1Ti 5:13 | KingComments | STEP | . Timothy had to pass on the previous instructions as a prescription to the church. He has to imprint that on their mind. By obeying this prescription the church will be “above reproach” in this aspect. Outsiders will then have no reason to raise any objection to the way of caring or something like that. . It is damaging to the testimony of the church “if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household”. In this way Paul refers to what he said in , but now in a negative sense. He who doesn’t care about his mother or grandmother, shows a lack of respect for God’s truth. Such a person underestimates what God has said in His Word and will not take notice of it. With an attitude like that “he has denied the faith”. Such a person may have a nice confession, but if the deeds show the opposite then one can speak of denial. In that case the believer acts “worse than an unbeliever”. Unbelievers sometimes can sense better what is appropriate toward their parents and grandparents than believers do. It is a bad testimony if a believer neglects to practice the simplest and clearest principles of Christian mercy toward his closest fellow man. . Now Paul is going to say something about the care of the church for the widows. Widows who are considered for support must be registered. To be registered it is necessary that certain requirements are met. First of all there is an age limit. A widow should be only registered “if she is not less than sixty years old”. The age of sixty was the age in the Roman empire that women were considered as being old and not to get married again. The next conditions also have to do with the time that she was married. She has been “the wife of one man”, which proves her marital faithfulness. . Beside the testimony of her marriage she must have “a reputation for good works”. By doing these works she has glorified the Lord and has given a testimony in the world. These good works have been expressed in several ways, for example “if she has brought up children”. Perhaps we need not limit this to her own children, but can also refer to children in general, children of others who were entrusted to her care. Another requirement is that “she has shown hospitality to strangers”. This is a particular feature of the woman. She makes efforts for those who come into her house. It also applies to men. It is mentioned as a qualification of the overseer ( ). It even has to characterize each believer ( ; ). By expressing her hospitality she has shown that washing the saints’ feet was not something below her dignity. She has freshened the weary feet of her fellow believer. In this work she has been a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus ( ). She also “has assisted those in distress”. In this way she showed pity and mercy to those who were standing under a certain pressure. That might be because of the circumstances (e.g. sickness or unemployment) or because of resistance of people (hostility because of faith). Many believers lost their possessions ( ) and were in need of help. These widows have helped them. Paul closes the list of good works with “devoted herself to every good work” as a summary of the rest of all work. The good work here is also to be described as benevolent. It is any work in which the desire to do good to others is expressed. The commitment to do that indicates her mind and attitude. Although it is about widows, this is certainly a mind and conduct that we all may desire, in order to be of service in that way. . If there is a good arrangement, like this one for the widows of sixty years and older, there is always the danger of misuse. In Paul’s days there were also widows who thought to be considered for support, but they had to be refused. It regards the “younger widows”. Paul motivates his refusal. These widows are not personally refused, but only their request to be placed on the list mentioned, is. Financial independency can result that the young widows forget their dependence on God. That could lead them to adopt a conduct and attitude that are explained further. In fact there is the danger that “they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ” if they subscribe for support. This doesn’t apply in general, but a wrong spirit could possibly take control of them. They know what it is to be married; they know what it consisted of. They have the age to get remarried. By being independent there is a danger that they do not judge a potentially new marriage in God’s light, but to their own desire, including the impulses of sexual lust. The desire to marry is not wrong. Further on Paul even says that he wants young widows to get married ( ). But here Paul speaks about wrong motives that may underlie that desire. God is speaking by taking away the husband. He has got something to say. . He has a plan with all His dealings. Young widows can possibly forget that. Then “they want to get married [thus] incurring condemnation” because they heed to the desires of the flesh. By behaving like that they show that “they have set aside their previous pledge”. When they were still married and also the first time they were widowed, these women showed confidence in God. Now, however, they want to determine independently of God their own way. . Another danger of financial independency is that they do not have to work and therefore have much leisure time. Who no longer lives in confidence in God, will spend her time in a wrong way. Instead of doing her duties in her own house she neglects it and stirs up some turmoil and calamity in other families. In that way she shows a wrong conduct and becomes a ‘professional busybody’. And not only her presence causes turmoil, she also talks too much. Her talk is nonsense and has a slandering character. She meddles unasked in other people’s business, while it is none of her business ( ), and keeps other people from their work. A person who is occupied with others in such a way always neglects her own responsibilities. The world observes that and will mock such a person ( ). Now read 1 Timothy 5:7-13 again. Reflection: Explore which instructions that in the first place apply to widows, could also apply to you.

‏ 1 Timothy 5:13

Several Groups of Widows

1Tim 5:7. Timothy had to pass on the previous instructions as a prescription to the church. He has to imprint that on their mind. By obeying this prescription the church will be “above reproach” in this aspect. Outsiders will then have no reason to raise any objection to the way of caring or something like that.

1Tim 5:8. It is damaging to the testimony of the church “if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household”. In this way Paul refers to what he said in 1Tim 5:4, but now in a negative sense. He who doesn’t care about his mother or grandmother, shows a lack of respect for God’s truth. Such a person underestimates what God has said in His Word and will not take notice of it. With an attitude like that “he has denied the faith”. Such a person may have a nice confession, but if the deeds show the opposite then one can speak of denial.

In that case the believer acts “worse than an unbeliever”. Unbelievers sometimes can sense better what is appropriate toward their parents and grandparents than believers do. It is a bad testimony if a believer neglects to practice the simplest and clearest principles of Christian mercy toward his closest fellow man.

1Tim 5:9. Now Paul is going to say something about the care of the church for the widows. Widows who are considered for support must be registered. To be registered it is necessary that certain requirements are met. First of all there is an age limit. A widow should be only registered “if she is not less than sixty years old”. The age of sixty was the age in the Roman empire that women were considered as being old and not to get married again.

The next conditions also have to do with the time that she was married. She has been “the wife of one man”, which proves her marital faithfulness.

1Tim 5:10. Beside the testimony of her marriage she must have “a reputation for good works”. By doing these works she has glorified the Lord and has given a testimony in the world.

These good works have been expressed in several ways, for example “if she has brought up children”. Perhaps we need not limit this to her own children, but can also refer to children in general, children of others who were entrusted to her care.

Another requirement is that “she has shown hospitality to strangers”. This is a particular feature of the woman. She makes efforts for those who come into her house. It also applies to men. It is mentioned as a qualification of the overseer (1Tim 3:2). It even has to characterize each believer (Heb 13:2; Rom 12:13). By expressing her hospitality she has shown that washing the saints’ feet was not something below her dignity. She has freshened the weary feet of her fellow believer. In this work she has been a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus (Jn 13:1-17).

She also “has assisted those in distress”. In this way she showed pity and mercy to those who were standing under a certain pressure. That might be because of the circumstances (e.g. sickness or unemployment) or because of resistance of people (hostility because of faith). Many believers lost their possessions (Heb 10:34) and were in need of help. These widows have helped them.

Paul closes the list of good works with “devoted herself to every good work” as a summary of the rest of all work. The good work here is also to be described as benevolent. It is any work in which the desire to do good to others is expressed. The commitment to do that indicates her mind and attitude. Although it is about widows, this is certainly a mind and conduct that we all may desire, in order to be of service in that way.

1Tim 5:11. If there is a good arrangement, like this one for the widows of sixty years and older, there is always the danger of misuse. In Paul’s days there were also widows who thought to be considered for support, but they had to be refused. It regards the “younger widows”.

Paul motivates his refusal. These widows are not personally refused, but only their request to be placed on the list mentioned, is. Financial independency can result that the young widows forget their dependence on God. That could lead them to adopt a conduct and attitude that are explained further.

In fact there is the danger that “they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ” if they subscribe for support. This doesn’t apply in general, but a wrong spirit could possibly take control of them. They know what it is to be married; they know what it consisted of. They have the age to get remarried. By being independent there is a danger that they do not judge a potentially new marriage in God’s light, but to their own desire, including the impulses of sexual lust.

The desire to marry is not wrong. Further on Paul even says that he wants young widows to get married (1Tim 5:14). But here Paul speaks about wrong motives that may underlie that desire. God is speaking by taking away the husband. He has got something to say.

1Tim 5:12. He has a plan with all His dealings. Young widows can possibly forget that. Then “they want to get married [thus] incurring condemnation” because they heed to the desires of the flesh. By behaving like that they show that “they have set aside their previous pledge”. When they were still married and also the first time they were widowed, these women showed confidence in God. Now, however, they want to determine independently of God their own way.

1Tim 5:13. Another danger of financial independency is that they do not have to work and therefore have much leisure time. Who no longer lives in confidence in God, will spend her time in a wrong way. Instead of doing her duties in her own house she neglects it and stirs up some turmoil and calamity in other families. In that way she shows a wrong conduct and becomes a ‘professional busybody’.

And not only her presence causes turmoil, she also talks too much. Her talk is nonsense and has a slandering character. She meddles unasked in other people’s business, while it is none of her business (2Thes 3:11), and keeps other people from their work. A person who is occupied with others in such a way always neglects her own responsibilities. The world observes that and will mock such a person (1Pet 4:15).

Now read 1 Timothy 5:7-13 again.

Reflection: Explore which instructions that in the first place apply to widows, could also apply to you.