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Affiliated with the Intercontinental Church of God and the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association

 
 
 Survey of the Letters of Paul:  Titus 2:9
  
                                                                                                                                                                                    
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Titus 2:9
Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
 
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This section has two verses:

Titus 2:9-10
9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

We will begin with the Barclay commentary.

THE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER
6. THE CHRISTIAN WORKER


Titus 2:9–10 ...paraphrased
Impress upon slaves the duty of obeying their own masters. Urge them to seek to give satisfaction in every task, not to answer back, not to pilfer [steal], but to display all fidelity [loyalty] with hearty goodwill, that they may in all things adorn the teaching which God our Saviour gave to them.

In the early Church, the problem for Christian workers was acute. It was one which could operate in two directions.

If the master was not a Christian, the responsibility laid upon servants was heavy indeed, for it was perhaps only through their conduct that the master could ever come to see what Christianity was. It was the task of the workers to show the master what a Christian could be; and that responsibility still lies upon Christian employees. A large number of people never willingly darken a church door, a minister of the church seldom gets a chance to speak to them. How then is Christianity ever to make contact with them? The only possible way is for colleagues at work to show them what Christianity is. There is a famous story of Francis. One day, he said to one of the young monks: ‘Let us go down to the village and preach to the people.’ So they went. Every so often, they stopped to talk to someone. They begged something to eat at one house. Francis stopped to play with the children, and exchanged a greeting with the passers-by. Then they turned to go home. ‘But Father,’ said the novice, ‘when do we preach?’ ‘Preach?’ smiled Francis. ‘Every step we took, every word we spoke, every action we did, has been a sermon.’

There was another side to the problem. If the master was a Christian, a new temptation came into the lives of Christian workers. They might attempt to trade on the master’s Christianity. They might think that, because they were Christians, special allowances would be made for them. They might expect to ‘get away’ with things because they and the master were members of the same church. It is perfectly possible for people to trade on their Christianity – and there is no worse advertisement for it than the person who does that.

Paul lists the qualities of Christian workers.

They are obedient. Christians are never above taking orders. Their Christianity teaches them how to serve. They are efficient. They are determined to give satisfaction. Christian workers can never put less than their best into any task that is given them to do. They are respectful. They do not think that their Christianity gives them a special right to be undisciplined. Christianity does not obliterate the necessary lines of authority in the world of industry and of commerce. They are honest. Others may stoop to the petty dishonesties of which the world is full; but their hands are clean. They are faithful. The master can rely upon their loyalty.

It may well be that those who take their Christianity to work will run into trouble; but, if they stick to it, they will end by winning everyone’s respect.

The missionary E. F. Brown tells of a thing which happened in India. ‘A Christian servant in India was once sent by his master with a verbal message which he knew to be untrue. He refused to deliver it. Though his master was very angry at the time, he respected the servant all the more afterwards and knew that he could always trust him in his own matters.’

The truth is that in the end the world comes to see that the Christian worker is the one most worth having. In one sense, it is hard to be a Christian at our work; in another sense, it is easier than we think, for there is not an employer under the sun who is not desperately looking for employees whose loyalty and efficiency can be relied upon. ~Barclay Commentary

Now to the other commentaries beginning with the general and going to the specific.

Let us begin with the Matthew Henry Main commentary. The commentary covers verses 1-10 in one long text. We will break in where it begins speaking of verse 9.

6. The directions respecting servants. Servants must not think that their mean and low state puts them beneath God's notice or the obligations of his laws - that, because they are servants of men, they are thereby discharged from serving God. No; servants must know and do their duty to their earthly masters, but with an eye to their heavenly one: and Titus must not only instruct and warn earthly masters of their duties, but servants also of theirs, both in his public preaching and private admonitions. Servants must attend the ordinances of God for their instruction and comfort, as well as the masters themselves. In this direction to Titus there are the duties themselves, to which he must exhort servants, and a weighty consideration wherewith he was to enforce them.

(1.) The duties themselves are these: -

[1.] To be obedient to their own masters, Titus 2:9. This is the prime duty, that by which they are characterized. Romans 6:16, His servants you are whom you obey. There must be inward subjection and dutiful respect and reverence in the mind and thoughts. “If I be a master, where is my fear, the dutiful affection you show to me, together with the suitable outward significations and expressions of it, in doing what I command you?” This must be in servants; their will must be subject to their master's will, and their time and labour at their master's disposal and command. 1 Peter 2:18, Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward [willfully contrary]. The duty results from the will of God, and relation in which, by his providence, he has put such; not from the quality of the person. If he be a master, the duties of a servant are to be paid to him as such. Servants therefore are to be exhorted to be obedient to their own masters. And,

[2.] To please them well in all things, in all lawful things, and such as belong to them to command, or at least as are not contrary to the will of their great and superior Lord. We are not to understand it either of obeying or pleasing them absolutely, without any limitation; but always with a reserve of God's right, which may in no case be entrenched upon. If his command and the earthly master's come in competition, we are instructed to obey God rather than man; but then servants must be upon good grounds in this, that there is an inconsistency, else are they not held to be excused. And not only must the will of God be the measure of the servant's obedience, but the reason of it also. All must be done with a respect to him, in virtue of his authority, and for pleasing him primarily and chiefly, Colossians 3:22-24.

Quoted verse:
Colossians 3:22-24
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

In serving the earthly master according to Christ's will, he is served; and such shall be rewarded by him accordingly. But how are servants to please their masters in all things, and yet not be men-pleasers? Answer, Men-pleasers, in the faulty sense, are such as eye men alone, or chiefly, in what they do, leaving God out, or subordinating him to man; when the will of man shall carry it, though against God's will, or man's pleasure is more regarded than his, - when this can content them, that the earthly master is pleased, though God be displeased, - or when more care, or more satisfaction, is taken in man's being pleased than in God's, this is sinful man-pleasing, of which all must take heed. Ephesians 6:5-7, “Servants, be obedient to those that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, with singleness of your heart, as unto Christ. Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers (who look at nothing but the favour or displeasure of men, or at nothing so much as this), but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men;” not to them chiefly, but to Christ, who requires, and who will reward, any good done, whether by bond or free. Observe therefore, Christian liberty comports [is in harmony/agreement/conformity] well with civil servitude and subjection.

Persons may serve men, and yet be the servants of Christ; these are not contrary, but subordinate [lower rank], so far as serving men is according to Christ's will and for his sake. Christ came not to destroy or prejudice civil order and differences. “Art thou called, being a servant? Care not for it, 1 Corinthians 7:21. Let not this trouble thee, as if it were a condition unworthy of a Christian, or wherein the person so called is less pleasing unto God; for he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman, not free from that service, but free in it; free spiritually, though not in a civil sense. Likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant; he is bound to him, though he be not under civil subjection to any; so that, bond or free, all are one in Christ.” Servants therefore should not regret nor be troubled at their condition, but be faithful and cheerful in the station wherein God hath set them, striving to please their masters in all things. Hard it may be under some churlish [chur-lish] [rude, difficult to work for] Nabals [evil in his doings--see 1 Samuel 25], but it must be aimed at as much as possible.

[3.] Not answering again; not contradicting them, nor disputing it with them; not giving them any disrespectful or provoking language. Job complained of his servants, that he called them, and they gave him no answer; that was faulty another way: Non respondere pro convitio est - Such silence is contempt: but here it is respect, rather to take a check or reproof with humble silence, not making any confident nor bold replies. When conscious of a fault, to palliate [to conceal the gravity of it by excuses and apologies] or stand in justification of it doubles it. Yet this not answering again excludes not turning away wrath with a soft answer, when season and circumstances admit. Good and wise masters will be ready to hear and do right; but answering unseasonably, or in an unseemly manner, or, where the case admits not excuse, to be pert or confident, shows a want of the humility and meekness which such relation requires. ~Matthew Henry Main

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

Exhort servants to be obedient
The duties of servants
I. Those duties enumerated.

1. Obedience.
2. Acceptableness of service. The idea is really, approbation [approval; commendation] based upon virtuous actions.
3. Respectfulness of manner.
4. Honesty.
5. Fidelity.

II. Motives of duty. That the religion of Christ might be honoured in the consistency of its professors. ~Biblical Illustrator

Duties of servants
I. The first and proper duty of every servant is subjection, or a stooping under the authority of his master. This consists
1. In an inward reverencing in heart the image of God in His superiority. This reverent subjection of the heart the Lord in His own example requireth in all His servants, “If I be a master, where is My fear?” (Malachi 1:6), and is the first duty of that commandment, “Honour thy father and mother.” The apostle (Ephesians 6:5) calleth for fear and trembling from servants toward their masters.

Quoted verses:
Malachi 1:6
A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

Ephesians 6:5
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

2. In the outward testimony of this inward reverence, both in speech and gesture before his master, and behind his back; but especially in the free obedience of all his lawful, yea, and unequal commandments, so as they be not unlawful (Colossians 3:22).

Quoted verse:
Colossians 3:22
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

3. In patient enduring without resistance, rebukes and corrections, although bitter, yea, and unjust (1 Peter 2:18-19).

Quoted verse:
1 Peter 2:18-19
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

II. The second virtue required of servants towards their masters is, that they please them in all things. How will this precept stand with that in Ephesians 6:6, where servants are forbidden to be men pleasers? To serve only as men pleasers, as having the eye cast only on man is hypocrisy, and the sin of many servants, pleasing man for man’s sake, and that is condemned by our apostle; but to please men in God and for God is a duty in servants next unto the first; who, to show themselves well pleasing to their masters, must carry in their hearts and endeavour a care to be accepted of them, even in the things which, for the indignity and burdensomeness of them, are much against their own minds. For this is the privilege of a master to have his servant devoted unto his pleasure and will, for the attempting of any business, the continuance in it, and the unbending of him from it; and when the servant hath done all he can, it was but debt and duty, and no thanks are due to him from his master (Matthew 8:9). But wherein must I please my master or mistress? In all things, that is, in all outward things which are in different and lawful. I say in outward things, so Ephesians 6:5, servants obey your masters according to the flesh; wherein the apostle implieth two things.

Quoted verses:
Ephesians 6:6
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Matthew 8:9
...Jesus and the centurion
For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

Ephesians 6:5 ...given above

1. That the masters are according and over the flesh and outward man; not over the spirit and inward man, over which we have all one Master in heaven.
2. That accordingly they are to obey in outward things, for if the dominion of the one be bounded so also must needs be the subjection of the other. Again, these outward things must be lawful or indifferent; for they must not obey against the Lord, but in the Lord.

III. Servants are in the third place prohibited crossly and stubbornly to reason, and dispute matters with their masters; but in silence and subjection to sit down with the worse, even when they suffer wrong; for as they are to carry a reverent esteem of them in their hearts so must they bewray [reveal] reverence, love, and lowliness in all their words and gestures; neither are they here coped from all manner of speech, for when just occasion of speech is offered, as by questions asked, they must make respective answers and not in sullenness say nothing, for Solomon condemneth it as a vice and great sin in servants, when they understand, not to answer (Proverbs 29:19). ~Biblical Illustrator

Quoted verse:
Proverbs 29:19
A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.

Commentary:
He will not answer - A slave, whose obedience is reluctant. He may “understand” the words, but they produce no good effect. There is still lacking the true “answer” of obedience. ~Barnes Notes

He will not answer - own his fault and promise to do better for the future. ~John Gill

“Not answering again”
A lady once, when she was a little girl, learned a good lesson, which she tells for the benefit of whom it may concern:—“One frosty morning I was looking out of the window into my father’s farmyard, where stood many cows, oxen, and horses, waiting to drink. It was a cold morning. The cattle all stood very still and meek, till one of the cows attempted to turn round. In making the attempt she happened to hit her next neighbour, whereupon the neighbour kicked and hit another. In five minutes the whole herd were kicking each other with fury. My mother laughed and said: ‘See what comes of kicking when you are hit. Just so, I have seen one cross word set a whole family by the ears on some frosty morning.’ Afterward, if my brothers or myself were a little irritable, she would say, ‘Take care, my children. Remember how the fight in the farmyard began. Never give back a kick for a hit, and you will save yourselves and others a great deal of trouble.’” ~Biblical Illustrator

We have time for one specific commentary.  All this from the Adam Clarke.

Exhort servants to be obedient - The apostle refers to those who were slaves, and the property of their masters; even these are exhorted to be obedient, to their own despots, though they had no right over them on the ground of natural justice.

Please them well in all things - They were to endeavor to do this in all things, though they could not hope to succeed in everything.

Not answering again -  Not contradicting or gainsaying. This is no part of a servant’s duty; a servant is hired to do his master’s work, and this his master has a right to appoint. ~Adam Clarke

So now, we understand this admonition to exhort our servants.  We also understand that in different ways, even today we are servants to many and above all we are servants to Almighty God and His Son, Jesus Christ. 

These are the lessons of verse 9



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