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 |