Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Titus 1:11

"whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre`s sake." — Titus 1:11 (ASV)

Paul demands that these people “be silenced” (GK 2187)—a word that means “to close the mouth by means of a muzzle or gag.” The offenders must be refused opportunity to spread their teachings in the churches; the term also includes silencing them by a logical refutation of their views.

Their suppression is necessary because of their seductive work. They belong to that class of people who are “ruining whole households,” disturbing and turning upside down the faith of entire families. They achieve these disastrous results by teaching things that simply must not be presented as Christian truth.

“For the sake of dishonest gain” unveils their materialistic motives (cf. v.7), the desire to enrich themselves at the expense of the spiritual welfare of their victims.