Prescription for Younger Women

Part 2

Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Sermon Delivered July 23, 2006

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; 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."

In our last message we looked at Paul’s prescription for mature women. Mature women are to be -- 1) Godly examples of holiness. 2) Not to spread malicious gossip or rumors. 3) Not to be enslaved to alcohol, and 4) To be and teach the younger women things that are solid and substantial, useful and improving, honest and honorable, chaste and pure.

The object of the mature womens’ teaching assignment are the "young women." This is one word in the Greek – neav neas (neh-os) that means younger. Therefore, we must look to the context for what age group is being addressed. The context indicates that it is talking to young married women with children.

Marriage and the role of women are under attack in our society today. Let’s focus on marriage for a moment. Many young people don’t bother to get married today. They just live together, fornicate, and excuse it because "everybody" is doing it. I was reading the newspaper recently and ran across an article that told how the ACLU had taken one State to court because they actually had a law on their books that said it was illegal for a unmarried man and unmarried woman to life together. Characteristically many states used to have, and a few still have those type of laws on the books, though they were seldom enforced. Sadly, the ACLU won. The court ruled that the law was unconstitutional.

Isn’t it odd that the ACLU is in favor of undermining laws are against male-female living together without marriage, but want to force us to recognize same sex marriage? It seems to me they are for what the Bible is against, and against what the Bible is for. The Bible is clear. Marriage is between a man and a woman and sexual activities are to be engaged in only between married people.

Then, there is radical feminism that has corrupted and continues to corrupt women in America, even Christian women. The core of feminism includes the reversal of sexual roles, the rejection of Biblical roles, an assault on gender differences and redefining "the family." They want a gender-neutral society where there are no clearly defined roles for men and women.

Let’s look at our text and examine what younger women are to be taught.

The word translated sober is (swfronizw so-phron-i-zo) means "to cause to be of sound mind, to recall to one's senses." The word has the sense of having "a disciplined mind and a disciplined life." A disciplined life leads to such virtues as neatness, organization, punctuality, diligence, etc.

The Greek word used for the phrase love their husbands (filandrov philandros) which has its base (filew phileo), which means to be fond of, or affectionate to one’s husband. It also indicates that there is to be a "close friendship" between a husband and wife. One Bible commentator said it this way – It "refers to willing, determined love that is not based no a husband’s worthiness but on God’s command and that is extended by a wife’s affectionate and obedient heart. Even unlovable, uncaring, unfaithful, and ungrateful husbands are to be loved."

Another commentator said – "It is the wife which is taught to conform herself to her husband’s interests, being a friend to him."

Next we see that a wife is to…

The phrase "love their children" is just one compound word in the Greek New Testament – filoteknouv philoteknous (phil-o-tek-nos), which means to be fond of, and affectionate to children. The problem is that many today consider children a millstone around their necks, an accident. They are just under foot. Turn to 2 Timothy 3:1-3 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good," The phrase "without natural affection" is astorgoi astorgoi in the Greek, and means without family love; having no love for your children or spouse.

The great tragedy in our culture today is that there are multiplied thousands of children who grow up without parents who love them. Mom and dad are off doing "whatever" and the children, well, the children are left to fend for themselves. If children are to grow up correctly, they need to know that mom loves them (dad too for that matter). Children will not get the kind of love the need in a day care center! Let’s move on to the next thing mature women are to teach the younger women.

The English word discreet means prudent; wise in avoiding errors or evil, circumspect; cautious. In verse 5, we are dealing with the same root word as in verse 4, where it is translated sober. Here the word is swfronav sophronas. In this context, it carries the idea of being disciplined in the emotions, particularly pertaining to moral purity. Young woman who will be discreet will dress modestly (1 Timothy 2:9). I spoke of this last week in the context of the older women. But, modesty also pertains, even to a greater degree, to the younger women. Immodest dress attracts lustful looks from men and incites lustful thoughts and desires in men. This is what is called in our King James Bible lasciviousness. Lasciviousness is inciting desires that cannot be righteously satisfied. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:21 – "I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed." Listen young ladies, immodesty and impurity go hand in hand! Contrary to the pattern of American culture, Christian young women are NOT dress in a sexy, inciting way! They are to dress discreetly. To be sure, they are to dress in an orderly way and not a sloppy way with an emphasis on modestly!

That brings me to the final word we will look at today…

The word translated chaste is the Greek agnav hagnas which comes from the root word that means "holy, as being free from admixture of evil." Here, it has the sense of "moral purity and modesty." Dr. John Gill writes, it means "chaste in body, in affection, words and actions, having their love pure and single to their own husbands, keeping their marriage bed undefiled. Hebrews 13:4 says, "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."

One of the great destroyers of marriages in our day is unchastity. Adultery is rampant!

Let me summarize: Young women are to be sober, that is disciplined in mind and disciplined in life. They are to love their husbands and love their children. They are to be discreet in their thinking and in their dress. They are to be chaste, having their love pure and single for their own husbands.