Romans 16:17-20

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. ²⁰ And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Commentary
Vs. 17-18 The Apostle Paul having spent a great amount of time in recalling to mind and greeting as many brethren as he could; and in doing so encouraged us all to do the same by greeting one another (vs. 3-16). Now must address a possible pitfall in our doing so, and that is false brethren and false teachers who love to prey on the hospitable and genuine nature of true believers everywhere. And so the Apostle Paul begins warning us about them saying, "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them." vs. 17

Two things to note about them. First is they are divisive. That is they are people who cause divisions and make factions amongst brethren. That's one tell tail marker of them, they are divisive, not submissive to the word of God (1 Tim 6:3-5). Second is they cause offenses (gr. skandalon), that is their person and life is being lived contrary to the sound doctrine of Christ. Thus they do not serve our Lord and Savior, rather as the Apostle Paul says of them in verse eighteen they only serve their own bellies, literally yes, but one could include in this their "appetites", that is whatever their sinful and self centered natures crave and desire that they serve (also see Phil 3:17-19). As well the Apostle Paul says of them that they use smooth words and flattering speech to deceive the hearts of the simple (also see 2 Peter 2:18-22). Thus they prey on their victims naivete, using smooth speech and flattering words to gain their trust so that they might exploit and or take  advantage of them. 

Vs. 19-20 Therefore we are commanded to avoid them. For as the Apostle Paul says in verse nineteen: "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." For in doing so, in being both discerning, as well as keeping oneself from evil, the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet. That is God will bring you peace and safety from Satan and all those of him when you obey Him. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." vs. 20 


Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.