Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(1Ti 5:19)“Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.”  Context: this is a pastor. Remember, Timothy is a missionary over various churches started by himself and Paul. In other words, he had the authority to act,  (1Ti 5:20) “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”  How does this apply to us? Answer: be very careful standing against a pastor. Be absolutely sure of the accusations of others. The man is God’s anointed, called to minister the Gospel.

 (1Ti 5:17)“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. (18)  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” The pastor should not have to be concerned that the physical needs of his family are being met. It harms the church. His mind needs to be focused on the things of God, especially upon “….the word and doctrine.”  

 (1Ti 5:17)  “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”   Consider in your mind what you “think” the pastor should be doing, and then consider what it says, “especially they who labour in the Word and doctrine”. Our pushing of our own priorities could influence our pastor into the wrong path. Pastors, be first and foremost men of the Word!

(1Ti 5:17)  “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”   “Double honor”: highly respected in a way that is demonstrated. Ephesians 4:11 says a pastor is “given” to the church. We live in a day in which we as a society respect authority less and less. This has spilled over into the church. Let us think and act as those influenced and in subjection to God’s Word.

(1Ti 5:17)  “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.” The context tells us this is not speaking of an older man, but of the position of pastor (Titus 1:5,7). “Rule”: the church is not a democracy but to be guided by the pastor who is submitting to the Word of God – period; no debate.

(1Ti 5:3)  “Honour widows that are widows indeed.”  The New Testament aided widows; but not all women who were widows. There was a standard of spirituality, age, and need required. The church was not to help if they had not demonstrated a life of sacrificial dedication to the Lord (by implication, something of which should be found in each of our lives). The church was not to help where it would remove the responsibility of their care from their family. [see entire chapter].  

(1Ti 5:2) “The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.”  The words, “with all purity”, reveals the Lord understands we are still in this flesh. But notice, how we overcome the flesh. It is through the reprogramming of our minds to embrace the Word. The women of our church are our sisters – truth. They are children of our Father and therefore we should think of them as our sisters and treat them as such.  

(1Ti 5:1)  “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;”  Believers seem to give lip-service to Scriptural teaching that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. It is because we are still in this flesh and it is so hard to move past it. Yet, the spiritual is more real than the physical. The spiritual has always been, the physical has only been around a little over 7,000 years. Seek to embrace truth – fellow believers are our brothers and sisters.

(1Ti 5:1)  “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;”  When we see the word, “elder”, we must distinguish between an elderly man and a pastor. The context here plainly says, “elderly man”. Believers are to show respect to those of age (in the Lord), in this case when they are wrong about something.