Titus 2:9-10 Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;… I. THE DOCTRINE OF THE GOSPEL: THE DOCTRINE OF THE GOSPEL IS CALLED THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. 1. Because He is the argument and subject of it. 2. Because He is the first and chief messenger and publisher of it. 3. Whosoever have been the teachers and publishers of this doctrine from the beginning, either by word or writing (not excepting prophets or apostles themselves) or shall be unto the end. They all do it by commandment from Him, yea, Himself preacheth in them and in us. 4. As it proceedeth from Him so it tendeth wholly unto Him, and leadeth believers to see and partake both of His grace and glory shining in the same. II. Christ is called GOD OUR SAVIOUR. 1. To prove His own deity, not only in express terms being called God, but also by the epithet agreeing only to a Divine nature, our Saviour. 2. To imply our own misery, whose infinite wretchedness only God could remove, and whose infinite good none but God could restore. 3. And especially in regard of this doctrine. (1) To confirm the divinity of the same, it being a doctrine of God and a doctrine of salvation proceeding from our Saviour. (2) To enforce the duty towards it, namely, that seeing the author of it is God, the matter Divine, the effect salvation, meet it is that such a saving doctrine a doctrine of such tidings, should be beautified and adorned. III. THIS DOCTRINE IS ADORNED WHEN IT IS MADE BEAUTIFUL AND LOVELY UNTO MEN, and this by two things in the professors of it. 1. By an honest and unblamable conversation, for carnal men commonly esteem of the doctrine by the life, and the profession by the practice of the professor. 2. By God's blessing which is promised and is attending such walking, whereby even strangers to the Church are forced to begin to like of the profession: for God's blessing upon His people is not only profitable to themselves, but turneth to the salvation of many others. So we read that when Licinius was overcome by Constantine, and the persecutions ceased, which had almost for three hundred years together wasted the Church, how innumerable of them, who before had worshipped their idols, were contented to be received into the Church. On the contrary, the gospel is dishonoured when the Lord is forced to judge and correct the abuse of His name in the professors of it (Ezekiel 36:20). IV. Servants adorn the gospel, when professing it, they, by performing all faithful service to their masters in and for God, SEEK AND OBTAIN THE BLESSING OF GOD IN THE CONDITION OF LIFE WHEREIN HE HATH PLACED THEM. (T. Taylor, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; |
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