OUT OF CONTEXT!  “To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”  Titus 1:15 (NKJV)

This verse is often taken out of context.  They, and Christian people who are misguided in this particular area, use this passage to condone many unscriptural things from getting tattoos to “practicing” seeing angels.  They say wrongly that “to the pure all things are pure.”  

While these may not keep you out of heaven, they may mislead you and you can become less effective for the Kingdom of God!   

(The enemy confounds the naive with Scriptures taken out of context frequently.  Or possibly the immature do not know all the Word on it! See JUDGMENT OR REPROOF?)

“ALL THINGS”

We must define “all things.” 

Does “all things” mean witchcraft or sorcery are pure? No! 

Galatians 5:19-21  (NKJV)  19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, … 20 … sorcery, … of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Revelation 18:23  (NKJV)  [speaking of Babylon]  23 … For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

Does “all things” mean idolatry is pure? No!

St. John closes his epistle with this:

1 John 5:21  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.  (KJV)

Does “all things” mean fornication is pure? No!

1 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV) 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

So everything, from witchcraft to idolatry to immorality, IS NOT PURE!  That seems to be a direct contradiction, if you take “To the pure all things are pure,” OUT OF CONTEXT!

SO WHAT IS PURE?

This, or something similar to it, is a passage St. Paul used when referring to food!  This is not a big deal for us who have been raised in Christian homes, but to the early church, it was!   The Jewish dietary laws, that some thought were necessary to follow after having been baptized in Christ,  were NOT necessary to commit to the LORD Jesus Christ.  (However, the instructions of the LORD, Him knowing the best foods to eat, DO have validity in a healthful diet!  But it is only through faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved.)

These are the passages that are referenced to Titus 1:  Luke 11:41; Romans 14:14; 20; 1 Corinthians 6:12.  In all these passages, it refers to food or how food is eaten!  (You may skip this and go to SOUND DOCTRINE if you don’t have time to know the Scriptures that deal with food.)

LUKE

Luke 11:41 (NKJV)  41 But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.

I think the best meaning of this is from Pulpit Commentary where it paraphrases this: 

Jesus Christ was saying this to the Pharisees who were clean on the outside and maybe not on the inside: “I will tell you how really to purify, in the eyes of God, these cups and dishes of yours.  Share their contents with your poorer neighbors.” 

ROMANS

Romans 14:14-20 (NKJV)  14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.

1 CORINTHIANS

1 Corinthians 6  (NKJV) 12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. 

1 TIMOTHY

In a passage that is referring to false teachers, those thinking that it was necessary to be circumcised and to eat like Jews ate, it says:

1 Timothy 4:4  (NKJV)  4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;

 

SOUND DOCTRINE

The Book of Titus does make the case for SOUND DOCTRINE. 

Titus 1:7-16 (NKJV)

7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

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.  

[And this is where we see this theme…]

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.

The Jewish fables and commandments of men (which included many dietary laws about food) are not to be given any attention!

KNOW THE WORD OF GOD!

I urge you, dear Christians!   Know the Word of God, especially the New Testament!  

You will see that:

Galatians 5:19-21  (NKJV)  19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

DECEIVERS

Luke 21:8  (NKJV)  8 And He [Jesus Christ] said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.

Whether the deceiver is saying personally “I am He” the Christ; OR the “Christian” deceiver speaks that “Jesus is He”, we should test the spirits.

1 John 4 (NKJV)  4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

The spirit of antichrist has been here.  This foul spirit used people like Hitler, known for his atrocities against Christians and Jews. This sinister spirit used Pope Pius IX, (1792 – 1878) who began the dogma of infallibility and who started the Jewish ghetto in Rome.  This was a “Christian” man, but he headed the Roman Catholic Church.

The enemy of our souls speaks “nice”, flowery, convincing words.  These “nice” words can deceive you!  If a demon or an angel speaks anything to you that is against the Word of God, it is a lie.  The devil is crafty!  Study how the enemy deceived Eve.  

Revelation 18:23  (NKJV) [speaking of Babylon] 23 … For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

Matthew 24:24 (NKJV) 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

2 Corinthians 11:14 (NKJV)  14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

“Keep yourself from idols!”  1 John 5:21  

Be wary for the enemy will try to deceive!