假教師的危險
提多書一章10至16節
10因為有許多人不服約束，說虛空話欺哄人，那奉割禮的更是這樣。
11這些人的口總要堵住。他們因貪不義之財，將不該教導的教導人，敗壞人的全家。
12有克里特人中的一個本地先知說：“克里特人常說謊話，乃是惡獸，又饞又懶！”
13這個見證是真的。所以，你要嚴嚴地責備他們，使他們在真道上純全無疵，
14不聽猶太人荒渺的言語和離棄真道之人的誡命。
15在潔淨的人，凡物都潔淨；在污穢不信的人，甚麼都不潔淨，連心地和天良也都污穢了。
16他們說是認識神，行事卻和他相背；本是可憎惡的，是悖逆的，在各樣善事上是可廢棄的。
信息分享
保羅在第11節強調要將這些人「堵住」。他們運用的手段，今天也屢見不鮮，其中一個方法，就是首先吸引某位家庭成員，然後藉著他/她去迷惑全家。當一人受迷惑，不單使整個家庭陷入無盡的痛苦，更禍及整間教會。尤其是一些激動情緒的錯誤教義，最容易在教會中間造成嚴重的分裂；但它們卻特別能夠吸引那些喜歡新鮮感的人。
假教師的動機值得懷疑。保羅指出他們的動機是「貪不義之財」。歷世歷代的教會，都曾被這些為了一己貪念而自立作傳道的人，弄得傷痕纍纍。一個要求信徒奉獻所有儲蓄的領袖，必然大有問題，我們必須立即遠離他，並奉勸其他人不要追隨。這是對任何假教派的一個準確測試。
革哩底人似乎特別容易聽信謊言；但保羅相信福音能徹底改變他們。他建議提多要「嚴嚴地責備他們，使他們在真道上純全無疵」。換句話說，不要把他們逐出教會，反要重建他們的信心，使他們再次堅定不移地相信耶穌基督。責備是為了挽回。請翻看加拉太書六章1節的教導；讓我們也以此原則，來處理那些在教導和行為上出現偏差的信徒。
THE DANGER OF FALSE TEACHER
Titus 1: 10-16
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
Message
Paul wrote in verse 11 that these false teachers must be stopped. One of their methods is still used today - get hold of one member of a household and then through him/her attempt to attract the whole family. This can cause endless heart ache and can disrupt not only family life but the whole church also. Nothing is so divisive than wrong doctrine especially when it appeals to the emotions and to people who are always looking for something new.
The motives of false teachers are often suspected. Paul speaks of them doing this for “dishonest gain”. The church of God has been hurt many many times by self-appointed preachers of various kinds who are only doing it for the sake of money. When a group leader wants his or her followers to contribute all of their savings, we should clearly stay away from them and warn others also not to be involved. That is one sure test of a false cult.
The people of Crete seemed to have been particularly susceptible to any untruth or false statements. But Paul believed the Gospel could completely change them. The words he used in saying how to deal with these people was “rebuke so that they will be sound in the faith”. In other words, don’t throw them out of the church but win them to a new place of faith and trust in Jesus Christ. The rebuke was to bring about restoration. Look at Galatians 6:1, and let it guide us in dealing with those who are wrong in teaching or behaviour.