Pastor Nate Brosher
Dec 4, 2025
1Timothy 5:1-4 ESV - 1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. 3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
1. Honor the Family of God
Honor in Tone:
Rebuke - Epiplēssō - To strike upon, beat upon, to chastise with words.
2Timothy 4:2 ESV - 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
Rebuke - Epitimaō - To show honor to, charge sharply.
Honor in Purity:
Honor in Identity:
2. Honor the “True Widow”
1Timothy 5:3 ESV - 3 Honor widows who are truly widows.
Honor means value, support, and dignity. Scripture consistently shows God’s heart towards the widow.
Deuteronomy 10:17-18 NLT - 17 "For the LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. 18 He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.
1Timothy 5:5-6 ESV - 5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.
The Character of a “True Widow”
The Self-Indulgent Widow
Self-Indulgent/Wanton pleasure - Spatalaō - to live luxuriously, lead a voluptuous life, (give oneself to pleasure)
1Timothy 5:4, 8 ESV - 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. ... 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1Timothy 5:9-10 ESV - 9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.
Qualifications for supported widows:
1Timothy 5:14 ESV - 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.
3. Honor Leaders with support and accountability
1Timothy 5:17-22 ESV - 17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages." 19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
Elders/Pastors who teach and preach are to be considered worthy of double honor.
Honor - “time” - Value, money paid. Signifies reward, stipend, wages.
Luke 10:7 - For the laborer is worthy of his wages.
1Timothy 5:22 ESV - 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
1Timothy 5:20-21 ESV - 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.
Rebuke - Elegchō - To convict, refute, confute. By conviction to bring to the light, to expose.