We live in an age of countless competing voices. We can access sermons being preached by someone from every denomination, on any topic, at any time of the day or night. It is not uncommon to have similar topics being lauded upon by two or three preachers at the same time; all you have to do is scroll through your Youtube channels. Never before have we had such availabilities. At the click of a mouse, we can find virtually anything at any time.

With so many preachers and so-called Bible teachers at our disposal, how do we know who we can trust?

Paul warned Titus that there were preachers in his day that were causing all sorts of trouble. He was deeply concerned over Jews who were infiltrating their churches and spreading doctrines that were damnable. He expressed his concern in…

Titus 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

The ‘circumcision’ was a reference to Jews. There were many Jews who were highly motivated to stop the teaching of salvation by grace through faith alone. They were convinced that one had to add certain Jewish works in order to be truly right with God. One of their most aggressive teachings was the addition of circumcision to salvation. They believed that no one could be truly saved without being first circumcised to show their allegiance to the Law of Moses. Paul called them ‘unruly and vain talkers and deceivers.’

Those who made it their mission to infect others with false doctrine had become deadly to the work of Christ. Many had fallen victim to their teachings, as a ‘works’ salvation sounds so sensible. To those reared in a Jewish environment, the concept of justification by faith alone was often too much to swallow. Too many that had heard the gospel, and had started to be swayed by it, quickly fell away when confronted by a false teacher.

Why would these false preachers and teachers be so motivated to steal hearts away from the gospel? At first, it would seem like they were simply on a misguided, but sincere effort to keep their Jewish faith intact. By spreading lies and deceptions about Christ and His work of grace, they were preventing many from leaving their Jewish roots.

That which stirred in their efforts was simply their love for money. In some way, they were being financed in their work. Perhaps the local synagogue put up resources to fund anyone willing to discourage the work of the gospel of Christ. Whatever the source, there was a money trail that led to their perseverance.

The false preachers and teachers in our day are motivated the same way. There is apparently big money in working against the gospel. Consider the contrast. They work to lay up treasures now, while we who love the gospel work to lay up treasures in Heaven.