The Two Sides Of Simple
Romans 16:17-19 NKJ
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
Paul is wrapping up his letter to the church in Rome. He mentions people by name, but as is his way, Paul does not mention any superlatives. No one can ever accuse Paul of being the conductor of the hype train. He refers to people as beloved in the Lord. And speaks of those who have labored in the Lord and acknowledges his fellow laborers. But that is pretty much it.
Paul then warns the church as to who to stay away from, who to avoid. Stay away from those who cause divisions and offenses. There is just something about some people that cause division wherever they go. They seem to always have something to share that is offensive. Then Paul states that these people are not serving the Lord Jesus but their own belly. This is another way of saying they are serving their own self-interests. And Paul states these divisive people have a way of operating.
Smooth words and flattering speech are the tools divisive individuals use to deceive the hearts of the simple. I have a problem with those who cause division. So I am always looking for smooth words and flattery. I worked in sales for years and have been around some smooth operators. Some people are just good with words. But when combined with flattery, they become dangerous. Particularly when they are causing division. I have a personal aversion to flattery. Flattery is false building up for the end purpose of benefiting the one doing the flattery. Flattery is not sincere and not okay. And yet smooth words and flattery can deceive the hearts of the simple.
This is the simple that you don’t want to be. A better word for this simple is unsuspecting. The people who distrust no one. This is a dangerous simple. These are the folks who buy into the smooth words and flattery. Instead of wondering why someone is pumping them up, they climb on board the hype train. But they are not in for a good ride.
Paul lists another form of simple in verse nineteen. He encourages the church to be wise when it comes to what is good. And simple to what is evil. But this is not the same word as we saw in verse eighteen. This is an innocent simple. Innocent concerning evil. Be wise to know how to do good but innocent regarding doing evil. We can be innocent when it comes to evil, but not trust when it comes to people who use smooth words and flattery to deceive us. Jesus must have meant this when He said we are to be wise as serpents and harmless, the same word as simple, as doves.
Bottom line, simple can mean two things in this context. Unsuspecting and trusting everyone is not the simple we want. We do want to be innocent when it comes to doing evil.