1Ti 5:5 | KingComments | STEP | The exhortations in the previous verses concern the personal walk of both Timothy’s and yours. In this chapter the apostle points Timothy at his attitude toward different groups of people in the church: 1. in different age groups; 2. in the widows; 3. in the elders. close the chapter with the exhortation to have nothing to do with partiality and to deal responsibly with others and with his own body. . Like in a family the distinction of age and sex must also be recognized in the house of God. The first indication concerns the “older man” who needs exhortation. Sometimes it is necessary to rebuke an older person. Age doesn’t make a person immune for failures. When rebuke is necessary caution is appropriate for the way it happens ( ). An older brother should not be rebuked sharply. ‘Sharply rebuke’ literally means ‘to hit’, what indicates here ‘to hit with words’. You ought not to raise your voice to such a person. When an older brother should be admonished, it must happen with the sensitivity of a son toward his father. When younger brothers would consider this instruction more in their dealings then a lot of deep-rooted and long lasting conflicts could have been prevented. The second category you have to deal with are your peers, “the younger men”. When you notice something there that is in contrast to God’s Word, you should approach them with the sensitivity of true brotherly love. Together with them you participate in the family of God. In that relation it is not appropriate to rebuke them high-handedly as a superior (cf. ). . The third category is that of “older women”. Like the older men here also the sensitivity of a son toward his mother has to be present. Like the other groups the point is that Timothy should express a family-oriented affection in his conduct and above all respect for the individual. The fourth category is the most sensitive one. Timothy must really watch out how he approaches “the younger women” in case they need to be corrected. He should deal with them “as sisters, in all purity”. The brotherly love should not deteriorate into feelings of the flesh. He must be careful to be inwardly pure of his mind in order to expose a fully upright and transparent behavior. Unclean thoughts, words or deeds must be avoided. If this word were taken to heart by younger believers (and not only by them) then many tragedies that have occurred within the pastoral care in this area, would not have happened. . The fifth category is that of the “widows”. Paul extensively pays attention to them. The word ‘widow’ implies ‘bereft, ‘having suffered loss’. Someone who is a ‘widow indeed’ is someone who is really left alone, ‘bereft’ of her husband. That caused her to be in need. She has no family either to whom she can appeal. The Holy Spirit devotes much space to speak about the widows, no less than fourteen verses, because they are being easily forgotten. That was already the case at the beginning of the church ( ), when the believers shared everything together in those days. How much more then this appeal of James has to be heeded “to visit orphans and widows in their distress” ( ). Widows and their children are the objects of the God’s special care ( ). He who takes care of them can count on the blessing of God ( ). Considering this it should not be difficult to ‘honor’ or to respect and esteem them. This appropriate respect and esteem will be exposed in the financial support and in surrounding them with serving and caring love. Then the financial support will not have the side-thought of an act of charity to a poor. In this care of the widow you can see an example of the functioning of the church in other forms of care. One of the aspects to which you can recognize a church according to God’s thoughts, is the care that is spent to those who need it. Is there care for those who have spiritual difficulties, for those who risk to give in to certain temptations, for believers who face difficulties in raising their children, for older people? . There can be an inclination to withdraw yourself from caring while it clearly appears on your way. In the case of the widows there can be ‘children or grandchildren’. Paul points them to their obligations toward their mother or grandmother if she is a widow. They must “first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family”. In that way they show respect to God, they deal according to His will. They are not allowed to withdraw themselves from that responsibility by saying that it is a matter the government or the church should be taking care of. The Lord Jesus also condemns sharply the corrupt pious motives to withdraw from this obligation ( ). He who supports his mother or grandmother who is a widow, doesn’t do that only because the Lord desires it. It also ought to happen out of gratitude for what the parents and grandparents have done to them. It is a recognition of the love and care that the parents and grandparents have spent on them. The word “return” means to meet a responsibility. It has to do with repayment, to give something back. If you find yourself in such a situation you may know that by doing so you are “acceptable in the sight God”. You please God by doing that. That’s a wonderful exhortation, isn’t it? . Not every widow finds herself in the same circumstances. You have seen that there are widows who can rely on their children and grandchildren. But what happens if that’s not the case? If it has to be said of a widow that she “is a widow indeed and who has been left alone”? ‘Left alone’ emphasizes that this widow really has no one to rely on. She is permanently alone and left. Then God remains her reliance. While she has no one to rely on, God remains her great refuge. She can fix her hope on Him. Constantly she may go to Him, incessantly draw near to Him and ask whatever she needs. In Anna you find a beautiful example of that ( ). She was not occupied with her own need. She was occupied with the need God’s people were in. Don’t you think that such widows are a blessing to the church? They do not expect their help to come from the church, but from God. Right in the middle of their vulnerable condition of dependency they feel how much they need to have fellowship with God. “Night and day” doesn’t mean unceasingly, but without having anything between her and God. It shows that she has a continual fellowship with God. . Such an attitude is in sharp contrast to that of her “who gives herself to wanton pleasure”. Then there is no mention of being focused on God and expecting all help from Him. That widow “is dead even while she lives”. Not every real widow is needy. There are those who are in a financially strong position and who use that to live “in wanton pleasure”. She who lives like that, lacks the blessing of dependency on God. The spiritual life of such a person is not visible. She lives indeed, but without involving God in her life. You may say that she is actually dead. To live ‘in luxury and wanton pleasure’ ( ) indicates a wasteful way of life. There is no room for God. It is the mentality of “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” ( ). Now read 1 Timothy 5:1-6 again. Reflection: How is your relation toward the different groups that are mentioned here? Do you see a particular category to which you may spend some care?

‏ 1 Timothy 5:5

Obligations Toward Others

The exhortations in the previous verses concern the personal walk of both Timothy’s and yours. In this chapter the apostle points Timothy at his attitude toward different groups of people in the church:

1. in 1Tim 5:1-2 different age groups;

2. in 1Tim 5:3-16 the widows;

3. in 1Tim 5:17-20 the elders.

1Tim 5:21-25 close the chapter with the exhortation to have nothing to do with partiality and to deal responsibly with others and with his own body.

1Tim 5:1. Like in a family the distinction of age and sex must also be recognized in the house of God. The first indication concerns the “older man” who needs exhortation. Sometimes it is necessary to rebuke an older person. Age doesn’t make a person immune for failures. When rebuke is necessary caution is appropriate for the way it happens (Lev 19:32).

An older brother should not be rebuked sharply. ‘Sharply rebuke’ literally means ‘to hit’, what indicates here ‘to hit with words’. You ought not to raise your voice to such a person. When an older brother should be admonished, it must happen with the sensitivity of a son toward his father. When younger brothers would consider this instruction more in their dealings then a lot of deep-rooted and long lasting conflicts could have been prevented.

The second category you have to deal with are your peers, “the younger men”. When you notice something there that is in contrast to God’s Word, you should approach them with the sensitivity of true brotherly love. Together with them you participate in the family of God. In that relation it is not appropriate to rebuke them high-handedly as a superior (cf. Job 33:6).

1Tim 5:2. The third category is that of “older women”. Like the older men here also the sensitivity of a son toward his mother has to be present. Like the other groups the point is that Timothy should express a family-oriented affection in his conduct and above all respect for the individual.

The fourth category is the most sensitive one. Timothy must really watch out how he approaches “the younger women” in case they need to be corrected. He should deal with them “as sisters, in all purity”. The brotherly love should not deteriorate into feelings of the flesh. He must be careful to be inwardly pure of his mind in order to expose a fully upright and transparent behavior. Unclean thoughts, words or deeds must be avoided. If this word were taken to heart by younger believers (and not only by them) then many tragedies that have occurred within the pastoral care in this area, would not have happened.

1Tim 5:3. The fifth category is that of the “widows”. Paul extensively pays attention to them. The word ‘widow’ implies ‘bereft, ‘having suffered loss’. Someone who is a ‘widow indeed’ is someone who is really left alone, ‘bereft’ of her husband. That caused her to be in need. She has no family either to whom she can appeal.

The Holy Spirit devotes much space to speak about the widows, no less than fourteen verses, because they are being easily forgotten. That was already the case at the beginning of the church (Acts 6:1), when the believers shared everything together in those days. How much more then this appeal of James has to be heeded “to visit orphans and widows in their distress” (Jam 1:27).

Widows and their children are the objects of the God’s special care (Psa 68:5 ; Psa 146:9). He who takes care of them can count on the blessing of God (Deu 14:29 ; Deu 24:19). Considering this it should not be difficult to ‘honor’ or to respect and esteem them. This appropriate respect and esteem will be exposed in the financial support and in surrounding them with serving and caring love. Then the financial support will not have the side-thought of an act of charity to a poor.

In this care of the widow you can see an example of the functioning of the church in other forms of care. One of the aspects to which you can recognize a church according to God’s thoughts, is the care that is spent to those who need it. Is there care for those who have spiritual difficulties, for those who risk to give in to certain temptations, for believers who face difficulties in raising their children, for older people?

1Tim 5:4. There can be an inclination to withdraw yourself from caring while it clearly appears on your way. In the case of the widows there can be ‘children or grandchildren’. Paul points them to their obligations toward their mother or grandmother if she is a widow. They must “first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family”. In that way they show respect to God, they deal according to His will. They are not allowed to withdraw themselves from that responsibility by saying that it is a matter the government or the church should be taking care of. The Lord Jesus also condemns sharply the corrupt pious motives to withdraw from this obligation (Mt 15:3-6).

He who supports his mother or grandmother who is a widow, doesn’t do that only because the Lord desires it. It also ought to happen out of gratitude for what the parents and grandparents have done to them. It is a recognition of the love and care that the parents and grandparents have spent on them. The word “return” means to meet a responsibility. It has to do with repayment, to give something back. If you find yourself in such a situation you may know that by doing so you are “acceptable in the sight God”. You please God by doing that. That’s a wonderful exhortation, isn’t it?

1Tim 5:5. Not every widow finds herself in the same circumstances. You have seen that there are widows who can rely on their children and grandchildren. But what happens if that’s not the case? If it has to be said of a widow that she “is a widow indeed and who has been left alone”? ‘Left alone’ emphasizes that this widow really has no one to rely on. She is permanently alone and left.

Then God remains her reliance. While she has no one to rely on, God remains her great refuge. She can fix her hope on Him. Constantly she may go to Him, incessantly draw near to Him and ask whatever she needs. In Anna you find a beautiful example of that (Lk 2:36-38). She was not occupied with her own need. She was occupied with the need God’s people were in.

Don’t you think that such widows are a blessing to the church? They do not expect their help to come from the church, but from God. Right in the middle of their vulnerable condition of dependency they feel how much they need to have fellowship with God. “Night and day” doesn’t mean unceasingly, but without having anything between her and God. It shows that she has a continual fellowship with God.

1Tim 5:6. Such an attitude is in sharp contrast to that of her “who gives herself to wanton pleasure”. Then there is no mention of being focused on God and expecting all help from Him. That widow “is dead even while she lives”. Not every real widow is needy. There are those who are in a financially strong position and who use that to live “in wanton pleasure”. She who lives like that, lacks the blessing of dependency on God. The spiritual life of such a person is not visible. She lives indeed, but without involving God in her life. You may say that she is actually dead.

To live ‘in luxury and wanton pleasure’ (Jam 5:5) indicates a wasteful way of life. There is no room for God. It is the mentality of “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1Cor 15:32).

Now read 1 Timothy 5:1-6 again.

Reflection: How is your relation toward the different groups that are mentioned here? Do you see a particular category to which you may spend some care?