1 TIMOTHY 5:17-25 - PAUL EXPOUNDS ABOUT ELDERS

1 TIMOTHY 5:17-25

PAUL EXPOUNDS ABOUT ELDERS

1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

Susie: The word “elders” means bishops/pastors/overseers, the leaders of the churches.

Susan: The pastors that rule well, who invest completely in shepherding their congregation, are to be given double honor. They should be respected and supported by those whom they serve.

Susie: The word for labor implies working to the point of exhaustion. This is not just a person who fills a pulpit on Sunday morning but one who tirelessly strives to meet the spiritual needs of the believers the Lord has entrusted to his care.

1 Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

Susie: Where does the Bible say those things? Glad you asked:

Deuteronomy 25:4 Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.

Luke 10:7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

Susie: Note that Paul is acknowledging Luke’s gospel as scripture.

Susan: If a pastor is serving with their whole heart and being, they should be able to live and eat comfortably. Their physical needs should be met with the same vitality that he or she is meeting the spiritual of those that he or she serves.

Susie: We feed animals domesticated for farm work as payment for their labor. Jesus said that a workman was worthy of his hire in the context of sending out disciples to preach and minister. A pastor should be paid for his services, and one who puts himself entirely into serving the church should be compensated accordingly.

Susan: In times past, barter or trading goods was an acceptable way to pay a doctor or pastor. But unless you are Billy Brown of Alaskan Bush People, bartering not an accepted practice in 2017. Bringing the pastor a chicken dinner will not pay his rent, insurance, car payment, insurance, et.

1 Timothy 5:19-20 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Susie: A pastor should be given the same benefit of the doubt as any other church member if accused of sin. The accusation should not stand against him unless there are two or more witnesses, and the procedure lined out in Matthew 18 applies.

Matthew 18:15-17 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Susan: If the pastor is proven to be in habitual sin, it should be brought before the congregation as a teaching time for all.

Susie: The hope is that all will learn that sin is eventually brought to light no matter who you are.

1 Timothy 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

Susan: Paul admonished Timothy that no matter who the person was, the instructions in Matthew 18 regarding sin and restoration should be followed to the letter. The pastor or the janitor should be handled in the same manner.

1 Timothy 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

Susie: Laying hands on someone to commission them to service as pastor, deacon, missionary, etc. should only be done when a person has been vetted by church leadership and proved themselves worthy and called. No one should be promoted to these positions hastily. Timothy had a great responsibility in being the overseer of the pastors in the entire city of Ephesus.

Susan: If Timothy was not conscientious and careful when he commissioned a person for service in the church, he may place someone in a position that they were not called to or anointed for.

Susie: Or even worse than that, he could be ordaining a false teacher who would lead the congregation astray. Timothy needed to guard his own purity and reputation by installing only those candidates who met the standards set forth in chapter 3.

1 Timothy 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

Susie: Apparently Timothy was sickly, perhaps a gastrointestinal malady from water infested with parasites. The wine, being fermented, would combat some of these. Paul was NOT advocating that Timothy drink to excess.

Susan: Paul was suggesting that Timothy use wine medicinally and in moderation.

1 Timothy 5:24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

Susie: Sometimes a person’s sins are obvious, but other times they are not discovered until later. However, they will surface eventually.

Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Susan: Some sins are covert and others overt. Some are sins of commission and others sins of omission which may not be as noticeable.

1 Timothy 5:25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

Susan: Some good works are recognized by all, but others may be known only to a few, the recipients of the good deeds. Other good works may only be known by the Father Himself. An example would be intercessory prayer.

Matthew 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

QUESTIONS

1.       Should pastors be paid well for their service to the church? Why or why not?

2.       What rules apply to hearing an accusation against a pastor? Are the rules the same or different than for any other church member?

3.       What passage(s) covers dealing with a fellow believer who is sinning/

4.       Why does Paul say, “Lay hands suddenly on no man?”

5.       Are all sins obvious and known immediately?

6.       Are all good deeds obvious and known to others?

7.       List examples of hidden good deeds.