Titus
Chapter 2
Memory verses for this week:
1
John 5:5 Who is he that
overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of
God?
Introduction: Last week in our study of Chapter 1, Paul gave Titus
instructions on ordination of elders and the qualifications of a
pastor. He urged
him to study the scriptures and to not heed false teachings of men
and Jewish fables. This week we are urged to speak the things that become sound
doctrine.
I.
Duties of the Aged and Young
Titus 2:1
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Titus 2:2
That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith,
in charity, in patience.
Titus was to speak the things which
become sound doctrine. Not
many today are concerned that they teach doctrine that pleases God.
They are more concerned many times with the favor of man.
But Sound Doctrine is the only kind of doctrine that will
glorify God. The older men were to be sound in their love and in patience.
They are to be “sober,” that is, very vigilant, very serious.
They should be men who are respected and self-controlled.
2
Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
2
Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having
itching ears;
Paul warned young Timothy that the
day would come when people would not endure sound doctrine, and I
believe we are in that time period today.
Most folks seem to be more concerned with activities and
entertainment in churches today versus what is being preached and
taught. We need to stand firm on sound doctrine, and never move an
inch from what God’s Word teaches.
We are warned in Hebrews Chapter 13 to not be carried about
by strange doctrine.
Hebrews
13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it
is
a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with
meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Titus was given exact instructions
concerning the older men in verse 2.
Paul wanted him to teach the church that these men needed to
set an example of being serious and standing in the faith. They were to be patient men that were serious about God’s
work. They were
to be known as men of charity.
The bible has much to say about charity which is another word
for love.
1 Corinthians
13:1 Though I
speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I
am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I
have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all
knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove
mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow
all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be
burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is
not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity,
but rejoiceth in the truth; 7
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all things. 8
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall
fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be
knowledge, it shall vanish away.
Lots of gifts are mentioned in
these verses, but the most important of all is love. (charity)
Titus 2:3
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as
becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine,
teachers of good things;
Titus 2:4
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love
their husbands, to love their children,
Titus 2:5
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to
their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Like the older men, Paul gives
instructions for the older women in the church too. He says their behavior was to become holiness.
A woman who follows after the examples set in Proverbs 31
will never fail. She
was to be a woman known for honesty and not one who would falsely
accuse someone. They
were not to be given over to alcohol, but rather woman who love
their families and ones who teach good things.
These women were to learn to be discreet and chaste.
This mean wise in avoiding errors and selecting the best
means to accomplish a purpose.
Chaste speaks of being pure in thought.
These older women were to mentor the younger women and show
them how to act and to love their husbands and children.
There was a serious reason for this teaching of the younger
women… it was so that the Word of God be not blasphemed.
I’m afraid that as a whole, the churches in America come up
short in this area of mentoring the young.
Every older person should have at least one younger person
that they, so to speak, “Take under their wing” and be there for
them and guide and help them.
Experience is the greatest of all teachers, and those who
have been down the road and seen God’s faithful hand guiding their
lives can have a profound affect on young people.
It does not have to be a lot of time each week, but being
there and being a special friend can make the difference in a
successful life and marriage for the younger generation.
Titus 2:6
Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
As the young women were commanded
to be sober, so are the young men.
We should exhort and encourage all young people in our
church. We
don’t know what that small bit of encouragement may mean to them.
You have probably heard that no matter what county you live
in or what language you speak, a smile speaks volumes to those
around you. Likewise,
an encouraging word when we are down does so much to help us.
Heb 3:13 But
exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you
be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
1 John 2:14
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him
that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men,
because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye
have overcome the wicked one.
II.
The Duty of Every Pastor
Titus 2:7
In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in
doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Titus 2:8
Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of
the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of
you.
Every pastor has a responsibility
to set the right example and pattern before the church.
All of us are looked up to as examples by someone, but the
Pastor is truly looked up to by all the church and community.
A pastor should be a pattern of good work and be a very
sincere and grave man, one that lives a pure and good life before
God and man. He
should be one with speech that is sound that can not be condemned.
When Peter was trying to not appear as one of the apostles,
the bible said his speech betrayed him.
Matthew
26:73 And after
a while came unto him
they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one
of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
If we speak honest and wholesome
words, our speech can not be condemned.
Knowing how to control the tongue is perhaps one of the
toughest things to learn in life.
But we all need to learn self control with speech.
James
3:2 For in many
things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is
a perfect man, and
able also to bridle the whole body.
III.
The Duty of the Servant
Titus 2:9
Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to
please them well in all things; not answering again;
Titus 2:10
Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
In Paul’s day, there were many
servants that were owned by masters.
These instructions were for the servants, but we could also
relate this to our employers in some cases.
It says that servants should be obedient to their masters and
try hard to please them.
We know that Christ is our Master.
Do we obey Him? We
should try our best to please him in ALL things.
Matthew
23:10 Neither
be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even
Christ.
In God’s eyes, the greatest will
be those that are servants to others.
Remember when the disciples were arguing about who would be
the greatest in the kingdom.
Mat 20:25
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the
princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that
are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great
among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your
servant:
Mat 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Jesus set the example of the
ultimate servant, and we should seek to be like him.
IV.
Salvation by Grace
Titus 2:11
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to
all men,
Titus 2:12
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Verse 11 declares that this grace
that brings salvation has appeared unto all men. Men may try to teach otherwise, but salvation always has been
by Grace and shall always be of Grace.
Ephesians
2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it
is the gift of God:
The Grace of God teaches us to live
soberly and righteously in this evil world
J. Vernon McGee said this about the
Church’s responsibility to preach the Gospel.
Now Paul interrupts
these admonitions to put a doctrinal foundation under the lives of
these people. He states the gospel, and he states it in three time
zones—the past, the present, and the future.
I grew up in
the horse-and-buggy days, and I never cease to wonder at the speed
of jet travel. Beside the actual speed of the planes, the crossing
of time zones makes it possible to arrive at the end of a three- or
four-hour flight and see that it is only an hour later than it was
when you started. I understand they are working now on a plane that
will travel three times the speed of sound. That means you could
leave Dallas, Texas, and arrive in Los Angeles two hours before you
left Dallas! That would be a wonderful thing.
However, I
think the most wonderful thing in the world is that the grace of God
is in three time zones. We see that in the next three verses: “For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared” (v.
11)—that’s the past time zone; “teaching us” (v.
12)—that’s the present time zone of grace; and “looking for
that blessed hope” (v. 13)—that is the future time zone. These,
then, are the three time zones of grace.
[1]
Titus 2:13
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of
the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
We are to look for the blessed hope
and appearing of Jesus Christ.
We’ve read those verses many times about what it will be
like when Jesus comes to take us out, but I never tire of hearing of
that glorious occasion.
1 Th 4:13
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning
them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have
no hope.
1 Th 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so
them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1 Th 4:15
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we
which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent them which are asleep.
1 Th 4:16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the
dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Th 4:17
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and
so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1
Th 4:18 Wherefore
comfort one another with these words.
Titus 2:14
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all
iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works.
Titus 2:15
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all
authority. Let no man despise thee.
What a blessing it is to know Jesus
Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Verse 14 says that he gave himself for us that we might be
redeemed from all iniquity.
There is nothing we could do to purify ourselves, but by the
blood of Jesus, we are washed and made pure before God.
And this gift was given that we might be a peculiar people
who are full of good works.
Like Paul, one day I want to stand in the imputed
Righteousness of Jesus Christ.
I won’t be justified by my works or condemned for my lack
of works, but I will be perfect in God’s sight concerning
salvation because of Jesus Christ.
Rom 4:23 Now
it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Rom 4:24 But
for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that
raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Rom 4:25 Who
was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our
justification.
In Verse 15, Paul instructs Titus to rebuke and exhort with
all authority. By
conducting himself righteously before others, he would command
respect. God’s messenger is not to be despised but respected.
1
Samuel 26:9
9
And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch
forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless?
1
Samuel 24:6
And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this
thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine
hand against him, seeing he is
the anointed of the LORD.
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Prov 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that
shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
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