4. They exerted a very bad influence on many people.
Verse 11 tells us this. Their mouths must be stopped, or as the word means literally ” muzzled with a gag ” because of their widespread influence. they subvert whole houses – that is they influence whole families – compare 2 Tim.3:6. How solemn! What harm one unspiritual man or woman can cause in a church influencing even whole households of people!
5. They were gripped by impure motives.
Verse 11 tells us that their motive was unworthy gain. When anyone is acting harmfully in God’s work is it right to ask, ” What is his real motive? ” This could be gain of position, like Diotrophes – look up 3 John 9; gain of power,authority, or popularity. Some people long for the esteem of others,they are self-centered and crave recognition. there are many unworthy motives that can grip hold of us – look up Psalm 139:23,24.
6. They were especially susceptible due to their background and temperament.
See verse 12 and 13. No people ever had a worse reputation in the ancient world then the Cretians. They were famed as an insolent ,untrustworthy and lying people;they were known to be drunken and gluttonous. It might be said, ” but surely when a man becomes a Christian his old ways of life is completely change! ” Is not this the meaning of 2 Cor.5:17? Yes, but this change does not always take place immediately, and when it does we are always in danger of being greatly influenced by our background ,custom and temperament. Some people are naturally lazy,some races are unreliable,some are hasty,and some are backward. Paul had this in mind when he quoted (in verse 12) one of the ancient poets: ” Men of Crete are always liars,evil and beastly,lazy and greedy “; and in verse 13 he says, ” there is truth in the testimonial of theirs. ” Background and temperament play a very great part in the lives of people and thus in the life of the church.
7. They were to be rebuked and stopped from doing further harm.
Notice verse 13,that these dangerous were to be rebuked,but not to be thrown out. this is wonderful,for the rebuking was with a view to their restoration – compare Gal.6:1. There are three citadels of our personality which have to be carefully guarded.
- We must have a pure heart Contrast, in verse 15, the words pure and defiled. We need constantly to pray the prayer of Psalm 51:10.
- We must have an enlightened mind, verse 15 is to a defiled mind. How can a defiled mind be enlightened and purified? Psalm 119:9.
- We must have an unseared conscience, verse 15 speaks of a defiled conscience – look up and compare Acts 24:16 ; 2 Cor.4:2 ; 1 Pt. 3:16.