5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
5 to be discreet [sensible],
Younger women are to be prudent and thoughtful about their personal influence on others. They are to use common sense in relating to others. They must keep a certain decorum. Some things are off limits.
chaste,
“Chaste” means pure in the sexual sense. It would not have been appropriate for Titus to teach young women about the dangers of their sexual lives. The church in every age needs this warning.
homemakers,
This is the only time “homemakers” occurs in the New Testament. The idea is to make a house a home.
A homemaker is a woman who works at home. She is to be domestically oriented. Women set the tone in the home. The home, not politics or commerce, is the core of society.
Paul did not define the role of a woman here; he simply spoke to them in their situation in the first century. Paul was no chauvinist.
PRINCIPLE:
A young wife’s first responsibility is the home.
APPLICATION:
If a married woman or mother must work outside the house, she should put priority on her responsibilities at home. Feminist assertion that the homemaker is not to desire a role where she influences the home is counter-biblical. The Bible places the role of mother and wife in high rank.
Damage is very great to small children who spend much of the day with others outside the family. The mother cannot recapture the opportunity to train and influence them after they are grown. The damage of outside influence is done.
It is sad that many single mothers must work because their husbands died or abandoned them. This is especially true in the African-American community. If death or abandonment happens, the mother must still place priority on being with the children as much as possible.
Single women do not have the same responsibility as married women. The home is the wife and mother’s special domain. It should be her priority.
It takes prudence and purity for a young woman to have an adequate testimony to the world.
