Please turn in your Bibles this evening to I Timothy chapter 5 as we continue our study through the Word of God. Now, if you remember back in I Timothy chapter 3, starting in verse 14, Paul lays out the focus of this letter as he says, “These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” I Timothy 3:14-15.
Paul is telling Timothy what the church is all about. Its function, its leadership, how we are to conduct ourselves as part of the body of Christ, the various roles in the church and-so-on. Here in chapter 5 Paul speaks of how to deal with sin in the church family – I Timothy 5:1-2. Then he speaks of dealing with widows in the church –
I Timothy 5:3-16. And he concludes this section by looking at elders and how they should be treated – I Timothy 5:17-25.
These are very practical lessons and important ones for us to learn from. You see, family situations can get difficult at times and the church family, I am sorry to say, is no different. Thus, with that said, let’s begin reading in I Timothy chapter 5, starting in verse 1 and see what the Lord has for us this evening.
VERSE 1
Paul is not speaking of the position of an elder here but a person who is older in age. Paul says to Timothy that he should “not rebuke an older man,” which sounds strange if you can’t rebuke them if they are sinning. What do you do, just ignore their sin? Obviously that is not what Paul is speaking of. In fact, in I Timothy 5:20 Paul tells Timothy, “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.” Now in that verse Paul is speaking of the position of an elder and how to deal with their sin. But keep in mind that elders were older people and thus, if they sin, it was judged and exposed, they were rebuked!
The word that Paul uses for “rebuke” literally means, “to strike at.” The idea here is to treat them with respect, treat them as you would your own father. Don’t lash out at them with violent words. Yes, there are times when you must rebuke a person, you must correct them but in that process is the idea of exhorting them, building them up, getting them back on track.
For younger men, you are to treat them as brothers and that may get a little confusing. My brothers and I would fight, get at each other, but that is not the idea that Paul is making here. Paul is also speaking of exhorting them, building them up, getting them back on track. I think Paul, in Galatians 6:1-2 explains beautifully this idea as he says, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The idea behind the word “restore” is that of setting a broken bone, putting it back in place so it can heal and be even stronger. An older man or younger man in sin needs to be put back in place and as the healing occurs, his walk should be even stronger!
VERSE 2
As Paul continues on looking at the treatment of the church family members who are in sin and how to treat them, he now speaks of the older women and they are to be treated with the respect you would show your own mother. It is not that you can’t correct older women, but do it with respect, and with the idea of exhortation.
As we minister to younger women we are to treat them as sisters, not pulling their hair, but loving them as sisters. And Paul’s point is, “with all purity.” Don’t put yourself in a situation where you are ministering to a young woman and in doing so it deteriorates into a sexual relationship. I don’t encourage men to counsel, minister to young women by themselves, it opens the door for trouble. You can come with the purist motives, but it can turn the other way. If you are going to minister to a younger woman or a woman for that matter, men, I would encourage you to bring your wife with you and work together. In fact, I truly would encourage men to minister to men and women to women. Don’t give the Devil any opportunity to cause you to stumble!
VERSE 3
As we have seen in our study of I Timothy God has placed the man as the spiritual leader of the family and he is to care for his wife, provide for her, care for her, protect her and-so-on. But if he died, widows had a tough time. In Mark 12:41-44 we are told, “Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.’”
Then in Acts 6:1-6 we see a problem in the early church regarding the care of widows. We are told, “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.” Now, some 30 years later, it is still a problem in the church, how to care for widows and Paul is going to lay out some guidelines for the church to follow.
From what we can gather from first century Jewish culture, widows were usually poor and it was the responsibility of the local synagogues to provide for them, but they were still very poor. Even today a widow can have a hard time making ends meet. Thus, these lessons still apply today.
Now why would Paul even mention this here? First of all, in Exodus 22:22-24 we are told, “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.” God is warning us that we need to care for widows, to have compassion on them just as he does. Secondly, these are lessons we can apply to the church today, as I have said, because many see the church as a religious welfare program, but it is not! Yes, we are to help, but there are guidelines as Paul is going to show us. And keep in mind what he just said, “Honor widows who are really widows.” I Timothy 5:3. You can help widows that are in need, ones that are really widows, in a way that is not degrading to them.
VERSES 4-5
If you are a widow and you have family to support you, then the church is not to help out. It is the family’s responsibility to care for them. Some might say, “But it will be a hardship for us if we do!” So you think it is better to put the burden on the church because you don’t want to obey God? In Matthew 15:3-6 we are told, “He answered and said to them, ‘Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, “Honor your father and your mother”; and, “He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.” But you say, “Whoever says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God’ — then he need not honor his father or mother.” Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.’”
In other words, they got out of caring for their parents by saying all that we would have given to them, we have now dedicated to the Temple, to God. Now don’t think the Temple or God ever saw that money, but they were just looking to get out of caring for their parents and that was wrong in God’s eyes, just as not caring for a widow in your own family is wrong.
Besides not having any family to help her out, what other qualifications are there? We don’t have to guess, Paul tells us! First of all she trusts in God, she is not only saved, but her faith is strong. Because of this strong foundation she intercedes before God for the people with prayers and supplications all day long, even into the night.
In Luke 2:36-38 we see an example of a widow who did these very things. We are told, “Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” Anna was a widow for some 84 years and instead of complaining, she is serving in the temple with prayer all day long, for 84 years! You see, the church did not support widows just because they were widows and they did not support widows so they could go out and party, but to serve the Lord, to serve the church. Today, people want handouts, and if you mention work, they are offended. That is not how it was in the early church, including widows.
VERSE 6
The word that Paul uses for “pleasure,” SPATALAO (spat-al-ah’o) in the Greek, speaks of sensual pleasure. If they are not living appropriate lives, godly lives, then the church has every right not to support them. Paul said in Romans 8:6, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” I don’t believe this person that Paul is speaking of here in I Timothy is necessarily saved or if she is then she is living in a backslidden condition. Thus, to support her would just be condoning her sin, her lifestyle.
VERSES 7-8
Timothy was to teach these truths so that all would be aware of them, no one would have an excuse. And Paul hits them hard here telling them that if they don’t provide for their family, if they rely on the church or the state to help them when they could work, they could provide, then they are worse than an unbeliever! Ouch, that had to hurt. The thing is, what went on back then is still going on today and the church is not responsible to provide the financial needs of everyone, only those who are truly in need, have faith in God, have no other family to support them and they are serving the Lord in the church!
VERSES 9-10
Why this stipulation of supporting those widows who were 60 years old or older? Because if they were younger, they could support themselves, they could get remarried. These women are mature, not easily driven by desire, and could serve the Lord faithfully as their life has shown. She also needs to be a “one woman man” or that she was faithful in her marriage if she was married. She did many good works in her life, she had a good reputation in raising her children if she had children, caring for strangers, being a servant by washing the feet of the brethren, caring for those who are hurting and was diligent in her service to others and the Lord!
Now don’t get the idea that these qualities are only for widows, they are for all women to practice – a heart of a servant. I realize some of you women may feel you have wasted your life because you have been busy raising a family. You have not been able to serve the Lord like you desire. But God’s design for women, their role in the home is the highest calling. Let me give you this example of a story told by the Scottish preacher Ian MacClaren. It is the story of a woman in his church and we are told:
As they were talking, she began to wipe her eyes with the corner of her apron, so Dr. MacClaren said, “What’s disturbing you?”
“Oh,” she said, “Sometimes I feel I have done so little and when I think about it it makes my heart heavy, because really I’ve done so little for Jesus.”
“When I was a wee girl the Lord spoke to my heart and I surrendered to Him. And I wanted to live for Him, oh so much. But I feel I haven’t done anything.”
“What have you done with your life?” he asked.
“Oh nothing,” she said, “just nothing. I’ve washed dishes, cooked three meals a day, taken care of my children, mopped the floor, mended the clothes, you know, everything a mother does, that’s all I’ve done.”
MacClaren sat back in his chair and asked, “Where are your boys?”
“Oh,” she spoke, “You know I named them all for the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. You know them all and you know where Mark is. You ordained him. He went to China. He’s learned the language and now he is able to minister to the people in the name of the Lord.”
“Where’s Luke?” MacClaren said.
“You know well enough where he is because you sent him out and I had a letter from him the other day. He is in Africa and says a revival has broken out at his mission station.”
“And Matthew?” he queried.
“He’s with his brother in China and they are working together. And John, who’s nineteen, came to me last night to say God has laid Africa on his heart. He said, ‘I’m going to Africa, but don’t worry about it, Mother, because the Lord has shown me that I am to stay with you until you go home to glory, and then I’ll go. Until then I have to take care of you.’”
MacClaren looked at the elderly saint and said, “Your life has been wasted, you say?”
“Yes, it has been wasted.”
“You have been cooking and mopping and washing – but I would like to see the reward when you are called home!”
VERSES 11-15
Again Paul is saying that younger widows can support themselves, they can get married again. And the problem for some was that they committed their lives to the Lord but their desire for marriage overshadowed their love for the Lord and they compromised their faith and placed themselves in situations that were bad. Not that marriage was wrong or is wrong, but if you are so desperate for a relationship, if you are not satisfied in the Lord, it is a dangerous path to be on.
In I Corinthians 7:34-35 Paul speaks of someone who is single and someone who is married. He says, “There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world — how she may please her husband. And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.” You see, if you are single you can serve the Lord wholly with your life but if you are married, you also have your family to care for. It is not wrong, it is just the reality of the situation!
This not only goes for young widows, but for anyone who has too much time on their hands. They gossip, they are busybodies, they talk behind peoples back – they spend their time talking about other people’s lives when they truly need to get a life of their own! This is not a good thing and it can truly cause problems.
From the context of these verses here, it seems that some of these widows married an unsaved man. Thus, Paul is encouraging these young women to remarry Christian men and have children, care for the house and don’t give room for Satan to cause you to stumble. Paul, in speaking of close relationships, including marriage, said the following in II Corinthians 6:14-17, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.’” That is not a suggestion, God means it!
VERSE 16
Paul closes this section by telling them that families need to care for their own, take care of the widows in their family and not to place that burden on the church because then it will be harder for them to care for the widows who are truly in need. This is the third time Paul dealt with this subject in this chapter; do you think he is trying to make a point? You bet he is! He has said, “But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day . . . But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever . . . If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.” I Timothy 5:4-5, 8, 16. It is something we need to heed as a church and as individuals.
VERSES 17-18
Paul is speaking of elders here, shepherds or pastors and elders who were in charge of the spiritual aspects of the church. From this text it seems like some elders were not teachers, but let me also say this, all pastors must be teachers, they are to bring the Word of God to their people. Now when Paul speaks of “double honor” what is he speaking of? He is speaking of their pay for their service to the Lord, as the church is able. Some argue that the church should not pay a pastor. I of course disagree, not because I want to be paid, but Paul was paid, and again, listen to what he says, “For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.’” I Timothy 5:18. Thus, to refuse to support those who provide spiritual food is just as unjust and heartless as it would be to muzzle an animal or refusing to pay a hired man!
One more point and that is Paul, in verse 18, quotes out of Luke 10:7, and says that it is part of the Scriptures, God’s Word! Peter, in II Peter 3:15-16 tells us that Paul’s letters are part of the Scriptures, God’s Word! And Paul in I Corinthians 11:24 quotes once again from Luke 23:19 attributing it to the Scriptures! Today many try to negate the New Testament writers, but these letters show that they were already considered part of the Scriptures!
VERSES 19-20
Those in leadership are targets for Satan’s attacks; it is like a big bull’s eye is painted on their chest! Thus, Satan uses gossip, he uses idle words to bring leaders down, especially pastors. Paul’s point is to check out their story with more than one witness, don’t believe everything you hear! On the other hand, if accusations are substantiated, then it needs to be acted upon. And folks, I am not talking about trivial things, likes and dislikes, people’s opinions, I am taking about sin and that is what Paul is talking about! I like the way that Barclay put it as he said, “Nothing does more harm then when some people are treated as if they can do no wrong and others as if they could do no right.”
Leadership in the church does not shield a person from accountability; in fact they are more accountable. But Paul puts in the protection of more than one witness to protect the leaders!
VERSE 21
Leaders serve the Lord, there is a great responsibility there, and instead of feeding in on gossip, on empty things, they should be shutting the door to it!
As leaders serve they are also to do so without “prejudice” and “partiality.” James tells us in James 2:1-9, “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or, ‘Sit here at my footstool,’ have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”
Also, there is to be no partiality according to race or gender as Paul tells us in Galatians 3:28-29, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Jesus is not a respecter of persons, but treats us all on the same level. Thus, as leaders we are to set the example, for they will follow our lead and if we show partiality towards certain people, then so will the congregation!
VERSE 22
I have never truly been in a rush to raise people up in the ministry because I want to see if they can serve without a title, I want to observe what God is doing in their lives and those who I do ordain, I am only recognizing what God has done in their lives and He has raised them up and I am acknowledging that. Have I made mistakes in the past? Sure, because it is hard to know the heart of a person and sometimes when they are in that position, they do less than before they had that title, what was in their heart is not revealed. Again, I error on the side of not raising people up until I am sure because it is a lot harder to remove someone from ministry, it is a lot more messy than not raising them up in the first place.
Paul is admonishing Timothy to live a pure life, to be an example. As a pastor, if you are looking for others to raise up in the ministry, you better keep you life in line with God!
VERSE 23
This verse seems out of place in regards to what Paul has been saying so far, but it is not! Timothy was probably abstaining from any alcohol to be an example but he suffered from some kind of gastro-intestinal problem, we might call it Montezuma’s Revenge! The reason for this was that the water supply was not pure, it was contaminated and you know what can happen if you drink the water in Mexico! Thus, if wine was used, the fermentation process would eliminate some of these harmful bugs in the water and it would help Timothy out. So Paul tells Timothy it is okay to drink a little wine!
Why didn’t Paul name and claim a healing for Timothy? Because it was not God’s will for Timothy or Paul would have touched Timothy and healed him. It was not a lack of faith or some sin in Timothy’s life, as some would have you believe! And folks, God does heal miraculously today, but He also uses medicine, doctor’s and-so-on to help us in the conditions we have! Paul prayed three times for the thorn in his flesh to be removed, whatever it may have been, and the Lord told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” II Corinthians 12:9.
VERSES 24-25
Keep in mind the context here, the appointing of elders, church leadership, dealing with sin in the family of God. Thus, some people are better at covering their sin than others. So just by looking at what they are doing can be deceptive. Watch and pray before you raise up leaders.
On the other hand, good works are clearly seen, they are not hidden and it is also important to watch for them in people’s lives. Thus, take it slow; wait on God for discernment before leaders are raised up!
As I close tonight, let me remind you the reason God has placed leaders, pastor/teachers in the church today, they are for, “the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ — from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” May the leaders equip the sheep to go and do the work of the ministry!