Deceiving by Good Words and Fair Speeches Romans 16:18

As Paul the apostle continued his final words to the believers in Rome, he instructed them, “mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them”, and in chapter sixteen and verse eighteen of Romans, Paul told the believers how these people, “deceive” “by good words and fair speeches” where we read:

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;

and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

The verse begins, “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;”. Paul began with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, seeing then, no doubt, verily and therefore” “they are that are such” which refers to “this kind or sort”, “serve not” or “do not service to, yield to or obey” “our Lord” which means “Paul, his companions and his believing readers' one to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah” “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “Christ” or “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God”, “but” which means “nevertheless, notwithstanding, moreover and” “their own belly” or “these who promote false teachings are given to the pleasures of the palate and the innermost part of a man, the soul and heart as the seat of thought, feeling and choice”. Paul identified “selfishness” as the true motive of these people who promoted teachings other than those taught by Paul.

The verse continues, “and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Paul added the words, “and by good words” which means “and through smooth and plausible addresses which stimulate goodness” “and fair speeches” or “and praise, laudation, panegyric, fine discourse and polished language” “deceive” which means “seduce wholly and beguile” “the hearts” or “the soul or mind as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors” “of the simple” which refers to “people without guile or fraud, who are harmless, free from guilt, distrusting no one and fearing no evil from others”. Paul shared how these “deceivers” use “praise” and “smooth words” to convince the innocent about the correctness of their teaching.

When we think through these words of Paul, we discover the abominable behavior of these false teachers. They used crafty words and praise to convince innocent listeners about their ideas. Jesus said, “beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7:15), and when a person receives Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”, the “ravening wolves” shall certainly appear. Paul and Jesus warned about them, and anyone who reads these words should also take heed concerning these “wicked and deceitful” teachers.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome, “your obedience is come abroad unto all men ”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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