Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
My dear sisters in Christ, I draw your attention this morning to the ONLY standard that matters for a woman who loves Jesus and aspires to follow Him all the days of her life. That standard is the unchanging, culture- and trend-defying Word of God.
These are Spirit-inspired, timeless character truths of God that transcend all cultures, trends, and mores of society. These character truths are the things that become sound doctrine, the things necessary to make a home that glorifies Jesus Christ.
- Holiness, or reverence, will be her underlying character.
- Not false accusers – She has control over her speech. Greek “diabolos” – one who accuses or slanders. As we read in Proverbs 31:26, “the law of kindness is on her tongue” (ASV).
- Not given to wine – Not addicted or enslaved to alcohol. As we read in Ephesians 5:18, she is Spirit-filled, not substance-controlled.
- The older mothers are to be teachers of good things, which are:
- Teaching the young women to be sober – To be moderate or self-controlled. They bring calm to the home, not chaos.
- Love their husbands – (not someone else’s!) To be fond and affectionate.
- Love their children – You love your children by being their mother, not girlfriend.
- Discreet – Curbing one’s desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate.
- Chaste – Pure and reverent. The world idolizes physical beauty, but those who are in Christ place a higher priority on holiness and purity on the inside. Thus the exhortation for older women to teach the younger women wherein real beauty lies.
- Keepers at home – “oikouros” – a stayer at home, i.e. domestically inclined; “the (watch or) keeper of the house”.
- Good – Good natured, pleasant, agreeable, joyful.
- Obedient to their own husbands – A Greek military term meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader.
Why does God tell women to live this way? 1) This is the kind of a woman that a husband and children want and need to have around them. 2) “that the Word of God be not blasphemed” – spoken evil of. Our marriages and families have the potential to be a steppingstone or a stumbling stone to others coming to faith in Jesus. Allow the Spirit of God to counsel how to be a godly woman; don’t let the spirit of this age guide you. Selah
