But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.The Lord, through Paul, commanded Titus to preach sound doctrine to all people – the aged men, the aged women, the young women, and the young men. The Gospel has a message for all.
(Titus 2:1 NKJV)
But [as for] you, teach what is fitting and becoming to sound (wholesome) doctrine [the character and right living that identify true Christians]. (Titus 2:1 AMP)
1. Six Commands to Aged Men:
That the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience.a. Be sober. Be circumspect: watchful; discreet; cautious; prudent; well-considered. After a few years, you have learned a few things in life. Use that wisdom for yourself as well as others. It is not a good thing to preach to others, and yet not follow your own advice, and end up shipwrecked.
(Titus 2:2 NKJV)
b. Be grave. Be serious, honest, reverent and sincere. You can be serious about the things of God, and still have a sense of humor. After all, the fruit of the spirit is joy.
c. Be temperate. Be of a sound mind; prudent; moderate; self-controlled; even tempered. Control your temper, impatience, etc.
d. Be sound in faith. Be uncorrupt - true in doctrine.
e. Be sound in love. Walk in Agape – the God-kind of love. Show others love, and show them by your godly example of love, how they should live.
f. Be sound in patience. Have cheerful and hopeful endurance. Be patient with others, especially with the young. They need your godly instruction.
2. Five Commands to Aged Women:
The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things — that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children.a. Live a holy life. Be reverent. Fear God. Respectfully obey God, knowing that He cares deeply for you. Your dependence should be on God, first, before any man.
(Titus 2:3-4 NKJV)
b. Do not be slanderers. Do not accuse falsely. Do not be a gossip. The law of kindness should be on your lips.
c. Do not be given to wine. Do not be a drunkard. Do not depend on anything above your dependence on God.
d. Be teachers of good things. Teach the younger what is right. Teach them God’s ways. Negativity should not come out of your mouth – only life and hope and positive things. ou teach more through your attitude than your words, have a good attitude.
e. Teach the young women. The Greek word here means to teach, discipline, or correct.
3. Seven Commands to Young Women:
That they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.Teach the young women:
(Titus 2:4-5 NKJV)
a. To love their husbands. Be fond of and affectionate toward your husband. Put him first.
b. To love their children. Love your children with motherly love. Be kind, patient, giving, and caring. Serve them with grace. Never be controlling or manipulative. Be there for them when they need you. Whatever you do for them – do it as unto the Lord. When you are tempted to feel unappreciated, do not allow the devil to lie to you. Know that your labor of love does not go unnoticed by Father God, and he will reward you.
c. To be discreet. Be of sound mind; prudent; moderate; self-controlled; temperate. Do not be a gossip. Do not share private family things with all your friends, particularly things related to your intimate relationship with your husband. Do not allow your feelings, or your hormones, to control you and bring you down. Cast down any vain imaginations – you have the mind of Christ!
d. To be chaste. Be clean: innocent, modest, perfect, chaste, pure. Stay pure after marriage just as you were expected to be before. Be fully faithful to your husband, in heart, mind and deeds. Remember, your children are watching your example.
e. To be a keeper at home. This means you are not merely a homemaker, but you are the keeper, or guard, over your home and family – not in your own strength, but through prayer, dependence on God, and obedience to His Word. Women have a tremendous influence in the family. You have to decide if your influence will be positive or negative. God has given you the ability to make your home a safe haven for your husband and children, not a constant rolling storm!
f. To be good. Be beneficial.
g. To be obedient to their husbands. Be submitted to your own husband out of respect for your Father God. (God does not ask every woman to submit to every man. God calls us to show respect toward each other, both men and women, but submission is to your own husband.) The reputation of the Word of God, out there in the world, depends on us obeying God’s word even though our flesh desires to go in the opposite direction.
It is a wise woman who knows how to conduct herself, in her home, according to God’s word. Women have a God-given ability to be a team player. Every team needs a leader, and every reader needs a team. In the case of the family, the husband is the head, or leader, and his wife is his right hand. God commands the husband to love his wife, and treat her respectfully, and He commands the wife to work with her husband and treat him with respect as well.
When a husband and wife have a godly, respectful, balanced relationship, the entire family prospers.