to be discreet,
chaste,
homemakers,
good,
obedient to their own husbands,
that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
Titus 2:5
LORD Jesus, we praise You for You are above all. You are God and You are good. Help us to see where we are going wrong, and guide us on the everlasting way. In Jesus’ powerful name we pray. Amen.
“Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.”
Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19
Today’s post is a true challenge. How can the older woman teach the younger one to be good — if no one is good but God?
READ — Let’s read the verse again:
to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, GOOD, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
(emphasis mine)
ENGAGE — What is good?
If you are like me, doing a word search on good (G18) using Strong’s and also comparing various translations, you might end up getting frustrated at first, too; however, please bear with me now.
Next I checked some of the commentaries
Young women should be taught how to be good—how to live for others, to be hospitable, to be gracious and generous, and not to be self-centered and possessive.
Believer’s Bible Commentary
Good, generally, in opposition to all vice; and specially, in her place, kind, helpful, and charitable; as Dorcas, full of good works and alms-deeds. It may also have, as some think, a more particular sense; one of a meek and yet cheerful spirit and temper, not sullen nor bitter; not taunting not fretting and galling any; not of a troublesome or jarring disposition, uneasy in herself and to those about her; but of a good nature and pleasing conversation, and likewise helpful by her advice and pains…
Matthew Henry
I’m asking myself, and I’m challenging you as well: if this is what is called good — the good we need to be and the good we need to teach — then how could we ever be able to be(come) truly good women?
Let’s ask the question in another way:
APPLY — Who is good?
We do agree that we need to be good in the sense of what has been listed in both of these commentaries, or do we not? But, say, how can we truly be good if, as Jesus says in Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, and Luke 18:19 no one is good but God alone? Now let me mention that the original word for good found in Titus 2:5 is ἀγαθός (G18, agathos: benefit, good, well) is the same as in Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, and Luke 18:19.
DO — How to be good
On our own we cannot be good. We need to believe that God is and flee to the only One who is good. There, and only there, we will find the Key to being good.
Study and teach how to be good today.
