Romans 16:17, Mark Them Which Cause Division

Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

William MacDonald said well, “The apostle cannot close the letter without a warning against ungodly teachers who might worm their way into the church. The Christians should be on their guard against any such who form parties around themselves and set traps to destroy the faith of the unwary. They should be on the lookout for any whose teaching is contrary to the sound doctrine which the Christians had learned, and should avoid them completely.”

The peace and harmony of the church are disrupted by such who “crept in unawares” (Jude 3) into the congregation of God’s people. The beloved Apostle’s counsel is to “mark them”. The word means “to spy out, look towards an object, to contemplate, give attention to”. God’s people are to be on the look out for such persons that destabilise the faith of God’s people .

He is pleading with them to keep a look out for such individuals who seeks to cause division and seek to teach a different doctrine than the “faith which was once delivered unto the saints”. He tells them to avoid them. Have no fellowship with them as the psalmist taught in psalm 1:1.

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

These seek to first influence your mind through their counsel so that one will be persuaded to stand with them and finally to be an advocate for them. May the Lord be gracious to preserve His church. Amen.