The more I read Titus 2:3-5, the more I find…. Let me quote it again: “³The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; ⁴ That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

Verse 3 is about aged women’s character qualities, and verses 4-5 are about what aged women should do for younger women.  In order to understand the roles of the aged women and the goals of the younger women, I am going to start from the end of verse 5 (5b) and then go back to verses 4 and 5a. 

The main focus

Verse 5b says, “… that the word of God be not blasphemed.”  The Greek word for “that” is a conjunction denoting purpose or end.  Thus, it could be translated as “in order that,” “to the intent that,” or “to the end that.”  The reason that younger women need to be trained or taught is because there is a possibility that they may blaspheme the word of God.  It is a fearful thought that anyone blasphemes the word of God.  The whole purpose of discussion in verses 3-5a is that the word of God is not to be reviled, evil spoken of, or spoken impiously.  If women fail to become persons as described in those verses, they may cause the word of God to be defamed or maligned. 

We must pay attention to the object of potential blasphemies, which is the word of God.  The word “blaspheme” refers to “contemptuous speech intentionally come short of the reverence due to God or to sacred things.”  The word of God is sacred because the speaker is God Himself, and thus it carries His authority and holiness.  When young women do not learn and be trained to have the character qualities of verses 4-5b, they may cause the word of God to be blasphemed.  What we need to know here is that these women are also professing believers.  The book of Titus is a pastoral writing from Paul to Timothy to teach the latter about how to pastor his churches.  All individuals in chapter two, aged men, aged women, young women, and young men, are the people in church.  Thus, here is both a challenge and indictment to all young women – it is possible for them to cause the word of God to be blasphemed.  It is against the purpose of their life, which is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. 

The main challenges

I think that there are basically two challenges for young women following the instructions by Paul.  First, building up a Christian family seems to be more than a private business, which is quite unacceptable to some women.  What young women need to be trained or to learn is about how they love their husbands and children.  Such a matter is considered private, and it may sound strange that young wives/mothers should learn such a private and personal matter like loving their husbands and children from others.  There are both spiritual and practical considerations.  (1) Christian wives/mothers must learn Christian love, values, and perspectives, which do not come naturally.  Such qualities must be taught.  (2) Christian wives/mothers must be conformed to the image of Christ, which could bring conflicts with their own will.  They may insist on their opinions and preferences over the biblical teachings.  It is a clash between the will of God and their will.  (3) Christian wives/mothers should be instructed and guided by the godly and mature women.  It is not just a private matter that young women grow into godliness, because their spiritual growth benefits more than themselves.  Their growth in the Lord benefits their families (husbands and children), and their churches.  Wives/mothers are in the centre of their families.  In the larger scope, they are important to the health and strength of their churches. 

Second, Christian wives/mothers’ influences are far greater than they themselves think.  It is interesting to know that Paul’s instruction for women is for them to learn to love their husbands and children.  The benefits of their spiritual disciplines are given to their husbands and children, which will bring forth much joy, pleasure, happiness, and satisfaction to themselves.  It is not too hard to understand it.  When they have grown in the Spirit and mature in Christian character, they will pray for their husbands and children. When they pray for their husbands and children, the blessings of their prayers will be upon their husbands and children.  When they are mature in Christ, they nurture their children in Christ and provide them with Christian home educations.  On the contrary, if they are not grown and mature in the Spirit, then the effects will be found in their husbands and children’s spiritual life.  Some may argue that it is not fair.  Women should not be bound by such duties, but they should be able to live for themselves.  What they do not understand is that wives/mothers’ seeds sown in the field of their husbands and children shall be reaped for their harvests, which is the Lord’s reward for them on earth.  Frankly speaking, if a wife does not complement her husband to fulfil his calling in the Lord, who will complement him?  If a mother does not nurture her children with biblical values and principles, who will do it for them?  I am not belittling the husband’s role and responsibility here.  I am emphasizing and recognizing the importance and significance of mother’s influence upon her children.  The Bible calls such a precious woman as a “virtuous” woman.  She is a praiseworthy and trustworthy wife (Proverbs 31:11, 28), blessed by her children (31:28), kind, hospitable, and compassionate to all (31:15, 20). 

The main contributions

The WoH ministry is to build up our younger ladies (wives, mothers, mature and unmarried women) in many ways.  First, it offers them an opportunity to belong to a fellowship group.  They can be with other women of a similar age group, interests, concerns, stage of life, or desires.  They can build up friendships with other women of the same faith.    Second, it offers them an opportunity to serve together with the same goal.  They can be prayer partners, sharers of concerns, or encouragers.  They can be teamed up to help and assist the weak, the sick, and the lonely.  They could be hospitable to visitors and strengthen others and even become role models to the younger ones.  Third, it offers them an opportunity to pray for one another.  Prayer is important for church ministry and Christian life.  Christian women should not be bench warmers but active participants through prayers with other women.  Most wives/mothers do not join prayer meetings for various reasons.  Through the WoH gatherings, they will pray together with others for church and church families.  Fourth, it offers them an opportunity to mould themselves to be better characters.  Working together is both an encouraging and discouraging factor to the members of the WoH.  By being together, they may experience extra support and encouragement as well as conflicts and disagreements.  They will have to learn to become truth practitioners and loving and compassionate Christians.  In the process of dealing with conflicts and disagreements, they will learn to be humble, patient, compassionate, gracious, and kind.  They need wisdom to be harmonious and efficient members of the WoH.  It all helps them to be moulded into Christian character.

Lovingly,

Your Pastor

More Lively Hope

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