1 Timothy / 5

  • The Revelation of Character

    1 Timothy 5:24-25

    A man cannot hide his character from God, but it can remain unknown to others. This practical observation should always be kept in mind as men are considered for church office. But even if we are not candidates for leadership ...Read More

  • Ordain with Discernment

    1 Timothy 5:22-23

    John Calvin writes, “Every person should attend to his own health, not for the sake of prolonging life, but that, as long as he lives, he may serve God, and be of use to his neighbors.” While we must be ...Read More

  • In the Presence of the Court

    1 Timothy 5:19-21

    John Chrysostom says, “As it is wrong to condemn hastily and rashly, so not to punish manifest offenses is to open the way to others, and embolden them to offend. …The threatenings of hell show the care of God for ...Read More

  • Honoring Church Elders

    1 Timothy 5:17-18

    The way in which we value goods or services is seen in the amount we are willing to pay for them. We have no qualms about spending money in order to get the best medical care or receive the best ...Read More

  • Lifting the Church’s Burden

    1 Timothy 5:16

    Matthew Henry aptly comments, “Rich people should be ashamed to burden the church with their poor relatives.” It is easy to think that helping the impoverished is someone else’s responsibility, even if they are related to us. But each ...Read More

  • Our Witness to the World

    1 Timothy 5:14-15

    When missionaries enter a new culture, they have to adapt to their audiences in order to preach the gospel intelligibly to those in need of salvation. We must do the same, but we must be ever cautious that we do ...Read More

  • Gossips and Busybodies

    1 Timothy 5:13

    The life God has given each of us is short, and it will be measured in the heavenly rewards He has promised us. We should therefore make the most of it that He might find us to be good and ...Read More

  • On Younger Widows

    1 Timothy 5:11-12

    It is no sin to desire remarriage. The problem comes only if we become unequally yoked (2 Cor. 6:14) or break a vow made to the Lord. But being that God nowhere commands us to vow to serve him ...Read More

  • Enrolling Widows

    1 Timothy 5:9-10

    Matthew Henry writes, “Those who would find mercy when they are in distress must show mercy when they are in prosperity.” The widows whom the church should be most ready to support are those who in their lifetimes have been ...Read More

  • The Family’s Duty to Its Own

    1 Timothy 5:8

    We do not possess the faith that we profess if there is no evidence of its fruit in our lives (Luke 6:43–45). Few of us would probably let our relatives go hungry if we are able to meet ...Read More

  • Hope Set on God

    1 Timothy 5:5-7

    One of the good and necessary consequences that we can draw from 1 Timothy 5:3–16 is that the church is not required to support financially those widows who are able for whatever reason to support themselves. However, the ...Read More

  • The Family’s Debt to Widows

    1 Timothy 5:3-4

    Only those with no other recourse are to receive financial assistance from the church, not those who cannot afford food because they refuse to give up cable television, Internet service, lavish living, and other discretionary expenses. If you need the ...Read More

  • Exhorting Women Properly

    1 Timothy 5:2

    Sexual immorality is a sin that causes the church to be slandered, so men and women alike should take care never to get into a situation where the propriety of a relationship can be legitimately questioned. Let us do what ...Read More

  • Encouraging Young and Old

    1 Timothy 5:1

    John Calvin says that today’s passage teaches us that pastors “must not only take into account their office, but must also see particularly what is due to the age of individuals.” Pastors especially must be sensitive to the age ...Read More