In our study of Titus chapter two, we will look at Paul's instructions concerning teaching the Word of God in the church. In chapter one, we saw that a Christian leader's ministry must be able and willing to stand on the Word of God. Here, we will see that, as a leader, he/she has the duty to teach that Word.
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But you, explain what kind of behavior goes along with sound teaching.
Paul tells his "son" that he must teach the uncompromised truth that was given to him. We must remember that, in chapter one, Paul addressed the fact that there were false teachers coming into the church and trying to add the Law (legalism) to the gospel of grace. We see that faith based on sound teaching will produce a change in our behavior.
Tell the older men to be serious, sensible, self-controlled and sound in their trust, love and perseverance.
Paul tells us that, we who are older in the faith, should be a good example for the next generation. Today, we think of teaching as a student going and sitting in a classroom and receiving information from an instructor. The greatest teaching is accomplished by being an example and letting the younger ones see our faith in action. It has become even more important in the information age that we live in today. With all of the background noise of advertisers and all kinds of people talking at us, we pay more attention to what we see than what we hear around us.
Likewise, tell the older women to behave the way people leading a holy life should. They shouldn't be slanderers or slaves to excessive drinking. They should teach what is good,
Women are examples just as men are as we see here. Women are to be focused on the things of God in order to be that good example.
thus training the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to take good care of their homes and submit to their husbands. In this way, God's message will not be brought into disgrace.
The goal of the Christian woman is to be a living example to the younger girls around them. Paul gives us a list, here, and tells us the purpose is so that people will see that the word of God is more than just talk. We must remember that the husband-wife relationship is a picture of the relationship between the church and Yeshua Messiah (see Ephesians 5).
Similarly, urge the young men to be self-controlled, and in everything set them an example yourself by doing what is good.
We see that the example of a godly man can encourage the younger men to live godly lives.
When you are teaching, have integrity and be serious; let everything you say be so wholesome that an opponent will be put to shame because he will have nothing bad to say about us.
As we teach the word of God, we must do so with integrity (not for personal gain) as people can see our hearts as we share the word. If they see that we are only doing so for our benefit and not for the benefit of the students, then they will not even listen. If we are teaching because we truly want hearts to be changed and turned to God, then our critics will be silenced as well.
Tell slaves to submit to their masters in everything, to give satisfaction without talking back or pilfering. On the contrary, they should demonstrate complete faithfulness always, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Deliverer more attractive.
We may not think much about slaves today but this is talking about your boss or supervisor at work. We, as Christians, are to be the best employee our boss has ever seen (especially if he does not know Yeshua). We are to be honest and hard-working in order to show them that we are different because of our relationship with Yeshua Messiah.
For God's grace, which brings deliverance, has appeared to all people. It teaches us to renounce godlessness and worldly pleasures, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives now, in this age;
Paul shows us that the grace (gift) of God has two parts. The first gift (Yeshua) brought salvation and made a way for us to be in a right relationship with God. The second gift (Holy Spirit) "teaches" us to cultivate and grow that relationship so that we can be holy just as God is holy. This gift gives us the power to say no to the flesh and to walk in the light here on the earth. We all struggle with the flesh to a certain degree and at certain times but we have been given the power to win!
while continuing to expect the blessed fulfillment of our certain hope, which is the appearing of the Sh'khinah of our great God and the appearing of our Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah. He gave himself up on our behalf in order to free us from all violation of Torah and purify for himself a people who would be his own, eager to do good.
Yeshua bought us and saved us to be with him. We are waiting for his return as he promised. Because of what he has done for us and what he has promised for us, we are "eager to do good". We want to do good because he is good.
These are the things you should say. Encourage and rebuke with full authority; don't let anyone look down on you.
Paul closes this part of his letter by reminding Titus of the authority that he has been given by God. He also tells him to not let anyone look down on him because of his age (he was a young man at this point) or because his actions were different than those around him. Paul reminds him (and us as well) that we are to stand firmly on the truth that is Yeshua Messiah.
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