Survey of the Letters of Paul:  1 Timothy 5:07

And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

Let us read the first 8 verses of the chapter:

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 honouring 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

And now to the other commentaries.

1 Timothy 5:7
And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

We can easily see the verse is in two phrases:

1] And these things give in charge.
2] That they may be blameless.

Let us take the first phrase:

1] And these things give in charge.

These things — just now spoken (1Timothy 5:5-6). ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown

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.

And these things give in charge - Announce, or declare these things, to wit, particularly respecting the duty of children to their widowed mothers, and the proper duty of those who are widows. ~Barnes Notes

And these things give in charge - Concerning rebuking persons of a different age and sex, and concerning the maintenance of widows; and particularly that children provide for their parents when helpless; and that widows trust in God, and give themselves to prayer and supplication, and not live in sin: ~John Gill

And these things give in charge - Insist upon these things. ~People's New Testament

Now to the second phrase:

2] That they may be blameless.

That they may be blameless - Charge the whole Church to attend to these things, that they may be blameless. The words are not spoken of the widows only, but of the Church or its officers; it cannot be restricted to the widows, for the adjective is both of the masculine and feminine gender. ~Adam Clarke

That they may be blameless - before men, and in the view of the world, and not be chargeable with any notorious crime; though none are without blame in themselves, and before God, but as considered in Christ Jesus. ~John Gill

That they may be blameless — namely, the widows supported by the Church. ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown

We will go now to The Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge to see verses speaking to the importance of the second clause.

1 Timothy 1:3
As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

1 Timothy 4:11
These things command and teach.

1 Timothy 6:17
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

2 Timothy 4:1
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

Titus 1:13
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Titus 2:15
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

We have covered 1 Timothy 4:11 [These things command and teach] in a previous lesson. Let us recall what the commentaries said for that verse:

These things command and teach - As important doctrines, and as embracing the sum of the Christian system. It follows from this, that a minister of the gospel is solemnly bound to teach that there is a sense in which God is the Saviour of all people. He is just as much bound to teach this, as he is that only those will be saved who believe. It is a glorious truth - and it is a thing for which a man should unceasingly give thanks to God that he may go and proclaim that He has provided salvation for all, and is willing that all should come and live. ~Barnes Notes

These things command and teach - Let it be the sum and substance of thy preaching, that true religion is profitable for both worlds; that vice destroys both body and soul; that Christ tasted death for every man; and that he saves to the uttermost all them that believe in his name. ~Adam Clarke

These things command and teach. - What are to be commanded, command, and what are to be taught, teach; command to refuse and reject all profane and fabulous [barely credible] doctrines, and exhort to the exercise of true godliness, and teach the profitableness of that, and declare the promises made unto it, and assert the truth and acceptableness of them; command, order, and encourage believers to labour and suffer reproach for the sake of Christ, and his Gospel, in hope of enjoying the said promises, and teach them to trust in the God of their lives, and the Saviour of all men; and whereas to this authoritative way of teaching, Timothy's youth might be objected by himself, and others. ~John Gill

These things command and teach. - He concludes the chapter with an exhortation to Timothy, To command and teach these things that he had now been teaching him. “Command them to exercise themselves unto godliness, teach them the profit of it, and that if they serve God they serve one who will be sure to bear them out.” ~Matthew Henry

These things command and teach - These truths, to the exclusion of those useless and even injurious teachings (1Timothy 4:1-8), while weighing well thyself, charge also upon others. ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown

Now notice the terms used in Titus 1 and 2. God uses the words, "rebuke" and "exhort." Let us notice the commentaries on Titus 1:13 for "rebuke them sharply."

The Barnes Notes says to refer to 2 Timothy 4:2

2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Rebuke - Rebuke offenders; Titus 2:15; see the use of the word in Matthew 8:26; Matthew 12:16, (rendered “charged”); Matthew 16:22; Matthew 17:18; Matthew 19:13; Matthew 20:31; Luke 4:35, Luke 4:39; Luke 17:13; Luke18:15; Jude 1:9. In the New Testament the word is used to express a judgment of what is wrong or contrary to one’s will, and hence, to admonish or reprove. It implies our conviction that there is something evil, or some fault in him who is rebuked. The word in this verse rendered “reprove,” does not imply this, but merely that one may be in error, and needs to have arguments presented to convince him of the truth. That word also implies no superior authority in him who does it. He presents “reasons, or argues” the case, for the purpose of convincing. The word here rendered rebuke, implies authority or superiority, and means merely that we may say that a thing is wrong, and administer a rebuke for it, as if there were no doubt that it was wrong. The propriety of the rebuke rests on our authority for doing it, not on the arguments which we present. This is based on the presumption that men often Know that they are doing wrong, and need no arguments to convince them of it. The idea is, that the minister is not merely to reason about sin, and convince men that it is wrong, but he may solemnly admonish them not to do it, and warn them of the consequences. ~Barnes Notes

Quoted verses.
Matthew 8:26
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Matthew 12:16, (rendered “charged”) ...Jesus telling people not to speak of the healing He did
And charged them that they should not make him known:

Matthew 16:22 ...Peter rebuking Jesus on hearing that Jesus was going to die.
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

Matthew 17:18 ...Jesus rebuking a demon
And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Matthew 19:13 ...disciples rebuking the children and by extension the situation
Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

Matthew 20:31
And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

Luke 4:35
And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.

Luke 4:39 ...Jesus in Simon's home where Simon's mother had a fever.
And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

Luke 17:13  ...Jesus meeting ten lepers
And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

Notice the commentary on this:

They lifted up their voices - They cried with one accord - they were all equally necessitous, and there was but one voice among them all, though ten were engaged in crying at the same time. As they were companions in suffering, they were also companions in prayer. Prayer should be strong and earnest, when the disease is great and inveterate. Sin is the worst of all leprosies; it not only separates those to whom it cleaves from the righteous, but it separates them from God; and nothing but the pitying heart and powerful hand of Christ Jesus can set any soul free from it. ~Adam Clarke

Luke18:15  ...same as Matthew 19 above
And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

Jude 1:9
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

I want to finish now with some quotes I found on rebuke from wise individuals and from the Bible.

Next to a sincere compliment, I think I like a well-deserved and honest rebuke.

Proverbs 27:5
Open rebuke is better than secret love.

The Barnes Notes says...
Better, love that is hidden; i. e., love which never shows itself in this one way of rebuking faults. Rebuke, whether from friend or foe, is better than such love.

Never when in authority rebuke any one in anger, but only when anger has passed away; and so shall the rebuke bring forth good fruit.

Do you see that God's sometimes painful dealings with you are but an extension of his fatherhood? Do you understand that his rebuke only affirms your glorious position as a child of God, who loves you enough to place his disciplining hand on your life?

Look at our verse again now...

1 Timothy 5:7
And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

The goal of rebuke is to have us remain blameless.  This is the lesson of 1 Timothy 5 and verse 7.

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