposition to the truth. Strong leaders who are spiritual men must correct the error, control those who promote it, and lead the assembly to the liberty of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of Truth who teaches, leads, and guides us into all truth.
Titus 1:10