1. Rebellious people (10-14)

A rebellious heart is displeasing to God because it springs from man's first rebellion against God (Ge 3). In Crete, there were some rebellious people who held on to their own ideas and refused to study the Bible; they deliberately tried to confuse and burden new Christians with unnecessary rules and rituals in order to get rich. They were good talkers, and they preyed on sincere believers. Cretans were known as liars and gluttons, so God's servant should rebuke them for their own good, to teach them sound faith. Sound faith is living according to the truth of God's word.

2. To the pure all things are pure (15-16)

If one who has a pure heart is rebuked according to God's word, he will accept it and repent and grow. If one has a crooked, unrepentant heart, then the rebuke of God's servant will only make him angry. Purity of heart belongs to those who have repented of sin, accepted God's forgiveness and been purified by Jesus' blood.

Application: Father, purify my heart and help me live according to the truth of your word.
One Word: A pure heart for valentine's day