Titus 2:5 ( 3-5 )

There are several words we want to look at here in the Greek. First, who is to teach whom? The translation "aged" is incorrect. The Greek word is "presbutidas". In doing a thorough study of the word you will find that it is refering to the eldership. To go along with this, the Greek for "young" is "neas", which means "new". So, from this we can determine that the elder women are to teach the younger, or new in the Lord. Next is , What to teach. Here we want to look at the phrase "obedient to their own husbands". The Greek for "obedient" is "upotassomenas". In a complete study of this word you will find that it means " 'to be' in subjection to" or "arranged under".

From this study we hope to find out what it means to be in subjection to our husbands, and how we can apply it in our lives today. It is not intended to bind us up, but to free us in Christ.

II. WHO IS TO BE SUBJECT TO WHAT OR TO WHOM?

     A. GOD

 Heb 12:9-10
              All believers are to be subject to God. It is for our own profit, so that we might be partakers of his holiness. According to this we must place ourselves in subjection to God if we wish to partake of his holiness.

Acts 16:17
              This is a back-up to show us that we are the servants of the most high God. Also, a point to consider is this: It should be apparent to others that we are his servants. Can the people you meet tell that there is something special about you? Does His love show to others through you?

 James 4:7
              Here we are told to submit to God. The word “submit” is in the imperative mood, and it is a command of God, not just something we do if we feel like it.

II WHO IS TO BE SUBJECT TO WHAT OR TO WHOM?

B. CHRIST

Hebrews 2:8
              All things are subject to Christ. Nothing is left not to be in subjection to Him. This goes for us also!

Ephesians 1:22 (20-23)
              All things are put subject to Christ. All authority and power is subject to Christ.

I Corinthians 15:27 & 28
              All things are to be subject to Christ, all things are to be put under his feet, and then Christ himself shall be subject to God.

C. ORDINANCES OF MAN

I Peter 2:13 - 15
              We are to be subject to the ordinances of man. This scripture also is in the imperative mood. So, when we are breaking any of the laws of the land, we are going against a commandment of God. God has given this commandment for a reason, not to put us under bondage. If we were a bunch of law-breakers, what kind of a witness would we be of God?

Romans 13:1 & 2 (1-10)
              Here it is very plain and evident that God wants us to be subject to the ordinances. He also warns us that not to do so would be to bring damnation to ourselves. This also is in the imperative mood. Notice in verse 5 that this is for "conscience sake" : that we may have a clear conscience to God.

D. ELDERS

I Peter 5:5 (1-7)
              We are commanded here to submit to the elders. Your elders are responsible for your souls. If you do not submit to them you are disobeying a direct command from God. Our duty is to be obedient to God, and if our elders are wrong, they have to account to God for it. We must trust Him to handle it.

Hebrews 13:17
              Here it shows that not to submit to the elders would be unprofitable for you. I can't say for sure what would happen, but I wouldn't want to try to find out either. Trust God, He keeps His Word!

II. WHO IS TO BE SUBJECT TO WHAT OR TO WHOM?

E. REQUIREMENTS FOR ELDERS AND DEACONS

I Timothy 3:4 & 5
              It is a requirement for an elder to have his children in subjection, and to rule well his own house. Any man that has not accomplished this will not be ordained an elder. Usually this is the main thing holding men back. Once the woman gets into her place, the man usually comes around shortly.

I Timothy 3:12 & 13
              This is also one of the requirements for a deacon. A deacon purchases great boldness in the faith. What kind of a witness is it for an elder's or deacon's family to be out of order? It would turn many people off to the Lord. Too often the pastor's kids are the worst in the neighborhood, and his wife wears the britches. This is not God's way. God is a God of order, and anything less than an obedient household is not worthy advertisement for the Lord.

F. HUSBANDS
Colossians 3:18 & 19
              Here again, it is in the imperative mood. We are commanded to submit to our husbands. It is the fit (convenient) thing to do in the Lord. God wouldn't have it any other way.

Ephesians 5:22 (21-24)
              Here we are commanded to be subject to our husbands in everything (verse 24). Sometimes we (women) like to hold back on one thing or another, but, here it says in Everything! There is nothing that we should buck our husbands on.

G. ALL ONE IN CHRIST

Matthew 20:25 - 28
              In verse 26 it says, " but it shall not be so among you ". This is so very true. A good example of this is the elders. We are all commanded to be subject to them. But, look at it closely, and you will see, that the elders serve us. This is the same with all those that serve in the Lord. To whom much is given, much is required. Though they have authority over us, they still serve us.

Mark 10:42 - 45
              This is the same as above. It also shows that even Christ came to minister.

Colossians 3:11
              We are all one in Christ. Whether we serve, or whether we are served, it does not matter: for Christ is in all of us. Everything we do should be done to edify the body of Christ.

Galatians 3:26 - 29
              We are all Christ's. We are all heirs to the promises. God is not a respector of persons. He does not look at a servant as being lower than a master. It is just a position in which we are put in, to fulfill a duty.

H. NEW JERUSALEM

Revelation 22:3
              I just threw this in to show us that our serving does not end in this world. But, we shall serve God in New Jerusalem. If we can't learn to serve here in this life, how will we ever be able to serve God then?