Lesson for November 14, 2021
The Book of I Timothy
Chapter 5:1-16
Verses 1-8
“Do not sharply reprimand an older man, but appeal to him as [you would to] a father, to younger men as brothers,to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters, in all purity [being careful to maintain appropriate relationships].Honor and help those widows who are truly widowed [alone, and without support]. But if a widow has children or grandchildren [who are adults], see to it that these [family members] first learn to show great respect to their own family [as their God-given duty and natural obligation], and to compensate their parents or grandparents [for their upbringing]; for this is acceptable and pleasing in the sight of God. Now a woman who is really a widow and has been left [entirely] alone [without adequate income] trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. Whereas she who lives for pleasure and self-indulgence is dead even while she still lives. Keep instructing [the people to do] these things as well, so that they may be blameless and beyond reproach. If anyone fails to provide for his own, and especially for those of his own family, he has denied the faith [the instructions of God’s Word] and is worse than an unbeliever [who provides for his own family].”
These verses are about relationships in the local church. Personal relationships in a church can be difficult between the young and the old. The old and the young don’t always “see eye to eye,” which could cause conflicts and be a distraction to learning the Word of God. Consequently, certain procedures are set up by the Scripture to anticipate these problems.
Sharply reprimand is the Greek word “epiplesso,” which means to reprove. Timothy was to appeal to the older men as he would a father, with respect for their age. Thoughtfulness and courtesy toward older men builds respect for the pastor and his Bible teaching. An older man is entitled to a certain amount of respect just because of his advancing years. Dealing with older men in a local church often takes a great deal of patience and understanding from everyone, especially the pastor. We may not always condone their behavior or how they treat us, but we should always show respect by treating them the way God treats us.
Timothy was to treat the younger men as he would treat a brother in his own family. It was very important as a young pastor that Timothy establish his authority by his consistent teaching of accurate Bible doctrine. Even though a pastor receives his authority by God’s grace, he must earn the respect of others by his teaching and manner of living.
To older women as mothers. Older women were to be treated with respect as their children should do. Whether they are good mothers or bad mothers is not the issue. This means that we are to respect their role as a mother, though we may not always condone their behavior as mothers. Older women are entitled to certain amount of respect just because of their advancing years. Thoughtfulness and courtesy toward older women build respect for the pastor and his Bible teaching.
To younger women as sisters, in all purity [being careful to maintain appropriate relationships]. Younger women were to be treated as the pastor would properly treat his sister. God views each lady in the congregation as being of supreme value. The pastor is to treat them the same way because they are valuable to God. Since they are valuable to God, they are to be shown the same respect as one would show to God. Therefore, treat the ladies in the congregation through the eyes of God.
In all purity means in purity of mind. Purity of mind is the integrity and honor of a pastor resulting on being a gentleman with regard to the ladies in the congregation. It is Bible doctrine in the soul that produces the right attitude toward the ladies. Timothy was young and he was to maintain the correct relationship with all the young women in the congregation.
Honor and help those widows who are truly widowed [alone, and without support]. But if a widow has children or grandchildren [who are adults], see to it that these first learn to show great respect to their own family [as their God-given duty and natural obligation], and to compensate their parents or grandparents [for their upbringing]; for this is acceptable and pleasing in the sight of God. At the time of this writing widows were often destitute and helpless. So Paul tells Timothy who should legitimately receive support from the church and who should not. Every local church should assist widows in their local congregation, if necessary. It is the responsibility of the family to help their widowed parents or grandparents monetarily, if necessary, when possible. This is what is meant by honoring widows. The Greek word for learn is “monthano,” which means to learn by observation, by practice, or by experience. It means to learn by observation from someone who is properly taking care of a family member.
To show respect means to assume the responsibility, which is showing respect for your parents or grandparents. God is pleased with children or grandchildren who support their parents or grandparents who are widows. It is a sin for believers to neglect destitute members of their own family, when they have the means to help. Where a widow has no surviving family, she becomes the responsibility of the local church.
Now a woman who is really a widow and has been left [entirely] alone [without adequate income] trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. Whereas she who lives for pleasure and self-indulgence is spiritually dead even while she still lives. Now we have a contrast between two types of widows. The first type is believing widows who trust in God and pray for their own needs. They are placing their full confidence (hope) in God for all their needs, including the emotional needs of being alone. The second type is believing widows who live for pleasure and ignore God. They are said to be dead, which refers to operational death, not eternal separation from God. She is a believer who has “killed” her spiritual life by self-indulging pleasure. These verses seem to indicate that God considers a woman a widow deserving of help when she is trusting in Him and living her spiritual life (“really a widow”). Those women who are not living their spiritual lives don’t seem to be considered widows deserving of help.
Keep instructing [the people to do] these things as well, so that they may be blameless and beyond reproach. Blameless means a person cannot be rebuked or criticized. Beyond reproach means to live so that your life gives people no bona fide reason to find fault. Once again, the emphasis is placed on the pastor taking responsibility for the local church by administering biblical principles, whether they have to do with privacy, good manners, or administration. A pastor must be responsible for his own congregation. So, as Timothy fulfills his responsibility as pastor, those who follow his teaching will be blameless and beyond reproach regarding the care for widows in the local church in Ephesus.
If anyone fails to provide for his own, and especially for those of his own family, he has denied the faith [the instructions of God’s Word] and is worse than an unbeliever [who provides for his own family]. The Greek word for provide is “pronoeo,” which means to take thought for (don’t ignore or neglect). It is true in every generation that certain believers in reversionism do not support their family. So, God’s attitude toward believers who fail to take care of their own family is that they have denied faith (the teaching of God’s Word), and they are worse than unbelievers (who do not know God or His Word and yet provide for their families).
Verses 9-16
“A widow is to be put on the list (the church benevolence list) only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married,thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. At the same time, they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them, and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.”
All widows are not helpless. Some are totally capable of taking care of themselves. If the local church has a “benevolence list,” there are certain requirements to qualify for being on that list. The first requirement is that a widow must be over 60 years of age. The age of sixty indicates that all other sources of income have disappeared, and in the case of a believing widow who is otherwise qualified, she is to be helped by her local church.
The second requirement for being on the “benevolence list” is that a widow must have been the wife of only one husband (a Greek idiom that means married only once). This qualification is obviously designed to indicate some stability factor in her home before losing her husband. In other words, financial aid should be given to a widow who will use the money wisely to support herself and not squander it.
The third requirement is that a widow must have a good reputation or testimony. Having a reputation for good works is the Greek word “kalos,” which means a life that honors God, which is a sign of a woman living her spiritual life. Maximum doctrine in the soul will reveal itself in an honorable life.
The fourth requirement is that she is a good mother to her children. Being a good mother means training, teaching, and influencing your children in all areas of life. It also means teaching children about God at an early age and sharing the Gospel when they are able to understand it.
The fifth requirement is that she has shown hospitality to strangers. Hospitality is an attitude based on the integrity in a believer’s soul. It means having an attitude of kindness and thoughtfulness toward others and being willing to help with needs of others without seeking to gain something from it.
The sixth requirement is that she washes the feet of fellow believers. Remember that the Bible must always be interpreted in the time it was written and washing feet refers to a widow’s grace orientation. When a widow is oriented to God’s grace by consistently living her spiritual life, she will exhibit His grace by having an attitude of humility. Even Jesus showed His humility by washing the disciples’ feet.
The seventh requirement is that a widow must have assisted those in distress. Distress means to be oppressed or to be afflicted. She must be a person with a sympathetic attitude toward those who are being oppressed and be a person who would willingly assist them.
The eighth requirement is that a widow must be devoted to good works. As a believer under the filling of the Holy Spirit and the proper application of Bible doctrine, the good works are divine production. Divine good works can be either overt (like comforting another) or internal (like praying for others).
But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married,thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. Refusing to put a younger widow on the benevolence list is valid when she gives in to sensual desires and becomes distracted from her spiritual life by having apathetic disregard toward Christ. Becoming completely occupied with finding another husband will distract a young widow from focusing her attention on her spiritual life in favor of getting married again. It is this attitude that brings condemnation into her life. Condemnation in this passage refers to divine discipline (not eternal condemnation) and the only recovery for divine discipline is the Rebound Technique. Her perpetual desire for marriage makes her emotional, instead of rational. A young widow at this stage loses all of her perspective, discernment, and common sense. She can end up marrying too soon and marrying the wrong man. The reason this happens is she abandoned her previous pledge to God (regarding her spiritual life) or failed to apply what she already knew.
At the same time, they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. Learn is the Greek word “manthano,” which means to learn from someone else. The word idle means lazy or useless. These widows had to learn to be idle or useless, which indicates that at one time they were being productive. Now that they have lost their husbands and have retreated into reversionism by associating with others (go around from house to house) who are reversionistic, they become idle, gossips and busybodies. This, of course, leads to a multitude of sins of the tongue, including things that are not even proper to discuss, like the gossip they hear from others.
Having abandoned their spiritual lives, it is inevitable that these young widows’ lives would become meaningless, without purpose and having nothing to do would inevitably lead to stirring up trouble by their gossip. Gossips mean maligning, unjustified charges motivated by mental attitude sins to run down someone else. Busybodies means to be meddlesome, to intrude into things that do not concern you and violate the privacy of others. Talking about things not proper to mention refers to sins of the tongue which is what habitually occurs when a busybody starts trying to live someone else’s life for them. What should not be mentioned are things that are considered to be private matters or things told to you in confidence, things you are told that when repeated cause harm or stress to another person. There is plenty of application here for any believer, whether widowed, married, or single.
Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.Getting married again could be the right solution to idleness, if the widow marries the right man as prescribed in the Word of God. Having children would also be a solution to the idleness described in these verses if the widow is living her spiritual life. It would give her purpose, both in the physical realm and in the spiritual realm, as she teaches her children about God and His Word. By involving herself once again in the study and application of doctrine and by having a purpose that keeps her from becoming bored or idle, she would be protecting herself from the influence of Satan’s world system.
If any man or woman who is a believer has dependent widows, they must assist them, and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed. If a widow has family to assist her, then the church need not assist her. The church must care for those who do not have a family that are able to help them.