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OCTOBER 26
26 The lambs will provide your clothing, opportunity to the adversary to speak
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And the goats the price of a field; reproachfully. For some have already turned
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27 You shall have enough goats’ milk for aside after Satan. If any believing man or
your food, woman has widows, let them relieve them, and
For the food of your household, do not let the church be burdened, that it may
And the nourishment of your relieve those who are really widows.
maidservants. 17 Let the elders who rule well be counted
worthy of double honor, especially those who
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1 Timothy 5:1–25 labor in the word and doctrine. For the
Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort
5 him as a father, younger men as brothers,
2 older women as mothers, younger women as
sisters, with all purity. 5:17 elders. This identifies the “bishop”(3:1) or
3 Honor widows who are really widows. But overseer, who is also called pastor (Eph. 4:11).
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rule well. Elders are spiritual rulers in the
church. double honor. Elders who serve with
greater commitment, excellence, and effort
5:3 Honor.“To show respect or care,” “to sup- should have greater acknowledgment from
port,” or “to treat graciously.” Although it their congregations. This expression does not
includes meeting all kinds of needs, Paul had mean such men should receive exactly twice as
in mind here not only this broad definition but much remuneration as others, but because
primarily financial support (Ex. 20:12; Matt. they have earned such respect they should be
15:1–6; 27:9). really widows. Not all widows paid more generously. especially. Means
are truly alone and without resources. “chiefly”or “particularly.”Implicit is the idea that
Financial support from the church is manda- some elders will work harder than others and
tory only for widows who have no means to be more prominent in ministry. labor. Literally,
provide for their daily needs. “work to the point of fatigue or exhaustion.”
The Greek word stresses the effort behind the
work more than the amount of work.word and
if any widow has children or grandchildren, doctrine. Or better,“preaching and teaching.”
let them first learn to show piety at home and The first emphasizes proclamation along with
to repay their parents; for this is good and exhortation and admonition and calls for a
acceptable before God. Now she who is really heart response to the Lord. The second is an
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essential fortification against heresy and puts
a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and con- more stress on instruction.
tinues in supplications and prayers night and
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day. But she who lives in pleasure is dead
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while she lives. And these things command,
that they may be blameless. But if anyone Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox
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does not provide for his own, and especially while it treads out the grain,” and, “The labor-
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for those of his household, he has denied the er is worthy of his wages.” Do not receive an
faith and is worse than an unbeliever. accusation against an elder except from two or
9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning
taken into the number, and not unless she has
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been the wife of one man, well reported for
good works: if she has brought up children, if
she has lodged strangers, if she has washed
the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, 5:23 No longer drink only water. “Water” in
if she has diligently followed every good work. the ancient world was often polluted and car-
But refuse the younger widows; for when
11 ried many diseases. Therefore Paul urged
they have begun to grow wanton against Timothy not to risk illness,not even for the sake
Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having of a commitment to abstinence from wine.
condemnation because they have cast off their Apparently Timothy avoided wine so as not to
first faith. And besides they learn to be idle, place himself in harm’s way. use a little
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wine…infirmities. Paul wanted Timothy to
wandering about from house to house, and use wine which,because of fermentation,acted
not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, as a disinfectant to protect his health problems
saying things which they ought not. There- due to the harmful effects of impure water.
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fore I desire that the younger widows marry,
bear children, manage the house, give no
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