To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
- Titus 1:15-16
These verses are a powerful climax to Paul’s warnings against false teachers in Crete. They provide insight into the moral and spiritual condition of those who claim to know God but whose lives deny that profession. They remind us that true godliness is not measured by religious words, rituals, or external behaviors, but by a transformed heart and a life aligned with the truth of the gospel.
Paul exposes a deeper issue: when false teaching poisons the mind, even good things are twisted. And when hypocrisy governs behavior, people may look godly on the outside but be unfit for the work of God.
Some misuse verse 15a to justify sinful behavior: “Well, I’m pure, so everything I do is okay.” But Paul is not giving a green light to moral relativism. He is not suggesting that purity makes sin acceptable. Rather, he is refuting legalistic false teachers who declared certain foods, practices, or rituals as unclean, even though God had not. This is in line with what Jesus taught in Mark 7:15: “Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”
The “pure” are those who have been cleansed by Christ and walk in His truth. Their purity is not self-made but gospel-given. Because their hearts have been transformed, they can enjoy God’s creation rightly, without being bound by human rules or fear of defilement.
Paul’s words challenge the legalistic mindset that sees spiritual danger in every material thing. But Paul says the problem isn’t with the object; it’s with the heart. A pure heart, informed by God’s Word, can discern what is good and enjoy it as a gift from God. Legalism places external boundaries on what God has declared clean, while true purity flows from the inside out, grounded in grace, not rules.
In verse 15b, Paul turns from the pure to the corrupted. These are likely the same false teachers from verses 10-14, possibly from the circumcision group, who insisted on human commands and Jewish myths to determine purity. Ironically, their obsession with external righteousness revealed the deep corruption within. Paul connects corruption with unbelief. These individuals may be religious, but they don’t genuinely trust in Christ. Their spirituality is external and performative. Because they reject the gospel of grace, they rely on human effort and religious rules. They see impurity everywhere, not because things are truly impure, but because their own hearts are corrupt.
Paul says their “minds and consciences are corrupted.” This is a sobering statement. The conscience is meant to guide moral decisions, but when it’s seared or corrupted (see 1 Timothy 4:2), it no longer functions properly. These false teachers likely believed they were honoring God, but they were blind to their own spiritual decay. This is why mere sincerity is not enough. A person can sincerely believe they are doing right and still be deeply deceived if their heart is not rooted in truth.
Verse 16 may be the most devastating indictment of all. These false teachers talk the talk; they “claim to know God.” But their lives tell a different story. Their actions expose the truth: they are strangers to the God they profess. Their deeds don’t reflect His holiness, love, or truth. This kind of spiritual hypocrisy is deadly, not just for the person involved but for the church. When people who claim to represent Christ live in contradiction to Him, it damages the witness of the gospel and confuses the watching world. Paul doesn’t hold back. These individuals are “detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good.”
How do these verses speak to our modern churches? The challenges of legalism, hypocrisy, and corrupted consciences that Paul addressed in first-century Crete are unfortunately still alive and well today.
Churches must guard against replacing the gospel with a list of dos and don’ts. While Biblical commands matter, we are not made pure by law-keeping (since no human can perfectly keep God’s holy law), but by Christ’s finished work. Legalism may look holy, but it actually fosters pride, judgment, and fear.
We must learn to evaluate fruit, not just words. Just because someone speaks Christian language or knows theology does not mean they truly know God. Are they humble? Loving? Obedient? Do they serve others, walk in repentance, and grow in grace? Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16). The church must cultivate discernment to recognize wolves in sheep’s clothing and protect the flock.
We must each ask ourselves the question: Does my life reflect the God I claim to know and follow? No one does this perfectly, of course. But when we fall, do we repent and seek grace? Are we growing in godliness? Are we generous, compassionate, honest, and faithful?
Churches must call believers to authentic discipleship. Our words must match our actions, and the presence of Jesus must be visible not just in worship but in everyday life.
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