PAY NO ATTENTION. Titus 1:14 The demand for this action by Titus was justified when Paul quoted a Cretan poet who had written hundreds of years earlier, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies." They were notorious for lying, being dangerous and cruel, and for being self-indulgent and greedy. False teachers possess these same traits. Paul supported the poet's words because he knew firsthand that they were difficult people to deal with. Since the believers in Crete were at risk of being deceived, a strong rebuke was necessary to keep order. Whenever God's people face this kind of danger, those responsible for guiding the saints must act quickly. This warning about false teachers is essential because "the faith" is at risk when the spiritual well-being of the saints is threatened. Jewish fables were stories added to Jewish folklore that lacked factual support. The "commandments of men" referred to religious rites and ceremonies that men promoted, which originated from their imaginations or were copied from other religions. That problem persists today in many "Christian" ceremonies that people practice without any biblical support. Usually, they are performed to make people feel spiritual or at least religious. Symbolism and elements ranging from artifacts to pomp and drama are used to grab people's attention and convey a specific view. Behind it all, the dark influence of satanic forces lurks, mixing worldly pomp and glory with scriptural practices. The result is that they "make the cross of Christ of none effect" as people genuflect before gold, polished wood, or flowery crosses that make so-called worshippers feel holy.
Titus 1:14