Instructions for the Saints

Titus 2:1-6

Older saints

Older men

Sober-minded

Not drunk or in an altered state of mind

Clear-thinking

Dignified

Acting honorably in all things

Admirable

Serious

Self-controlled

Keeping emotions and actions under control

Someone who fights sinful desires and tendencies

It also includes wisdom and good judgment

Sound (healthy) in:

Faith

Holding fast to true doctrine

Not flimsy or unsure

Love

Knowing the love of God in Christ

Acting in love toward others because God has lavished His love on us

Steadfastness

Probably steadfastness in hope

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3- We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

All of this means that you older men ought to be godly men

Older women

Reverent in behavior

The only occurrence of the word in the NT

Built on the Greek word for temple

1 Corinthians 6:19-20- Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Romans 12:1- I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

This is holy and pure behavior

Act in a way that is fitting for worship to God

Not slanderers

Don’t speak badly of others in order to hurt them

This includes gossip behind the backs of others

This is literally “not devils” because the Devil’s name means slanderer

Not slaves to much wine

They must not be drunkards or feel a compulsion to drink alcohol

They must be sober-minded just as men are to be

Teach:

What is good

Teach what is true

The good doctrine of the Bible

Young women

Through their teaching, you ought to train younger women

Through the way they live, you ought to model what they teach

This is teaching through both words and works

Younger Saints

Young women

Be teachable

If older women are going to teach you, then you must be teachable

To be teachable, you must be humble and desire to grow

Love husbands and children

This is not merely teaching that love for husbands and children is good and necessary

This must be done when necessary

It is also the particular areas of spousal and motherly love that are difficult and/or filled with relational landmines

Each wife and mother has shortcomings, weaknesses, sinful dispositions, and blind spots that hinder them from loving well in particular areas

Older women ought to help younger women grow in these areas

Young women ought to desire to grow in love

It is not sufficient to say “This is just the way I am” and neglect the hard work of growth

Self-controlled

Same commendation as older men

Pure

Upright in character and sexual conduct

Working at home

This is not forbidding a woman from having a career

It is, however, commending women to be the primary caregivers in the home

This is not some sexist idea of the Dark Ages but a beautiful design by God in the way that He has created men and women

Kind

Young women should not be nasty or petty toward others

They should maintain a demeanor of kindness in heart and action

Submissive to their own husbands

Wives should have a default attitude of or joyful readiness to submit to the leadership of their husbands

In this way, the Word of God will not be slandered

A wide who is

Young men

Self-controlled

Again, self-control is commended

Young men are especially prone to lack self-control

Young men must emulate the older men

Everything that the older men are instructed to be is to be taught to the younger men as it’s modeled for them

If your wife must love you and your children, then how much more must you lead in loving her and your children?

If your wife must submit, then how much more must you tenderly and sacrificially lead?

You bear the responsibility of leading your family, and you will answer for the way that you lead

Adam bore the primary responsibility although Eve sinned first, and so will you for your marriage and family

Disciples and Discipleship

All of this must happen first at the heart level

This is not a list of actions to do with no concern for the heart

God does not intend to make His children a bunch of legalists

Paul is assuming that Titus will give this instruction with heart realities as primary

It is only from a genuine heart of humble faith that any of these actions will please God

This is only possible by the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in your life

We have been called to be disciples of Christ

This means that we love, seek, and obey Him

This means to grow in Him by His Spirit

This means being a part of the Church body and deeply invested in one another’s lives

As disciples of Christ, we are called to disciple one another

We are not disconnected individual Christians

We are called to teach, encourage, and keep one another accountable

Older brothers and sisters: find someone to invest in and do it with all your heart

Young brothers and sisters: find someone to invest in you and learn from them with all of your heart