Page 62 - Pastoral Epistles student textbook

8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own
household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

If a widow has living relatives who are believers and they neglect to care for her, the church is not
simply to pick up the slack and assume the family’s responsibility. The first thing the church is to do is
to correct the family and hold it accountable for its lack of love and the way their actions are hurting
the reputation of the church.
They are acting worse than an unbeliever.

V9-10. Qualifications.
9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful
to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children,
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showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and
devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

• Over sixty years old.
• Was faithful to her husband.

• Well known for her good deeds
• Well known for her children and their behavior

• Was hospitable.
• Devoted to doing good deeds.

V 11-15. Younger Widows.
11 As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires
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overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgment
on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the
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habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become
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idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. So I
counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give
the enemy no opportunity for slander. Some have in fact already turned away to
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follow Satan.

Paul’s overriding concern here is for the reputation of the church.

Create a practical list of guidelines as to how the church should care for widows.

1.
2.

3.
4.

5.
V17-25. Advice as to How to Care for Pastors.

17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,
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especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not
muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”
19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three
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