Let us read the first 8 verses of the chapter:
1 Timothy 5:1-8
1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father;
and the younger men as brethren;
2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to
shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and
acceptable before God.
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and
continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own
house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
CHURCH AND FAMILY DUTY
Honour widows who are genuinely in a widow’s
destitute position. But if any widow has children or
grandchildren, let such children learn to begin by
discharging the duties of religion in their own
homes; and let them learn to give a return for all
that their parents have done for them; for this is
the kind of conduct that meets with God’s approval.
Now she who is genuinely in the position of a widow,
and who is left all alone, has set her hope on God,
and night and day she devotes herself to petitions
and prayers. But she who lives with voluptuous
wantonness is dead even though she is still alive.
Pass on these instructions that they may be
irreproachable. If anyone fails to provide for his
own people, and especially for the members of his
own family, he has denied the faith and is worse
than an unbeliever.
THE Christian Church inherited a fine tradition of
charity to those in need. No nation has ever cared
more for the needy and the elderly than the Jews.
Advice is now given for the care of widows. There
may well have been two classes of women here. There
were certainly widows who had become widows in the
normal way by the death of their husbands. But it
was not uncommon in the Gentile world, in certain
places, for a man to have more than one wife. When a
man became a Christian, he could not go on being a
polygamist, and therefore he had to choose which
wife he was going to live with. That meant that some
wives had to be sent away, and they were clearly in
a very unfortunate position. It may be that such
women as these were also considered to be widows and
were given the support of the Church. Jewish law
laid it down that at the time of his marriage a man
ought to make provision for his wife, should she
become a widow. The very first office-bearers whom
the Christian Church appointed had this duty of
caring fairly for the widows (Acts 6:1). Ignatius
lays it down: ‘Let not widows be neglected. After
the Lord be thou their guardian.’ The Apostolic
Constitutions direct the bishop: ‘O bishop, be
mindful of the needy, both reaching out thy helping
hand and making provision for them as the steward of
God, distributing the offerings seasonably to every
one of them, to the widows, the orphans, the
friendless, and those tried with affliction.’ The
same book has an interesting and kindly instruction:
‘If anyone receives any service to carry to a widow
or poor woman . . . let him give it the same day.’
As the proverb has it, ‘He gives twice who gives
quickly’ – and the Church was concerned that those
in poverty should not have to remain in need while
one of its servants delayed.
It is to be noted that the Church did not propose to
assume responsibility for older people whose
children were alive and well able to support them.
The ancient world was very definite that it was the
duty of children to support elderly parents; and, as
E. K. Simpson has pointed out in his commentary, ‘A
religious profession which falls below the standard
of duty recognized by the world is a wretched
fraud.’ The Church would never have agreed that its
charity should become an excuse for children to
evade their responsibility.
The New Testament ethical writers were certain that
support of parents was an essential part of
Christian duty. It is something to be remembered. We
live in a time when even the most sacred duties are
pushed on to the state and when we expect, in so
many cases, public charity to do what private piety
ought to do. As the Pastorals see it, help given to
a parent is two things. First, it is an honoring of
the recipient. It is the only way in which children
can demonstrate the esteem that they feel. Second,
it is an admission of the claims of love. It is
repaying love received in time of need with love
given in time of need; and only with love can love
be repaid.
There remains one thing left to say, and to leave it
unsaid would be unfair. This passage goes on to lay
down certain of the qualities of the people whom the
Church is called upon to support. What is true of
the Church is true within the family. If a
person is to be supported, that person must be
supportable. If a parent is taken into the home of a
son or daughter and then by inconsiderate conduct
causes nothing but trouble, another situation
arises. There is a double duty here – the duty of
the child to support the parent, and the duty of the
parent to behave in such a way that that support is
possible within the structure of the home.
~this text from the Barclay
Commentary
Now to the commentaries:
Honour widows - The
particular attention and respect which are enjoined
here, seem to refer to the class of widows who were
supported by the church, and who were entrusted with
the performance of certain duties toward the other
female members, see 1 Timothy 5:9.
Quoted verse:
1 Timothy 5:9
Let not a widow be taken into the number under
threescore years old, having been the wife of one
man,
It is to be remembered that the contact of the sexes
was much more circumscribed in Oriental countries
than it is among us; that access to the female
members of the church would be much less free than
it is now, and that consequently there might have
been a special propriety in entrusting the duty of
watching over the younger among them to the more
aged. This duty would be naturally entrusted to
those who had not the care of families. It would
also be natural to commit it, if they were
qualified, to those who had not the means of
support, and who, while they were maintained by the
church, might be rendering a valuable service to it.
It would seem, therefore, that there was a class of
this description, who were entrusted with these
duties, and in regard to whose qualifications it was
proper that Timothy should be instructed. The change
of customs in society has made this class less
necessary, and probably the arrangement was never
designed to be permanent, but still it may be a
question whether such an arrangement would not now
be wise and useful in the church. On this subject,
see the notes on Romans 16:1.
Quoted verse:
Romans 16:1
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a
servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
The commentary on Romans 16:1
Our sister
- A member of the Christian church.
Which is a servant
- Greek,” Who is a deaconess.” It is clear
from the New Testament that there was an
order of women in the church known as
“deaconesses.” Reference is made to a class
of females whose duty it was to “teach”
other females, and to take the general
superintendence of that part of the church,
in various places in the New Testament; and
their existence is expressly affirmed in
early ecclesiastical history. They appear to
have been commonly aged and experienced
widows, sustaining fair reputation, and
suited to guide and instruct those who were
young and inexperienced; compare 1 Timothy
5:3, 1 Timothy 5:9-11; Titus 2:4. The
Apostolical Constitutions, book iii. say,
“Ordain a deaconess who is faithful and
holy, for the ministries toward the women.”
Pliny in his celebrated letter to Trajan,
says, when speaking of the efforts which he
made to obtain information respecting the
opinions and practices of Christians, “I
deemed it necessary to put two maidservants
who are called “ministrae” (that is
“deaconesses”) to the torture, in order to
ascertain what is the truth.”
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses
1 Timothy 5:3...the
verse of our study today.
1 Timothy 5:9-11
9 Let not a widow be taken into the number
under threescore years old, having been the
wife of one man,
10 Well reported of for good works; if she
have brought up children, if she have lodged
strangers, if she have washed the saints'
feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if
she have diligently followed every good
work.
11 But the younger widows refuse: for when
they have begun to wax wanton against
Christ, they will marry;
Titus 2:4
That they may teach the young women to be
sober, to love their husbands, to love their
children,
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Now back to the commentary on today's verse, 1
Timothy 5:3...
That are widows indeed
- Who are truly widows. We associate with the word
“widow,” commonly, not only the idea of the loss of
a husband, but many other things that are the usual
accompaniments of widowhood - a poor and dependent
condition; care and solicitude; sadness and sorrow.
This idea is implied in the use of the word employed
here - χήρα chēra - which means properly one who
is “bereaved,” (from the adjective χήρος chēros,
“bereaved”), and which, as Calvin says, conveys the
idea of one in distressed circumstances. What Paul
regarded as constituting true widowhood, he
specifies in 1 Timothy 5:4-5, 1 Timothy 5:9-10.
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses
1 Timothy 5:4-5
4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let
them learn first to shew piety at home, and to
requite their parents: for that is good and
acceptable before God.
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate,
trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and
prayers night and day.
1 Timothy 5:9-10
...which we read
above
9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under
threescore years old, having been the wife of one
man,
10 Well reported of for good works; if she have
brought up children, if she have lodged strangers,
if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have
relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently
followed every good work.
Let us look now at the Adam Clarke commentary:
Honor widows that are
widows indeed - One meaning of the word τιμαω,
to honor, is to support, sustain, etc., Matthew
15:4-5; and here it is most obviously to be taken in
this sense. Provide for those widows especially
which are widows indeed - persons truly destitute,
being aged and helpless, and having neither children
nor friends to take care of them, and who behave as
becometh their destitute state.
~Adam Clarke
Quoted verse:
Matthew 15:4-5
4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and
mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let
him die the death.
5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or
his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou
mightest be profited by me;
In the commentary on this verse, Jesus condemned the
practice of giving to God where it interfered with
our duty to parents and relations; where it was done
to get rid of the duty of aiding them; and where it
was done out of a malignant and rebellious spirit,
with the semblance of piety, to get clear of doing
to earthly parents what God required.
The Geneva Bible Translation Notes states it
clearly:
(2) (a) Honour widows that are widows indeed.
(2) The apostle gives these rules concerning the
care of widows.
(a) Have care of those widows who have need of help.
~Geneva Bible Translation
Notes
Notice this from the Matthew Henry commentary
It is appointed that those widows only should be
relieved by the charity of the church who were pious
and devout, and not wanton widows that lived in
pleasure, 1 Timothy 5:5-6. She is to be reckoned a
widow indeed, and it to be maintained at the
church's charge, who, being desolate, trusteth in
God. Observe, It is the duty and comfort of those
who are desolate to trust in God. Therefore God
sometimes brings his people into such straits that
they have nothing else to trust to, that they may
with more confidence trust in him. Widowhood is a
desolate estate; but let the widows trust in me
(Jeremiah 49:11), and rejoice that they have a God
to trust to. Again, Those who trust in God must
continue in prayer. If by faith we confide in God,
by prayer we must give glory to God and commit
ourselves to his guidance. Anna was a widow indeed,
who departed not from the temple (Luke 2:37), but
served God with fasting and prayer night and day.
But she is not a widow indeed that lives in pleasure
(1Timothy 5:6), or who lives licentiously. A jovial
widow is not a widow indeed, not fit to be taken
under the care of the church. She that lives in
pleasure is dead while she lives, is no living
member of the church, but as a carcase in it, or a
mortified member. We may apply it more generally;
those who live in pleasure are dead while they live,
spiritually dead, dead in trespasses and sins; they
are in the world to no purpose, buried alive as to
the great ends of living.
~Matthew Henry
Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 5:5-6
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate,
trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and
prayers night and day.
6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she
liveth.
Jeremiah 49:11
Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them
alive; and let thy widows trust in me.
Luke 2:37
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four
years, which departed not from the temple, but
served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
1 Timothy 5:6
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she
liveth.
Now the Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
widows indeed — (1
Timothy 5:16). Those really desolate; not like those
(1 Timothy 5:4) having children or relations
answerable for their support, nor like those (in 1
Timothy 5:6) “who live in pleasure”; but such as,
from their earthly desolation as to friends, are
most likely to trust wholly in God, persevere in
continual prayers, and carry out the religious
duties assigned to Church widows (1 Timothy 5:5).
Care for widows was transferred from the Jewish
economy to the Christian (Deuteronomy 14:29;
Deuteronomy 16:11; Deuteronomy 24:17, Deuteronomy
24:19). ~Jamieson, Fausset,
Brown
Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 5:16
If any man or woman that
believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and
let not the church be charged; that it [the
church] may relieve them that are widows
indeed.
1 Timothy 5:4
But if any widow have children or nephews, let them
learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite
their parents: for that is good and acceptable
before God.
1 Timothy 5:6
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she
liveth.
1 Timothy 5:5
Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate,
trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and
prayers night and day.
Deuteronomy 14:29
And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor
inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the
fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy
gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied;
that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work
of thine hand which thou doest.
Deuteronomy 16:11
And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God,
thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy
manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that
is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the
fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in
the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to
place his name there.
Deuteronomy 24:17
Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger,
nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to
pledge:
Deuteronomy 24:19
When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field,
and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not
go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger,
for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD
thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine
hands.
Let us wrap up with the Matthew Henry Concise
Commentary
Honour widows that are widows
indeed - relieve them, and maintain them. It
is the duty of children, if their parents are in
need, and they are able to relieve them, to do it to
the utmost of their power. Widowhood is a desolate
state; but let widows trust in the Lord, and
continue in prayer. All who live in pleasure, are
dead while they live, spiritually dead, dead in
trespasses and sins. Alas, what numbers there are of
this description among nominal Christians, even to
the latest period of life! If any men or women do
not maintain their poor relations, they in effect
deny the faith. If they spend upon their lusts and
pleasures, what should maintain their families, they
have denied the faith, and are worse than infidels.
If professors of the gospel give way to any corrupt
principle or conduct, they are worse than those who
do not profess to believe the doctrines of grace.
~Matthew Henry Concise
Commentary
What we
learned in this lesson:
There are three kinds of widows:
1. Widows who have family and/or close friends who
are able to aid and support them and/or who are
financially self-sufficient.
2. Widows who have no family or friends able to aid
or support them and have no visible means of support
or financial resources.
3. Any widow who is spiritually dead according to
scripture.
In addition to these three, the New Testament
church, in tradition, uses the terms widow [loss
of husband to death] and "spiritual
widow" which is a lady in the church who is
essentially estranged by her husband. This
could be an unconverted husband or one who is
spiritually dead.
We learned that in Old Testament times, the nation
of Israel took care of the widows. In New
Testament times and the establishment of the church,
the church is involved.
The church is to aid and support, if possible, any
"widow indeed" which is one with no financial
resources of any kind.
The church is not obligated to aid a widow who has
financial resources and/or is self-sufficient.
This would include any widow receiving sufficient
help and resources from government agencies.
The church is not obligated to aid a widow who is
spiritually dead.
Any widow being supported by the church must be in
the Salvation Process and moving forward; what the
commentary stated as being pious and devout [exhibiting
religious reverence; earnestly compliant in the
observance of true religion].
Family members and especially those in the Salvation
Process who do not come to the aid and support of a
widow in their family is worse than an infidel or
one who is outside the Salvation Process.
Jesus condemns the practice of family members who
essentially dump the widow on the church so they do
not have to come to her aid and support.
All husbands and especially those in the faith
should be constantly working on leaving his wife all
possible resources in the event of his death.
Honoring and supporting our parents is essential
Christian duty. This is true even if the widow
is getting some kind of support from government
agencies. The Christian must be a good steward
of the situation.
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