Matthew Henry Commentary Titus 2

Older disciples of Christ must behave in everything according to Christian doctrine. That the aged men be sober; not thinking that the frailties of age will justify any excess, but seeking comfort from closer communion with God, not from any improper indulgence. Faith works by love and must be seen in love—love for God for His own sake, and love for people for God's sake.

Older persons are prone to be peevish and fretful; therefore, they need to be on their guard. Although there is not an explicit Scripture for every word or look, there are still general rules according to which everything must be ordered. Young women must be sober and discreet, for many expose themselves to fatal temptations by what might initially be only a lack of discretion.

The reason is added, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Failures in fulfilling duties bring great reproach upon Christianity. Young men are prone to be eager and thoughtless; therefore, they must be earnestly urged to be sober-minded, for more young people are ruined by pride than by any other sin. Every godly person's endeavor must be to silence adversaries.

Let your own conscience answer for your uprightness. What a glory it is for a Christian when that mouth which would gladly speak evil of him cannot find any evil in him to speak of!

Servants must know and do their duty to their earthly masters, with reference to their heavenly Master. In serving an earthly master according to Christ's will, Christ is served; those who do so will be rewarded by Him.

They should not use disrespectful or provoking language, but rather accept a rebuke or reproof with silence, not offering defiant or overconfident replies. When conscious of a fault, excusing or justifying it only doubles the offense.

They should never put to their own use what belongs to their master, nor waste the goods with which they are entrusted. Furthermore, they should show all good fidelity to improve a master's goods and promote his prosperity.

As Scripture says, If you have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who will give you that which is your own? (Luke 16:12). True religion is an honor to those who profess it, and they should adorn it in all things.

The doctrine of grace and salvation by the gospel is for people of all ranks and conditions. It teaches us to forsake sin and to have no more to do with it. An earthly, sensual way of life does not suit a heavenly calling. It teaches us to be conscientious about what is good. We must look to God in Christ as the object of our hope and worship.

A gospel way of life must be a godly way of life. Our duty is seen in very few words: denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, living soberly, righteously, and godly. We must do this despite all snares, temptations, corrupt examples, mistreatment, what remains of sin in the believer's heart, and all their hindrances. It teaches us to look for the glories of another world. At and in the glorious appearing of Christ, the blessed hope of Christians will be complete: to bring us to holiness and happiness was the purpose of Christ's death.

Jesus Christ, that great God and our Savior, who saves not only as God (and still less as Man alone) but as God-man—two natures in one person. He loved us and gave Himself for us; and what less can we do than love and give ourselves up to Him! Redemption from sin and sanctification of the nature go together, and make a people peculiar to God, free from guilt and condemnation, and purified by the Holy Spirit.

All Scripture is profitable. It is what will equip us for all parts of duty and for their proper discharge. Let us inquire whether our whole dependence is placed upon that grace which saves the lost, pardons the guilty, and sanctifies the unclean. And the further we are removed from boasting of imagined good works or trusting in them (so that we glory in Christ alone), the more zealous we shall be to abound in real good works.