Silence False Teachers

“For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. 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. One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: ‘Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.’ This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith.” (Titus 1:10-13)

When a dog poses a threat to people, sometimes a harsh remedy is needed: A muzzle. When a muzzle is placed over the mouth of an aggressive dog, its teeth no longer pose a threat. 

According to Paul, that’s what needs to be done to false teachers: “They must be silenced.” Muzzled. Of course, Paul isn’t talking about a physical muzzle. He’s calling on true Christians to rebuke false teachers, challenge their false teachings, and silence them through the true preaching of God’s Word.

Like a “Beware of Dog” sign, here’s what Christians are to watch out for: Those false teachers were “rebellious.” They refused to submit to God and his Word. They were “full of meaningless talk.” They had a lot to say, but they never talked about salvation through Jesus. Finally, those false teachers were experts at “deception.” With smooth talk, they conned their hearers into believing their lies. They were “disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach.” They must be silenced!

Sadly, false teachers like this were common in ancient Crete. Even Cretans themselves—like the philosopher Epimenides—admitted that many Cretans were greedy liars.

The Bible uses strong language when it comes to false teaching. Why? Because we are saved by faith in Jesus, and faith in Jesus comes through hearing God’s Word. The most dangerous thing is for someone to tear us away from God’s Word.

Christian love calls on us to love our neighbor, but Christian love doesn’t call on us to agree with or listen to everything our neighbors say. False teachers “must be silenced…. Therefore rebuke them sharply.”

As you do, remember the goal: “Rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith.” God is concerned about your soul, but do you know who else’s soul he’s concerned about? The souls of those false teachers. God wants their false teaching silenced so that they can come to true faith in Jesus. 

Dear Lord God, it’s still true today that there are many rebellious people who don’t submit to you. Please give us the right words to say to silence them for the sake of our and their souls. Amen.

Pastor Nathan