Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 47

Paul Instructs Timothy on how Members of Christ Body should be Treated in Christ Church Part 3

1 Timothy 5:4-6 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. Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. KJV

Paul goes on in his instruction to Brother Timothy on how he and other leaders in Christ Church should care for and guide widows in Christ Church by declaring that true widows should display, depict, and demonstrate that their priorities are in the right place, so Paul says this should be true of them, "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 5:4) (KJV). The idea Paul is trying to get over to Brother Timothy is that he (as a leader) should make sure that these widows that are being employed in the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ are women who can be trusted by him and the other leaders to care for the sick, shut in, and senior members of Christ Church who are in need of daily care and comfort. The way that Timothy and the other leaders are to tell if these widows are responsible, real, and reliable nurturers would be to see if their own children were well taken care of by them or if instead they were neglected and mistreated by their Mother the now widow. When Paul writes here, 'let them learn first to shew piety at home', he means simply that if the widow has not and is not currently showing an unconditional and caring love for her own blood related children and nieces and nephews in her care (as well as her earthly parents), then how could she ever be trusted and allowed to care for those in need in Christ Church.

The little English phrase 'let them learn' is translated by the Greek word manthanō which means simply to learn something and keep on learning it. The little English phrase 'to shew piety' is translated by the Greek word eusebeō which means to be pious, that is, (towards God) to worship, or (towards parents) to respect (support): - show piety, worship. The little English phrase 'to requite' is translated by the Greek word apodidōmi which means to repay or to give back to. Paul also means this to be directed to the widows children who are old enough to work, that is, that they must learn piety at home by working outside of the home and now taking care of their widowed Mother or Aunt who took care of them when they were babies and young kids. Here is what Dr. John Gill said concerning children showing piety at home, "It is the duty of children to take care of their parents in old age, and provide for them, when they cannot for themselves: this is a lesson they ought to learn in the first place, and a duty which they ought principally to observe; they should not suffer them to come to a Church for relief, but first take care of them themselves, as long as they are in any capacity to do it; and these should be their first care before any others; so to do is an act of piety, a religious action, a pious one; it is doing according to the will and law of God, and is well pleasing to Him."

The true widow who has no family, that is, grown children or grown nieces and nephews that will take care of her Paul declares this of her, "Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day." (1 Timothy 5:5) (KJV). Paul means here that the true widow knows that her hope relies entirely on the ever present mercy of God the Father completely confiding in and trusting Him to act on her behalf by awakening, arousing, and authorizing His Church leaders to bring in this widow and employ her in the Church in order that her needs and necessities of this earthly life would be met, just as Paul wrote to the Philippian believers to do when he said this, "Do not fret {or} have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance {and} in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison {and} mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) (Amplified Bible). The Prophet Jeremiah said these words given to him by the Lord speaking of widows, "Leave your fatherless children; I will [do what is necessary to] preserve them alive. And let [those who have been made] your widows trust {and} confide in Me." (Jeremiah 49:11) (Amplified Bible).

Paul now contrast the true widow who trust in the Lord with the widow who dedicates, desires, and decides to go it on her own not continuing in prayers and supplications to God the Father for her daily needs and necessities of this earthly life, but taking care of her own needs in her own ways as Paul puts it with these words, "But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth." (1 Timothy 4:6) (KJV). The little English phrase 'she that liveth in pleasure' is translated by the Greek word spatalaō and it means (luxury); to be voluptuous: - live in pleasure, be wanton. Here is what Albert Barnes had to say concerning the widow who lived in pleasure, "It properly means to live in luxury, voluptuously; to indulge freely in eating and drinking; to yield to the indulgence of the appetites. It does not indicate grossly criminal pleasures; but the kind of pleasure connected with luxurious living, and with pampering the appetites. It is probable that in the time of the Apostle, there were professedly Christian widows who lived in this manner - as there are such professing Christians of all kinds in every age of the world. To all the proper purposes of life she is as if she were dead. There is great emphasis in this expression, and nothing could convey more forcibly the idea that true happiness is not to be found in the pleasure of sense. There is nothing in them that answers the purposes of life. They are not the objects for which life was given, and as to the great and proper designs of existence, such persons might as well be dead."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…