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CHRISTIAN COURTESY and CARE. I Timothy 5:1-8. 06/26/2022. #13.
1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity. 3 Honor widows who are really widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. 7 And these things command, that they may be blameless. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1. Restraint and respect
a. Christian courtesy and manners were standard teachings, even in public schools decades ago
a1. The Judeo Christian influence produced both a strong work ethic and a clear understanding of right and wrong
a2. Society accepted a Bible-based ethics, even when many violated those ethics
b. Paul lays out a framework for personal behavior
a1. Show deference toward an older man, even when correcting him
a2. Treat elderly as fathers and mothers
a3. Treat the younger as brothers and sisters
b1. Young ladies should feel safe
b2. Young men should not feel threatened
c. Even when rebuking an older man for doing something wrong, he should be exhorted with respect and deference rather than scolded
d. Courtesy and respect is God’s idea
2. Family care
a. Family members should take care of other family members who are in need
a1. The church (or in modern times, the state) should not be responsible for
an impoverished widow or ill person
a2. Family members are to step in and take care of needy people
b. Often, multi-generations would live in one house in the Near East, as aging parents and grandparents are taken care of by children
c. As parents took care of children, there comes
a time when children are to take care of parents
a1. There is a biblical obligation to take care of members of our own families
a2. MK. 7:5-16 Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for not taking care of their parents
d. In a welfare state, there are provisions to take care of the elderly and needy, but the responsibility for what is not provided falls on the family
e. We are judged by how we honor our obligations to our family members (often quite difficult)
3. The church and widows
a. There were many widows in ancient world, since older men usually married young women
b. Had the church tried to take care of all of them, there would be no funds for the gospel ministry
c. Paul stated that the church should not be obligated to take care of widows unless there was no other way to support the widow
d. The church was to aid only godly elderly widows
a1. The church is not to help freeloaders, panhandlers, and deadbeats
a2. Those with legitimate confirmed needs that can’t be met otherwise may be aided
e. Stewardship = not to enable irresponsibility
Key Verse: Mark 7:5-165 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” 6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” 9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” 14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”