The Grace-Character Transformation
What Grace Can Do Within (1-8)
Paul then moved into discussing further faith-behavior traits by listing five responsibilities they had toward civil authorities (1-2). They were to treat them with a certain sense of deference because they may not have known Christ and were only acting in ways consistent with how everyone acts before they begin to follow Christ (3). Paul then reminded Titus that the same way God had saved those in Crete would be the same way He would save other Cretans. He would save others by allowing His goodness and lovingkindness to appear or become tangible (4), goodness and kindness being Paul's way to describe what grace is made of. This grace has nothing to do with works or earning something but everything to do with mercy, washing lust out of the heart, and renewing life founded on Holy Spirit desires (5). So lavish is the Holy Spirit poured out through Christ that we are not merely justified but are now heirs with Christ in this life and in the life to come (6-7). The life flowing from grace would ultimately cause the Cretan followers of Christ to be devoted to good works (8).
What Grace Can Do Without (9-11)
Paul gave Titus four types of conflicts to avoid concerning the Law (9). He reminded Titus that those who were division-driven were warped inside and self-condemned, needing to be shunned after the second warning (10-11).
Final Greetings (12-15)
Paul laid out some traveling details and reminded Titus to care for believers as they passed through (12-13).
Paul then left one last earnest request amid closing instructions, “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful” (14). This is a powerful thought regarding the kinds of good works that should most capture our attention—those that meet “urgent needs” and those that make us fruitful.
Paul ended with a final greeting and blessing of grace (15).
Perceivable Proverbs (10:1-15:33)
Solomon continues to group his proverbs in learning blocks and now turns his attention to discipline and reproof. In verse 1, he claims that those who love discipline love knowledge and those who hate reproof are stupid. This is contrasted with verse 15, where we find that a fool is someone who thinks he is right and avoids the discipline that comes from taking advice. So discipline and advice-taking become the subject matter and bookends for the following verses.
In verses 2 and 4, we find the contrasting subjects of a good man and an excellent wife, and in verse 3, we find the unstable life of the wicked contrasted with the never-moved righteous.
In verses 5 through 8, we discover the progression of four thoughts: plans, words, stability, and honor. In verse 5, the plans of the righteous are just; in verse 6, their words rescue them when their plans are attacked. In verse 7, they plan to build a house that remains, and in verse 8, the righteous are honored for wisdom.
In verses 9 through 11, Solomon discusses how to make a living honorably. First, you place modest prosperity over the desire for status (9). Next, you care for those who provide for you, even if it is an animal (10). Finally, you place hard work over dreaming big dreams and chasing get-rich schemes (11).
In verses 12 through 14, we find two metaphors for making a living. In verses 12a and 13a, Solomon is using the hunting and snare metaphor for the wicked who hunt people with deceitful snares and defraud them. In verses 12b and 13b, Solomon uses the metaphor of raising a crop to symbolize the honor of making a living, and those who are so honorable escape trouble and are rewarded for their labor (14).
These four topics of a good man, good plans, and vocational and business integrity are to be seen in the light of loving discipline and taking advice (1, 15).
Solomon now begins to teach on the subject of the use and potential abuse of words. Below I have laid out his structure so you can see how he wanted his students to contrast the subject matter. Place the indented lines in contrast to each other; for example, contrast verse 16 and 18, then contrast verse 17 with 19 and 22. This will give you the structure of this bit of poetry.
A) The thoughtless reaction to an insult (16)
B) False witness (17)
A) Rash words that stir up insults (18)
B) Lying tongue (19)
C) Deceit in the heart (20)
C) Trouble in life (21)
B) Lying lips are an abomination (22)
A) Ignoring an insult (16)
B) Honest witness (17)
B) Tongue that brings healing (18)
A) Truthful lips (19)
C) Peace planners (20)
C) The protected righteous (21)
B) The faithful delight (22)
Not only did Solomon want good use of words contrasted with bad use of words, but he also wanted the good contrasted with the good, and the bad with the bad, so he arranged his poetry in verses 16-22 so both could be done. Obviously, the proverbs were meant to be contemplated, to be understood.
Solomon ends his chapter with six proverbs defining what establishes or destroys a righteous life.
A) Carefulness versus recklessness (23)
B) Diligence versus laziness (24)
C) Anxiety versus gladness (25)
A) Cautiousness versus impulsiveness (26)
B) Diligence versus laziness (27)
C) Life and immortality (28)
Solomon wraps up this chapter ever contrasting, ever comparing, so his children may gain the most insight from every proverb.