Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Titus Volume 20

Paul Reminds Titus to Live by the Grace of God

Titus 3:1-2 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. KJV

It is not only the grace of God that saves all we sinners (Ephesians 2:8-9), but it is also the same grace of God that allows we sinners who are now saints to live differently in this world of woe, subjecting ourselves, that is, causing ourselves to experience or suffer or make liable or vulnerable to things which our old man or woman would never tolerate, such as being defrauded of payment of money owed to us by others for service or other things that we have right to compensation for, yet are defrauded. Such is the mind set that we have been given a new to not count the things of this present world (that is passing away) (1 Corinthians 7:31) as something to build into an empire but only as our means to live peacably with all men as much as lieth within us (Romans 12:18), so Paul reminds Brother Titus of this grace of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ with these words first, "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work," (Titus 3:1) (KJV). The English phrase 'Put them in mind' that opens this verse is translated by the Greek word hupomimnēskō meaning to remind quietly, that is, suggest to the (middle voice, one’s own) memory. In like manner this same Apostle Paul told this to Brother Timothy to put the believers into rememberance of how they/we must be good soldiers of our Lord Jesus Christ and what they/we must do to be good soldiers of Him (2 Timothy 2:1-26).

Here Paul wants Brother Titus to put the believers in Crete in remembrance to be subject to and obedient to the principalities, powers, and magistrates on the island of Crete. The Creatian believers were to willingly submit themselves to the laws of the rulers at that time, so long as they were not mandated to disobey what God has declared, decreed, and designated as truth in His Word (Acts 5:29). Here is what Matthew Henry had to say about putting the believers into mind to be subject to principalities, powers, and magistrates, "Magistracy is God's ordinance for the good of all, and therefore must be regarded and submitted to by all; not for wrath and by force only, but willingly and for conscience' sake. Principalities, and powers, and magistrates, that is, all civil rulers, whether supreme and chief or subordinate, in the government under which they live, of whatever form it be; that they be subject to them and obey them in things lawful and honest, and which it belongs to their office to require. The Christian religion was misrepresented by its adversaries as prejudicial to the rights of princes and civil powers, and tending to faction and sedition, and to rebellion against lawful authority; therefore to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, and stop the mouths of malicious enemies, Christians must be reminded to show themselves examples rather of all due subjection and obedience to the government that is over them."

When Paul writes, 'to be ready to every good work', he means just what the words declare to do that which is good to other human beings. The Lord Jesus Christ was hassled, harassed, and even hated by many during his 33 years on the earth as the God/Man, yet this is the testimony concerning Him, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about doing good, and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38) (MKJV). Therefore, so too must we Christians go about doing good to humanity, rather than doing harm, just as it is written by this same Apostle to the Galatian believers with these words, "But we should not lose heart in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not faint. So then as we have time, let us work good toward all, especially toward those of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:9-10) (MKJV). Paul continues in his reminding Brother Titus and we true believers today and of every era and generation to live by grace with these next words written, "To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men." (Titus 3:2) (KJV). The little English phrase 'To speak evil' that begins this verse is translated by the Greek word blasphēmeō meaning to vilify; specifically to speak impiously: - (speak) blasphemously, defame, rail on, revile, speak evil. In other words, it is when we are living by the grace of God that we can restrain our tongues from this sin, even despite the fact that we may be dealing with many evil men and women, yet we are to allow grace to set a watch and guard over our mouths and shut the doors of our lips (Psalm 141:3) in this matter. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say about speaking evil of no man, "To blaspheme no person, to reproach none, to speak nothing to any man’s injury; but, on the contrary, bearing reproach and contumely with patience and meekness."

When Paul writes, 'not brawlers', he simply means not fighting against any man for dumb reasons, but he does not mean to not defend yourselves with deadly force if you are your family is attacked physically to be hurt or even killed. The Sermon on the mount where our Lord Jesus declares to turn the other cheek is not for the Church today, but for the time of His Millennial Reign on the earth for 1,000 years, for let us remember what our Lord said to the disciples shortly before He was to be Crucified as recorded by Dr. Luke with these words, "And He said to them, When I sent you without purse and wallet and sandals, did you lack anything? And they said, Nothing. And He said to them, But now, he who has a purse, let him take it, and likewise his wallet. And he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one." (Luke 22:35-36) (MKJV). Our Lord Jesus is not commanding us to allow ourselves to be killed without trying to kill in self-defence, He's just not, but He is commanding us to not be quarrelsome and attacking others. We are to be the opposite of quarreling by being gentle, that is, kind and not harsh, but we are to allow the grace of God to lead us to meekness, that is, having a disposition of patience and long suffering, even when we have been wronged in other ways that is not a threat to ourselves and our family and their life. Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say about not being brawlers but being gentle showing meekness to all men, "Not 'fighters', either by blows or words; not litigious and quarrelsome, wrangling and striving about things to no profit, and to the detriment and disturbance of civil government, churches, neighbourhood, and families; which is very unbecoming the followers of Jesus, who strove not, nor cried, nor was His voice heard in the streets. But gentle, showing all meekness to all men; yielding and giving way, rather choosing to suffer wrong than to brawl, contend, and litigate a point; taking the advice of Christ, carrying it in a meek and humble manner to men of all ranks and degrees, whether superior or inferior, rich or poor, bond or free, Jews or Gentiles, members of the Church, or men of the world."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…