This section has 1 verse.
Titus 2:15
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all
authority. Let no man despise thee.
We will begin with the Barclay commentary.
THE THREEFOLD TASK
First the verses paraphrased:
Titus 2:15
Let these things be the substance of your message.
Deal out encouragement and rebuke with all the
authority which your royal commission confers upon
you. Let no one regard your authority as cheap.
HERE, Paul succinctly lays before Titus the
threefold task of every Christian preacher, teacher
and leader.
It is a task of proclamation. There is a message to
be proclaimed. There are some things about which
argument is not possible and on which discussion is
not relevant. There are times when the only thing to
say is: ‘Thus says the Lord.’
It is a task of encouragement. Any preacher who
reduces an audience to bleak despair has failed.
People must be charged with their sin, not so that
they may feel that their case is hopeless, but that
they may be led to the grace which is greater than
all their sin.
It is a task of conviction. The eyes of sinners must
beopened to their sin; the misguided must be led to
realize their mistakes; the hearts of the
inconsiderate must be pricked into awareness. The
Christian message is no drug to send us to sleep; it
is rather the blinding light which shows us our true
selves as we really are and God as he is.
~Barclay Commentary
Now to the other commentaries. We begin with the
general and go to the specific.
Here is the Matthew Henry Main:
The apostle closes the chapter (as
he began it) with a summary direction to
Titus upon the whole, in which we have the matter
and manner of ministers' teaching, and a special
instruction to Titus in reference to himself.
I. The matter of ministers' teaching: These things,
namely, those before mentioned: not Jewish fables
and traditions, but the truths and duties of the
gospel, of avoiding sin, and living soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world.
Observe, Ministers in their preaching must keep
close to the word of God. If any man speak, let him
speak as the oracles of God, 1 Peter 4:11, and not
the figments and inventions of his own brain.
Quoted verse:
1 Peter 4:11
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of
God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the
ability which God giveth: that God in all things may
be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise
and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
II. The manner; by doctrine, and exhortation, and
reproof with all authority. 2 Timothy 3:16, All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, and for instruction in righteousness;
that is, to teach sound doctrine, to convince of sin
and refute error, to reform the life, and to carry
forward in what is just and good; that the man of
God (the Christian or
minister) may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished to all good works that are to be practiced
by himself or to be taught to others. Here is what
will furnish for all parts of his duty, and the
right discharge of them. “These things speak, or
teach; shun not to declare the whole counsel of
God.” The great and necessary truths and duties of
the gospel, especially, these speak and exhort,
parakalei, press with much earnestness. Ministers
must not be cold and lifeless in delivering heavenly
doctrine and precepts, as if they were indifferent
things or of little concern; but they must urge them
with earnestness suitable to their nature and
importance; they must call upon persons to mind and
heed, and not be hearers only, deceiving themselves;
but doers of the word, that they may be blessed
therein. And rebuke; convince and reprove such as
contradict or gainsay, or neglect and do not receive
the truth as they should, or retain it in
unrighteousness - those who hear it not with such a
believing and obedient mind and heart as they ought,
but, instead of this (it
may be) live in contrary practices,
showing themselves stubborn and disobedient, and to
every good work reprobate. Rebuke with all
authority, as coming in the name of God, and armed
with his threatenings and discipline, whoever make
light of which will do it at their peril. Ministers
are reprovers in the gate.
Quoted verse:
2 Timothy 3:16 [see
Lesson]
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness:
III. Here is a special instruction to Titus in
reference to himself: “Let no man despise thee; that
is, give no occasion to do so, nor suffer it without
reproof, considering that he who despiseth despiseth
not man, but God.” Or thus, “Speak and exhort these
things, press them upon all, as they may
respectively be concerned; with boldness and
faithfulness reprove sin, and carefully look to
thyself and thy own conduct, and then none will
despise thee.” The most effectual way for ministers
to secure themselves from contempt is to keep close
to the doctrine of Christ, and imitate his example -
to preach and live well, and do their duty with
prudence and courage; this will best preserve both
their reputation and their comfort.
Perhaps too an admonition might be here intended to
the people - that Titus, though young, and but a
substitute of the apostle, yet should not be
condemned by them, but considered and respected as a
faithful minister of Christ, and encouraged and
supported in his work and office. “Know those that
labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and
admonish you; and esteem them very highly in love
for their work's sake, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13. Mind
their teaching, respect their persons, support them
in their function, and, what in you lies, further
their endeavours for the honour of God and the
salvation of souls.”
~Matthew Henry
Quoted verse
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which
labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and
admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their
work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
Now the Matthew Henry Concise. This commentary
covers the rest of Chapter 2, verses 11-15.
The doctrine of grace and salvation by the gospel,
is for all ranks and conditions of men. It teaches
to forsake sin; to have no more to do with it. An
earthly, sensual conversation suits not a heavenly
calling. It teaches to make conscience of that which
is good. We must look to God in Christ, as the
object of our hope and worship. A gospel
conversation must be a godly conversation. See our
duty in a very few words; denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, living soberly, righteously, and
godly, notwithstanding all snares, temptations,
corrupt examples, ill-usage, and what remains of sin
in the believer's heart, with all their hindrances.
It teaches to look for the glories of another world.
At, and in, the glorious appearing of Christ, the
blessed hope of Christians will be complete: To
bring us to holiness and happiness was the end of
Christ's death. Jesus Christ, that great God and our
Saviour, who saves not only as God, much less as Man
alone; but as God-man, two natures in one person. He
loved us, and gave himself for us; and what can we
do less than love and give up ourselves to him!
Redemption from sin and sanctification of the nature
go together, and make a peculiar people unto God,
free from guilt and condemnation, and purified by
the Holy Spirit. All Scripture is profitable. Here
is what will furnish for all parts of duty, and the
right discharge of them. Let us inquire whether our
whole dependence is placed upon that grace which
saves the lost, pardons the guilty, and sanctifies
the unclean. And the further we are removed from
boasting of fancied good works, or trusting in them,
so that we glory in Christ alone, the more zealous
shall we be to abound in real good works.
~Matthew Henry Concise
Here are some things from the Biblical Illustrator:
Hints to ministers
The Christian teacher should always act with
mildness, yet with firmness. There are gradations [grey-dey-shuh
ns]* to be observed.
1. Instruction: “these things speak.”
2. Expostulation: “exhort.” [to
urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish
urgently.]
3. Reproof: Rebuke with authority. [Reproof:
the act of reproving, censuring, or rebuking.]
[Censure: strong or
vehement expression of disapproval]
~Biblical Illustrator
*"Gradation" means any process or change taking
place through a series of stages, by degrees, or in
a gradual manner.
Despising the preacher
1. Men will despise a preacher when his life and his
doctrine do not agree.
2. When he delivers his message with
half-heartedness, as one who does not really believe
it himself.
3. When it is evident he has bestowed no pains or
labour on preparation for his work.
4. When by his manner he makes it plain that he
desires to give prominence to himself, and excite
admiration.
5. When he is evidently influenced by other motives
than God’s glory and man’s good.
~Biblical Illustrator
Lessons
1. Let no man despising thee prevent the full
discharge of certain duty. “He that despiseth you,
despiseth Me, and he that despiseth Me, despiseth
Him that sent Me.”
2. If men will despise God and Christ, the human
messenger may well consent to be despised along with
them. Let them despise thee, but let not the effect
be caused by cowardly suppression, or disingenuous
corruption of the truth on your part. As a faithful
messenger of God and an ambassador of Christ, let
men despise you if they will, or if they must—let
them despise you at their peril. But as a traitor to
the truth and to its Author, let no man despise
thee. ~Biblical Illustrator
A summary of the “things” Titus was to “speak”
1. The central idea of the passage appears to be a
life of sobriety, righteousness, and godliness,
issuing in and sustaining the practical advice
previously offered to old men and maidens, to
matrons, aged and young, to youths, and slaves of
all degrees.
2. The subjective condition of this heavenly life on
earth is explicitly stated—a denial of all
godlessness and worldly passions.
3. This “life” and its “conditions” are originated
and promoted by a process of Divine discipline. Here
are processes, mental and disciplinary, which
augment and stimulate this life of godliness.
4. This entire subjective process rests upon two
groups of sublime objective realities:
(1) The historic epiphany of the grace of God in the
Incarnation;
(2) the anticipated and prophetic epiphany of the
glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Thus it calls for the exercise of the twofold energy
of “faith” and “hope.”
5. The “grace” and the “glory of God,” received and
appropriated in Christian faith and hope, attain
their highest expression in the redemptive
self-sacrifice of the God-man.
6. By way of closing the circle of the thought, it
is expressly stated that the end of the redemptive
work is the creation of “a holy people,” who are not
only His “peculiar treasure” and inheritance, but
who have, as the law and charter of their
incorporation, this grand distinction, that they are
charged with the genius of goodness—the passion for
godliness. They are the very “zealots of goodness,”
passionately eager for all that will help and move
them to realize the ideal of the Divine life.
~Biblical Illustrator
Now to the specific commentaries.
We will go with the verse being in three parts. Some
commentaries take on single words.
1] These things speak and exhort.
2] And rebuke with all authority.
3] Let no man despise thee
1] These things
speak and exhort.
These things speak -
That is, teach; for speak, has the same meaning here
as teach, which, as being synonymous, is actually
the reading of the Codex Alexandrinus.
~Adam Clarke
And exhort - Repeat
them again and again, and urge them on their
attention and consciences.
~Adam Clarke
These things speak and exhort
- Sound doctrine, the doctrine of grace, the
doctrines of salvation and redemption by Christ, of
peace, pardon, and cleansing by his blood; these
speak out clearly, plainly, publicly, boldly, and
faithfully: and the things which become sound
doctrine; the duties of religion suitable to every
age and sex, a denying of ungodliness and worldly
lusts, a sober, righteous, and godly life and
conversation, exhort unto; and encourage the saints
to be zealous of good works, and comfort them with
the expectation of the blessed hope, and glorious
appearance of Christ. ~John
Gill
2] And rebuke
with all authority.
And rebuke with all authority
- The word “authority” here means command. The sense
here is, he was to do it decidedly, without
ambiguity, without compromise, and without keeping
anything back. He was to state these things not as
being advice or counsel, but as the requirement of
God. ~Barnes Notes
And rebuke -
Demonstrate the importance, utility, and necessity
of them; and show them that God requires their
obedience. ~Adam Clarke
With all authority -
With all that authority with which thy office
invests thee, and which thou hast received from God.
~Adam Clarke
And rebuke with all authority
- such as imbibe errors and heresies, or
indulge to vice and wickedness, with the authority
both of Christ and his church, in the name of the
one, and by the order and vote of the other, that
the reproof may come with the greater weight; and in
a grave and solemn manner, suitable to the dignity
of the ministerial office and character, and with
that sharpness and severity the offence requires.
~John Gill
3] Let no man
despise thee
Let no man despise thee
- That is, conduct yourself, as you may easily do,
so as to command universal respect as a minister of
God; see the notes at 1 Timothy 4:12.
Quoted verse:
1 Timothy 4:12 [see
Lesson]
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example
of the believers, in word, in conversation, in
charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Let no man despise thee
- That is: Act so that no person shall have any
cause to despise thee, either for thy work, or the
manner and spirit is which thou dost perform it.
Few portions of the New Testament excel this
chapter. It may well form the creed, system of
ethics, and text book of every Christian preacher.
Does any man inquire what is the duty of a Gospel
minister! Send him to the second chapter of the
Epistle to Titus for a complete answer. There he
will find what he is to believe, what he is to
practice, and what he is to preach. Even his
congregation is parceled out to him. The old and the
young of both sexes, and those who are in their
employment, are considered to be the objects of his
ministry; and a plan of teaching, in reference to
those different descriptions of society, is laid
down before him. He finds here the doctrine which he
is to preach to them, the duties which he is
required to inculcate, the motives by which his
exhortations are to be strengthened, and the end
which both he and his people should have invariably
in view. ~Adam Clarke
Let no man despise thee
- as negligent in the discharge of his office, or as
doing it in a pusillanimous [pyoo-suh-lan-uh-muh
s] [lacking
courage or resolution; cowardly; faint-hearted;
timid.] manner, or as behaving in his
life and conversation unworthy of the character he
bore, and so is a direction to himself; or else it
may be considered as designed for the churches in
Crete, and the professors of religion, and to be an
instruction to them to value Titus, and treat him
with respect, and not with contempt; which shows
that this epistle was not written for Titus only, or
for his own use, but for the service of others. The
Ethiopic version reads, "let no man deceive thee".
~John Gill
A Key statement
recap:
Paul speaks directly to Titus:
--Proclaim the gospel message.
--Encourage the people as you show them their sins.
--Have conviction.
--Ministers must be in close adherence to scripture.
--Ministers must not be cold and lifeless in
delivering heavenly doctrine and precepts.
--Ministers must call upon persons to mind and heed,
and not be hearers only, deceiving themselves; but
doers of the word, that they may be blessed therein
--Ministers are reprovers in the gate.
--Let no man despise thee; that is, give no occasion
to do so, nor suffer it without reproof.
--With boldness and faithfulness reprove sin, and
carefully look to thyself and thy own conduct, and
then none will despise thee.
--The doctrine of grace and salvation by the gospel,
is for all ranks and conditions of men.
--We must look to God in Christ, as the object of
our hope and worship.
--And the further we are removed from boasting of
fancied good works, or trusting in them, so that we
glory in Christ alone, the more zealous shall we be
to abound in real good works.
--The Christian teacher should always act with
mildness, yet with firmness.
--Let no man despising thee prevent the full
discharge of certain duty.
--Be a life of sobriety, righteousness, and
godliness.
--This “life” and its “conditions” are originated
and promoted by a process of Divine discipline.
--Repeat [the gospel]
again and again, and urge them on their attention
and consciences.
--Ministers speak sound doctrine, the doctrine of
grace, the doctrines of salvation and redemption by
Christ.
--Demonstrate the importance, utility, and necessity
of [the requirements of God];
and show them that God requires their obedience.
--And rebuke with all authority - such as imbibe
errors and heresies, or indulge to vice and
wickedness.
--Does any man inquire what is the duty of a Gospel
minister! Send him to the second chapter of the
Epistle to Titus for a complete answer. There he
will find what he is to believe, what he is to
practice, and what he is to preach.
These are the lessons to Titus and all of us from
verse 15. |