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VESSELS TO DISHONOUR
II Timothy 2:20-21
January 20, 2024, Monday (Plumbliners Pastor's Fellowship)
Introduction:
We are going to look at “a house” in our passage. We do so by way of an analogy that has to do with the comparison.
We have this analogy in some items in that house. Paul is making that comparison of a house to the church of Jesus Christ. In a house, you have something that are valuable, useful, then you have also something that are not valuable and not useful. In the church of Jesus Christ, you have those true believers, good teachers, and true teaching, but also you have the bad teachers, the false teaching.
Within the church, you got a true and you got a false.
So, let’s start reading our text in verses 20-21, but first we have to start looking verses 15, to understand what is all about. Notice in verse 20, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.”
Some Beliefs with regards to those vessels to honour and vessels to dishonour.
1. Some believe Paul refers to true and false believers (or only professors) ...
2. Others believe that Paul is referring to two classes or two categories of believers...
Paul here is not distinguishing between kinds of Christians, but rather he is making a distinction between true teachers of the Word and the false teachers, as Paul described in verses 16-18.
The two sets of vessels in a great house: represent the true and false teachers in the church. These false teachers are not genuine and spurious members of the church, the body of Christ.
Paul is in fact, referring to the two sets of teachers he has contrasted in the previous paragraph, the authentic like Timothy and the bogus like Hymenaeus and Philetus. The context would indicate that Paul is still dealing with the contrast between true and false teachers, with Hymenaeus and Philetus still in mind. The only difference is that Paul changes the metaphor from good and bad workmen to those vessels to honour and those vessels to dishonour.
Gold and silver vessels are esteemed as honourable because they are used for honourable functions. Similarly, wood and earthenware vessels are regarded as dishonourable because they are used for garbage or excrement and are sometimes thrown out with their contents. The implication is that there may indeed be vessels like the false teachers in the professing Christian community, but their activity indicates that they are dishonourable.
I - ADDRESS
Paul gives an address to Timothy. Really, Paul is getting an address to all of us.
What Paul is saying here is that we are to be quite discerning of what we hear in the church so to keep us from being misled. So, Paul said in verse 15, II Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Notice “Study to shew thyself.” KJV; “do your best” ESV; “be diligent” NASB. In Greek “spoudazo” it has the idea of exertion. It means to be conscientious, zealous and earnest in discharging a duty or obligation. Be diligent is a command to do this now. The word “spoudazo” means don’t delay, do it effectively. We need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey on that matter “to be diligent” or to “study to shew thyself” or “do your best”.
Paul is saying to Timothy, “Be diligent Timothy” or “do your best Timothy” “Timothy, be urgent, don’t delay”, To do what? To present yourself approved unto God. Paul is saying to Timothy, “You want to be approved to God, Timothy, you do not want to be like the Scribes and the Pharisees.” Why? Because the Scribes and Pharisees worked because they want to be seen of men, to have the praises of men. Paul said to Timothy, “Timothy you want to have the approval of God. You want to have the smile of God upon you.” Paul continuously exhorting and has to do how to handle the Word of God. Paul is saying “Timothy, I want the approval of God on the way you handle the Word of God and the way you’re teaching.”
Notice what Paul is saying, “rightly dividing” that is “rightly handling or accurately handling the Word of truth.”
Notice what Paul refers to Timothy, “Timothy, you are a worker” (a workman). Anyone who truly teaches the Word of God, who ministered that Word is simply a worker. Why? Because it has a lot of hard work involved if you’re going to rightly or accurately handle the Word of truth. “STUDY”, “DO YOUR BEST”, “WORK HARD” Now, don’t delay.
Does this speak about those who labor in the Word and doctrine? (I Timothy 5:17 “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”). Listen, it seems that those who work hard laboring in the Word, rightly handling the Word of truth are worthy of double honor.
And that is the qualification of a bishop, or an overseer. (I Timothy 3:1 “desireth a good work”), that is he desires a fine work or he desires a noble task. So here Paul is saying, “Timothy you’re going to have to put forth some effort, you’re going to have to put work,”
Then Paul said “workman that needed not to be ashamed.” Paul is saying, “Timothy, you don’t have to be ashamed.” That is Paul is saying to Timothy “You don’t want to be ashamed of your teaching. And certainly, if you’re truly a man of God and you astray here, you will be ashamed and the true people of God will say something to you, you will be ashamed, Timothy. So, Timothy, you must be diligent to present yourself as that worker who does not need to be a shamed, Timothy, remember you’re always working in the presence of God. And as you prepare something to teach to the church of God, Timothy, pray, Oh Lord, is it right? Oh Lord God, do I have your approval?”
May be someone is saying “But that does not apply for all of us.” Whatever your calling, you are there as a servant of God. Whatever your calling, you want the approval of God that you are doing it for God’s glory, for God’s honor!
So, to wrap it all, Paul is saying to Timothy, “Timothy, be diligent, do your best, teach the Word of God rightly and accurately so that you will not be ashamed.”
Why we have this God’s instruction? Why we have this God’s command? It is a command to do this now (aorist imperative). I Think because there were those within the church, who had been within the church, they were not handling the Word of God right.
But notice in verse 16 (II Timothy 2:16 “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”)
The English word “profane” which describes that which disregard what is to be kept sacred or holy. The English word "profane" is derived from the Latin profanus which means "outside the temple, not sacred" and in turn is derived from pro- ‘before’ + fanum = ‘temple’. That which is "worldly" (NASB); “irreverent” (ESV) is not initiated by God and therefore cannot be anointed by God and in context is the language of a false teacher.
The word “babblings” in Greek “babelos”. Bebelos suggests that which is void of all connection with, or relation to, God. There is nothing sacred about their words. Paul is not talking of idle chitchat or gossip, which can do considerable damage in a church. Paul is speaking of destructive heresy that pervert divine truth.
In other words, Paul is saying “Timothy there are those who are putting forth this babbling, they are those putting forth this false teaching, Timothy don’t allow to get in to your teaching, Timothy, you must warn the people about those false teachers who put forth these false teaching.”
And you know what Paul does, he names people, Paul names a couple of those who were putting forth false teaching.
Notice Paul mentions in verse 17, (II Timothy 2:17 "And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;"). The word “canker” in Greek "gaggraina" from
graô or grainô, means an eating, spreading disease, a cancer, it means a dead cell poisoning the living cells). We recall that first Timothy letter, on that first chapter, Paul making mention of this false teaching of two men, Paul writes that there are some who had rejected the faith, they made shipwreck. (I Timothy 1:19-20 ‘Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”). It is often true that the most effective subverters of God's Word of truth are men who, outwardly, seem to be very smooth and charming (2 Corinthians 11:13, 14, 15). Paul identifies one of the false teachers as Hymenaeus (means singing man), who, because he was denounced in the previous letter, obviously had been a threat to the Ephesian church for some time. Although Paul had excommunicated him out of the church when Paul himself was still in Ephesus, having “delivered [him] over to Satan,”. And outside the church is the kingdom of darkness, the kingdom of Satan. Hymenaeus obviously persisted in his efforts to misled believers there, and Philetus (means friendly man) had replaced Alexander as his co-conspirator (1 Timothy 1:20). As Jesus said of Judas (Matthew 26:24 “The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.”), it would have been better if those men had not been born.
Paul says, “Timothy, because of those false teachers, you make sure Timothy, you work really hard to handle the truth of God right and accurate.”
II – ANALOGY
Then notice what Paul says in verse 16
II Timothy 2:16 "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." False teaching affects the life. What you got in your head and in your heart will affect the way you live.
Remember what Paul said to Titus in an opening remark (Titus 1:1 “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;” You see the truth of God is after godliness. You must acknowledge the truth if you want to be godly. What’s godliness has to do? Well, godliness has to do by obeying the truth of God. What Jesus prayed to the Father? (John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”). By the truth of God we grow, by the truth of God we gain in holiness. You see, not by false teaching. (Ex: polygamy – Mormon, Islamic religion)
Then also Paul speaks about this false teaching, of those who denied the resurrection in verse 18 (II Timothy 2:18 “Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.”). This verse gives us a little detail that Hymenaeus and his partner in sin, Philetus have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. Then in verse 17 Paul likens their false doctrine to a gangrene that spreads corruption and destroys life (II Timothy 2:17 “And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;”). Although, the scriptures do not say Hymenaeus and Philetus don't believed on resurrection, but said the resurrection is already past, but Paul considered them men who have erred from the truth. On the other hand, there are also some religious groups of today that teaches gospel of Christ which includes Christ's resurrection, is not enough for a person to be saved. Many cults and false religious groups don't teach about gospel salvation therefore there is no forgiveness of sins. In our passage, Hymenaeus and Philetus are not genuine believers, they are false teachers, they are vessels to dishonor.
There are interesting statements made by Paul when he wrote to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 15:33 “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”). Evil communication, false teaching affects the way you live. And you know what Paul says here II Timothy 2:17-18 about false teaching? It is evil, false teaching is evil. And don’t ignore but be alarm that false teaching is evil.
Paul is not referring to some kind of a little things in house family, not referring to some dispute among Christian people, and we discussed and argue all about church matters, we argue all about some subjects, about bible versions, about the mode of baptism, and things like that but we are all in the family. These false teachers (Hymenaeus, Philetus) are out of God’s family and they stir people up to go in the way of ungodliness (II Timothy 2:16 “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”).
Again, on the statements made by the Apostle Paul, he is speaking to the Thessalonians (I Thessalonians 5:21-22 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.”). What does it mean to abstain from all appearance of evil? Does it mean walking and entering the pub house? Drinking whiskey? Coming in inside the movie house? But we look at this on the context. I Thessalonians 5:19-22 “Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.” I Think the context has to do with teaching (“prophesyings”). You must be discerning about what you heard, you must be discerning about the teaching you wonder (you doubt, or curious). You test that teaching, you must hold fast to what is true, when it comes to anything false, abstain from false teaching and put it away from you.
In summary, Paul is telling Timothy:
1. “Timothy, you handle that Word correctly.
2. “Timothy, don’t allow false teaching to enter in to what you are setting for.
3. “Timothy, you warn the people about false teaching.
4. “Timothy false teaching brings a snare.”
We had some words in Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 13:1-4 “If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.”).
May be someone says, “What are you saying Pastor? There is not anybody trying to get us to go after Gods” Well, we need to think about that. Some of those people knock on your door. They bring another god.
What about Benny Hinn? What God he teaches? What God he set forth?
What about Kenneth Copeland? What God he set for?
What about Joe Osteen? What God he is setting for?
What about Morris Cerullo? Welde Almeda? Eddie Villanueva? David Sobrepena? Mike Velarde?
They send forth messages that really appeal to flesh. They always make you feel good by the prosperity gospel beliefs.
Paul said in reference to the Holy Scriptures (II Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”). Do these men of false teachers give you any reproof and correction? People feel terrible, people should not give their money to these false teachers. These false teachers don’t set the truth of the Living God. That’s what people feel bad about. But these false teachers are not set forth the truth of the Living God at all.
Paul is saying “Timothy, you must be quick to be approved of God and you handle that Word right. Timothy, there are those who strayed from the truth”. These false teachers said in verse 18 the resurrection is over, that there is no resurrection of Christ and there is no holy gospel and we are yet in our sins.
So, there is the address. We need to be discerning about what we hear especially in the church. Well, that brings up the analogy, because you see that a kind of alarming in the church. I expect all kinds of terrible thing coming out of the world about the church. Well, Paul brings an analogy here to us.
Notice in verse 19, what Paul said for our comfort (II Timothy 2:19 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.”). Then Paul said (II Timothy 2:19 “And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”). Now, we see that statement “depart from iniquity.” Don’t be automatically think of the sins of the flesh. What is the context? FALSE TEACHING! False teaching is iniquity. False teaching is evil.
On the other hand, those who belong to the Lord, those who have a new heart, are those who hungered for truth and want to learn that truth.
You go to Psalm 119, and see how many times the Psalmist says “oh how I love Thy Word and I hate every false way.”
Some of those verses with the phrase “I hate every false way” are verses 104 and 128.
Psalm 119:104 “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”
Psalm 119:128 “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.”
And the best way to detest or hate the false way is to know the true way so that we can readily perceive a false way or false teaching! Every false way. Oh yes just a bunch of Christians who loved God’s truth and want to follow God’s commandments.
Oh yes, those men, Hymenaeus and Philetus have been out of the church. They were excommunicated by Paul. Yes, we have to perceive and hate false way or false teaching. That is what Paul is telling Timothy.
We are talking about a church. Paul said in I Corinthians 5:10 “must ye needs go out of the world.” Yes, all of us here, every day, during working day, during school days we rub shoulder with some of the most wicked people, even the most terrible reprobates. We try to witness to these wicked people in this world but that is not church. Those who are brought to the church has suppose to have an understanding and suppose hath repented from their sin but yet there are those professing not genuinely saved who get their way in the church. Remember, the parable of the Savior (Matthew 13), there are those who make a profession of faith but not genuine, they just shout and make a lot of noise (false preachers in pulpit).
So again, in verse 20 of our passage, Paul brings up the analogy. II Timothy 2:20 “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.”
We see here of course; Paul is speaking about this false teaching of those false teachers who are part of the church in Timothy’s day. Well, Paul is talking about a house, so let’s go to I Timothy 3:15 “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” So, here the church is likened into a house. The same thing with reference to Moses in Hebrews 13 or Hebrews 12, the church is likened to a temple. But, here II Timothy 2 of our passage, the church is liked to a house.
That is why Paul said in verse 20 of our passage, II Timothy 2:20 “a great house”. Paul is not speaking about a peasant house, because in a peasant house you cannot find any piece of gold and silver, that is why it says “great house.” There are some within that great house that are very valuable vessels, some of them are very useful vessels. But there are also some vessels that simply will be destroyed. It is God of course, who makes the difference between honor and dishonor.
So, here we are talking about the church. It may be shocking! Personally, I know when I was first converted, I was so happy, so excited, and I could not wait to go to church and be around the saints. But as times past, I have found some of those people in the church, don’t act like Christian. They don’t live like a Christian and they don’t talk about how the Christian should live. Yet they are members of the church. It’s shocking! Paul said to Timothy, “Timothy, don’t be shock, there are vessels of dishonor, there are professing, unconverted, false teachers in the church in a great house.”
Peter seriously warns believers of the false teachers coming their way in the church. II Peter 2:1-3 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
Christ will always have His church, but in the church there always have false sons and those who were not truly been converted. Someone depart from the faith, brings in false gospel, such people must be doubted.
So, there is the analogy, in a great house you brought items that are useful and very precious, then also you got items like the paper plate that simply torn away.
III - APPLICATION
Now, in the third place, Paul makes this application. Notice in verse 21.
II Timothy 2:21 “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”
We look at that, it says a man cleanses himself, that is he put away from these things. What are these things? What these things Paul referring to? Well, we are going to preceding context and it seems Paul is speaking about those vessels of dishonor. And we go farther in the context what Paul is speaking about. Well, Paul is speaking about couple of false teachers (Hymenaeus and Philetus) and how they strayed from the faith. So, what should I put away? Those vessels, those men, those people who set forth false teachings, who set forth false gospel.
In other words, I cannot have fellowship with that person or with that someone that setting forth a false gospel. That false teachers who are vessels of dishonor is a member of the kingdom of darkness, I am a member of the kingdom of light. There is no fellowship with him in Jesus Christ. I put him away from me.
Well, Pastor, don’t you have any concern or any care about those who get entangled? Yes, we are concerned of their souls! Because what Paul says, later on, he speaks of those servants of the Lord must be not cruel, not disrespect but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, and humility correcting those opposition (II Timothy 2:24 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,”).
God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth and that they may come to their senses (II Timothy 2:25-26 “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”). Yes! We care for their souls!
And Titus makes mention about the fact of those who has been corrected two or three times, and just leave him alone (Titus 3:10 “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;”). Only God can change the heart. So, I cannot have close fellowship with those who are setting forth another gospel, those false teachers, those who are hindering the faith of others.
But then again, you will look at the statements that is made here. In verse 21 Paul says (II Timothy 2:21 “…sanctified, and meet (useful) for the master's use,”). So, after Paul instructed Timothy to put away and be discerning all those false teachers, now Paul here mention to Timothy about being sanctified and fighting with the sins of the flesh.
Then Paul says in II Timothy 2:21“prepared for every good work.” I want to be prepared for every good work. And as believers, we want to do good works. Don’t we? In Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Believers were ordained unto good works.
Notice Paul says here “every good works.” It does not say “spectacular works” that you made the headline” No.
Every work people see and people applaud. No, Paul does not say that.
A good work you see, can be something that is very practical. A good work can be something a few people know about. That good works is simple things.
1. When you look in the book of Acts, remember there is a woman by the name of Dorcas, she died. Peter went
there and while he’s there, what happened? All the widows gathered around and said “Peter, look what she made for us, some clothes”, (Acts 9:39 “Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.”). Making clothes for some people, who did not have them. That’s good work. That is a very simple thing.
2. The Lord Jesus spoke in Matthew 25:36 “…I was sick, and ye visited me…” In other words, a simple good works.
3. And Paul later on, said to Timothy in (II Timothy 4:13 “The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou
comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.”). Paul is saying “Timothy, I want you to see me and when you do, bring the cloak and bring the Scriptures.” That is a simple thing. You see a good work!
4. Didn’t Jesus say something in Matthew 10:42 “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a
cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” That is very simple.
Something simple is needed. And we do simple things. That is good work. We tend to think that the only good work of man something that is spectacular by saying “If I could do this, If I could do that. You know if I really did something great, isn’t possible I might make it on talk news.” Oh, to be something great, No! Good works is a simple works.
So, Paul says to Timothy and to us in verse 21, II Timothy 2:21 “prepared for every good work.” Ready for every good work. I think involved in that is simple. I imagined, if you keep your eyes and ears open, you just might be able to come up with the good, helpful work to someone in need. Amen!
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