What does "commands of men" mean in Titus 1:14, and why avoid them? Setting the Scene in Titus Titus 1:10-14 sets Paul’s urgent tone. Crete’s young believers were hearing teachers who mixed portions of Old-Covenant ritual, rabbinic folklore, and man-made regulations with the gospel. Paul tells Titus to silence that noise: “and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who have rejected the truth.” (Titus 1:14) Defining “Commands of Men” • Extra rules layered on top of God’s Word—often sounding religious, but never required by Scripture • Rabbinic traditions elevated to equal (or higher) authority than God’s own commands • Moralistic regulations invented by people who “have rejected the truth,” pushing their agenda in place of the gospel Tracing the Source • “Jewish myths” (v. 14) – fanciful legends spun out of genealogies and apocryphal tales (see 1 Timothy 1:4) • “Circumcision party” influencers (v. 10) – insisting Gentiles must embrace Mosaic customs to be fully accepted (cf. Acts 15:1) • Profit-driven teachers (v. 11) – “teaching things they should not, for the sake of dishonest gain” Why the Commands Are Dangerous 1. They Compete with Christ’s Finished Work – Colossians 2:20-23: human precepts “have the appearance of wisdom” but “lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” 2. They Nullify God’s Word – Matthew 15:9: “They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.” 3. They Produce Bondage, Not Freedom – Galatians 5:1: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Man-made rules re-chain the believer. 4. They Foster Hypocrisy – Mark 7:6-8: honoring God with lips while hearts are far off occurs when human tradition eclipses God’s intent. 5. They Distract from Sound Doctrine – Titus 1:13: Titus must “rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith.” Soundness evaporates when attention shifts to man-centered regulations. Scriptural Cross-References • 1 Timothy 4:1-3 – forbidding marriage and certain foods: examples of legalistic “commands of men.” • Galatians 1:14 – Paul once excelled in “the traditions of my fathers,” yet turned from them to embrace grace. • Colossians 2:6-10 – believers are “complete in Christ”; no supplementary rules are needed. Practical Takeaways for Today • Test every religious expectation against Scripture; if God didn’t command it, reject it. • Guard gospel simplicity. Christ plus nothing equals salvation and growth. • Watch for modern equivalents—cultural preferences, denominational taboos, or popular Christian “rules” lacking biblical warrant. • Encourage one another to cling to the true Word, not the shifting standards of people. “Therefore if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36) |
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