This section of chapter 2 has 3
verses.
Titus 2:3-5
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;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober,
to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good,
obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God
be not blasphemed.
We will begin with the Barclay:
THE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER
3. THE YOUNGER WOMEN
THE younger women are instructed to be devoted to
their husbands and their children, to be prudent and
chaste, to manage their households well, to be
kindly to their servants and to be obedient to their
husbands; and the object of such conduct is that no
one will be able to speak evil of the word of God.
In this passage, there is both something that is of
temporary value and something that is permanent.
In the ancient Greek world, the respectable woman
lived a completely secluded life. In the house, she
had her own quarters and seldom left them, not even
to sit at meals with the male members of the family;
and no man except her husband ever entered her
rooms. She never attended any public assemblies or
meetings; she seldom appeared on the streets, and,
when she did, she never did so alone. In fact, it
has been said that there was no honourable way in
which a Greek woman could make a living. No trade or
profession was open to her; and, if she tried to
earn a living, she was driven to prostitution. If
the women of the ancient Church had suddenly burst
every limitation which the centuries had imposed
upon them, the only result would have been to bring
discredit on the Church and cause people to say that
Christianity corrupted womanhood. The life laid down
here seems narrow and restricted, but it is to be
read against its background. In that sense, this
passage is of its time and so is temporary.
But there is also a sense in which it is permanent.
It is the simple fact that there is no greater task,
responsibility and privilege in this world than to
make a home. It may well be that, when women are
involved in all the exhausting duties which children
and a home bring with them, they may say: ‘If only I
could be done with all this, so that I could live a
truly religious life.’ There is in fact nowhere
where a truly religious life can better be lived
than within the home. As John Keble’s hymn ‘New
Every Morning’ has it:
We need not bid, for cloistered cell,
Our neighbour and our work farewell,
Nor strive to wind ourselves too high
For sinful man beneath the sky;
The trivial round, the common task,
Will furnish all we need to ask –
Room to deny ourselves, a road
To bring us daily nearer God.
In the last analysis, there can be no greater career
than that of homemaking. Many who have made a mark
in the world have been enabled to do so simply
because someone at home loved them and looked after
them. It is infinitely more important to be at home
to put the children to bed and hear them say their
prayers than to attend all the public and church
meetings in the world. ~Barclay commentary
Now to the other commentaries. We will begin with
the general and go to the specific as usual.
We will begin with the Matthew Henry Main
commentary. This is an excerpt from a very large
commentary on this chapter.
3. There are lessons for young women also, whom the
aged women must teach, instructing and advising them
in the duties of religion according to their years.
For teaching such things aged women have often
better access than the men, even than ministers
have, which therefore they must improve in
instructing the young women, especially the young
wives; for he speaks of their duty to their husbands
and children. These young women the more aged must
teach,
(1.) To bear a good personal character: To be sober
and discreet, contrary to the vanity and rashness
which younger years are subject to: discreet in
their judgments and sober in their affections and
behaviour. Discreet and chaste stand well together;
many expose themselves to fatal temptations by that
which at first might be but indiscretion. Proverbs
2:11, Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding
shall keep thee from the evil way. Chaste, and
keepers at home, are well joined too.
Quoted verse
Proverbs 2:11
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall
keep thee:
1Timothy 5:13-14, They learn to be idle, wandering
from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers
also and busybodies, speaking things which they
ought not. Their business is to guide the house, and
they should give no occasion to the enemy to speak
reproachfully. Good, generally, in opposition to all
vice; and specially, in her place, kind, helpful,
and charitable; as Dorcas, full of good works and
almsdeeds. It may also have, as some think, a more
particular sense; one of a meek and yet cheerful
spirit and temper, not sullen nor bitter; not
taunting not fretting and galling [irritating;
vexing; exasperating.] any; not of a
troublesome or jarring disposition, uneasy in
herself and to those about her; but of a good nature
and pleasing conversation, and likewise helpful by
her advice and pains: thus building her house, and
doing her husband good, and not evil, all her days.
Thus in their personal character sober, discreet,
chaste, keepers at home, and good: and,
Note: The phrase "jarring disposition" means, "to
have a harshly unpleasant or perturbing effect on
one's nerves, feelings, thoughts, etc."
Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 5:13-14
[see
Lessons]
13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about
from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers
also and busybodies, speaking things which they
ought not.
14 I will therefore that the younger women marry,
bear children, guide the house, give none occasion
to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
(2.) In their relative capacities: To love their
husbands, and to be obedient to them; and where
there is true love this will be no difficult
command. God, in nature, and by his will, hath made
this subordination: I suffer not a woman to usurp
authority over the man (1 Timothy 2:12)
Quoted verse:
1 Timothy 2:12 [see
Lesson]
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp
authority over the man, but to be in silence.
Ephesian 5:22-23, Wives submit yourselves unto you
own husbands, as unto the Lord, as owning Christ's
authority in them, whose image they bear; for the
husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is
the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the
body. God would have a resemblance of Christ's
authority over the church held forth in the
husband's over the wife. Christ is the head of the
church, to protect and save it, to supply it with
all good, and secure or deliver it from evil; and so
the husband over the wife, to keep her from
injuries, and to provide comfortably for her,
according to his ability. Therefore, as the church
is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be unto
their own husbands, as is fit in the Lord
(Colossians 3:18). ~Matthew
Henry Main
Quoted verses:
Ephesians 5:22-23
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands,
as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as
Christ is the head of the church: and he is the
saviour of the body.
Colossians 3:18
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as
it is fit in the Lord.
Now to the Matthew Henry Concise. This commentary
covers verses 1-10.
Old disciples of Christ must behave in everything
agreeably to the Christian doctrine. That the aged
men be sober; not thinking that the decays of nature
will justify any excess; but seeking comfort from
nearer communion with God, not from any undue
indulgence. Faith works by, and must be seen in
love, of God for himself, and of men for God's sake.
Aged persons are apt to be peevish and fretful;
therefore, need to be on their guard. Though there
is not express Scripture for every word, or look,
yet there are general rules, according to which all
must be ordered. Young women must be sober and
discreet; for many expose themselves to fatal
temptations by what at first might be only want of
discretion. The reason is added, that the word of
God may not be blasphemed. Failures in duties
greatly reproach Christianity. Young men are apt to
be eager and thoughtless, therefore must be
earnestly called upon to be sober-minded: there are
more young people ruined by pride than by any other
sin. Every godly man's endeavor must be to stop the
mouths of adversaries. Let thine own conscience
answer for thine uprightness. What a glory is it for
a Christian, when that mouth which would fain open
itself against him, cannot find any evil in him to
speak of! ~Matthew Henry
Concise.
Now some things from the Biblical Illustrator.
The aged women
The dangers and duties of women
I. Women have peculiar dangers according to their
age. The older ones are tempted to seek the
excitement of stimulants, or of slander; the younger
ones to instability of affection, to impurity of
life, or other inconsistency of conduct.
II. Women have duties peculiar to their age. The
younger have duties of obedience; the middle-aged
have the cares of home life; the aged have the
instruction of the younger.
~Biblical Illustrator
Religious home life
I. True religion is the foundation of home
happiness.
II. True religion is the secret of domestic
prosperity.
III. True religion at home can alone insure the
esteem and respect of those abroad.
~Biblical Illustrator
The bloom of the aged
A good woman never grows old. Years may pass over
her head, but if benevolence and virtue dwell in her
heart, she is as cheerful as when the spring of life
first opened to her view. When we look upon a good
woman we never think of her age; she looks as
charming as when the rose of youth first bloomed on
her cheek. That rose has not faded yet; it will
never fade. In her neighbourhood she is the friend
and benefactor. Who does not respect and love the
woman who has passed her days in acts of kindness
and mercy—who has been the friend of man and
God—whose whole life has been a scene of kindness
and love and devotion to truth? We repeat, such a
woman cannot grow old. She will always be fresh and
buoyant in spirit and active in humble deeds of
mercy and benevolence. If the young lady desires to
retain the bloom and beauty of youth, let her not
yield to the sway of fashion and folly; let her love
truth and virtue, and to the close of life she will
retain those feelings which now make life appear a
garden of sweets, ever fresh and ever new.
~Biblical Illustrator
A faithful wife
There is nothing upon this earth that can compare
with the faithful attachment of a wife; no creature
who for the object of her love is so indomitable [in-dom-i-tuh-buh
l] [courage,
unconquerable], so persevering, so ready
to suffer and to die. Under the most depressing
circumstances, a woman’s weakness becomes mighty
power; her timidity [lack
of bravery] becomes fearless courage; all
her shrinking and sinking passes away; and her
spirit acquires the firmness of marble—adamantine [ad-uh-man-teen]
[utterly unyielding]
firmness—when circumstances drive her to put forth
all her energies under the inspiration of her
affections. ~Biblical
Illustrator
Quotes on wives:
"Happy is the
man who finds a true friend, and far happier is he
who finds that true friend in his wife."
"The real act of marriage takes place in the heart,
not in the ballroom or church or synagogue. It's a
choice you make - not just on your wedding day, but
over and over again - and that choice is reflected
in the way you treat your husband or wife."
"Let the wife make the husband glad to come home,
and let him make her sorry to see him leave."
"Don't ever stop dating your wife and don't ever
stop flirting with your husband."
"A wise woman knows the importance of speaking life
into her man. If you love him: believe in him,
encourage him and be his peace."
"Wives: love him so much that he might doubt your
sanity...but never your passion."
Now to the specific commentaries.
The commentaries break this verse out into three
parts:
1] That they may teach the young women to be
sober.
2] To love their husbands.
3] To love their children.
1] That they
may teach the young women to be sober.
That they may teach the young
women to be sober - Margin, “wise” - a word
similar to that which in Titus 2:2 is rendered
“temperate,” and in 1 Timothy 3:2, “sober.” The
meaning is, that they should instruct them to have
their desires and passions well regulated, or under
proper control. ~Barnes
Notes
Quoted verses:
Titus 2:2 [see
Lesson]
That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound
in faith, in charity, in patience.
1 Timothy 3:2 [see
Lesson]
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one
wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to
hospitality, apt to teach;
2] To love
their husbands.
To love their husbands
- φιλάνδρους philandrous. This word occurs nowhere
else in the New Testament. In Ephesians 5:25, Paul
directs husbands to love their wives, and in
Ephesians 5:33, the wife to reverence her husband,
and here he says that it should be one of the first
duties enjoined Son the wife that she should love
her husband. All happiness in the marriage relation
is based on mutual love. When that departs,
happiness departs. No wealth or splendor in a
dwelling - no gorgeousness of equipage or apparel -
no magnificence of entertainment or sweetness of
music - and no forms of courtesy and politeness, can
be a compensation for the want of affection. Mutual
love between a husband and wife will diffuse comfort
through the obscurest cottage of poverty; the want
of it cannot be supplied by all that can be
furnished in the palaces of the great.
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved
the church, and gave himself for it;
Ephesians 5:33
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so
love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that
she reverence her husband.
3] To love
their children.
To love their children
- Nature prompts to this, and yet there are those so
depraved that they have no maternal affection;
Notes, Romans 1:31. Religion reproduces natural
affection when sin has weakened or destroyed it, and
it is the design of Christianity to recover and
invigorate all the lost or weakened sensibilities of
our nature. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse:
Romans 1:31
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without
natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: |