1 Timothy 5:3-10: Widows Indeed
2021-10-30
Supporting widows is a Biblical theme. Consider Exodus 22:22-24; Deuteronomy 26:12-13. We see that supporting widows is an expectation and neglecting them results in God’s displeasure. In Isaiah 9:17, we see that the Lord can be against widows if they do evil; they are not given a free pass.
True religion is described in James 1:26-27. Religion has become a bad word in our society, and that is unfortunate. It just needs to be put in the proper context. Supporting widows is a part of Christian religion.
1 Timothy 5:3
The phrase “widow(s) indeed” appears in this chapter three times. What does this phrase mean? Let us look at 2 Samuel 14:1-7.
A wise woman was sent to King David by the general Joab to encourage the king to bring back his son Absalom. Absalom was exiled for killing his brother Amnon in retribution for his sister Tamar. This wise woman feigned herself “indeed a widow woman,” and told her story of her husband being dead, and one son slew the other son. The family wanted to put the other son to death. There would then be no heir; the last of her immediate family would be gone.
A “widow indeed” means she has nobody left in her family to take care of her, and she has no resources to take care of herself. In 1 Timothy 5:3, we are to “Honour widows that are widows indeed.” What does it mean to honor them?
In the next section, we see an elder who rules well to be “worthy of double honour” (1 Timothy 5:17), and in the next verse, “worthy of his reward” (1 Timothy 5:18). This implies a financial honor and practical help. This section about widows explains how to support “widows indeed” and who not to support.
1 Timothy 5:4
Now that we see there are widows indeed, we see that on the contrary, widows with children or nephews are not widows indeed: “let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents.” The “them” are children and nephews. There are two pieces here. To show piety is to show reverence. This is not necessarily the financial support. This is a religious word meaning honor. The second piece deals with repaying them. This is a financial term.
Children should support them financially but also help them in practical ways. They were raised by their mothers and were supported when they were young. The children therefore pay back for all those years of service. If the widow has no children, then any nephews apparently fill that role.
1 Timothy 5:5-7
The Spirit tells us some specifics that characterize the widow indeed. He clarifies that she is also “desolate.” This emphasizes that she truly has nothing and nobody. Women did not work outside the home as often as today, so even if it were possible for them to work, they have no means to find employment, and did not have years of skills or expertise in a trade. But for the purposes of the local church, a widow indeed has a few additional characteristics.
She “trusteth in God.” The word “trusteth” has the connotations of hope. She lives in expectation of the coming of the Lord.
Because she hopes in the Lord, she “continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.” She is a fulltime prayer warrior. We are all called to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), but the widow indeed has a special calling to prayer. She lives for the things of God. Otherwise, “she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth” (1 Timothy 5:6). The widow (or anybody?) who lives for pleasure misses out majorly on service opportunities. If one is dead, there is no fruit.
Timothy is to give the command for people to take this to heart so “that they may be blameless.” This is about testimony. If you have a church where even the widows are living only for themselves, how does the world view this?
1 Timothy 5:8
As an aside from talking about the widows indeed, there are widows indeed that do not have to be. There are widows who have children that will not help them. They could provide for his own but will not. It is especially bad for those who will not provide “for those of his own house” (1 Timothy 5:8).
Peter took care of his own household. In Matthew 8:14-15, we see that Peter’s mother-in-law lived in his house with him. It is not clear whether she was a widow, but you see that she was sick, and was helped by Peter. Peter is a good example in providing for his family.
Today, there are all manner of people who will not take care of their own family. It is not just about widows. There are parents that will not take care of their children. Think of all the divorce that has happened. Think of all the couples that do not even get married in the first place. The family is a core biblical unit that, if neglected, will affect our churches and all society. We are seeing the fruit of selfishness and neglect in our societies today.
Amongst the house of God, we need to take care of our own (as we see in 1 Timothy 5:16). If we do not, we are “worse than an infidel.”
1 Timothy 5:9-10
There is a standardized system in which widows were cared for. We saw some of this in Acts 6. There are certain criteria to be enrolled in this registry, according to this passage.
First, a widow indeed must be less than 60 years old. We will deal with younger widows in the next section, but the guidance for widows under 60 is to get remarried. Would we raise the age in modern times due to life expectancy? You’re not even a senior citizen at that age in this country! I am not sure if this is a hard and fast rule.
The widow indeed must only have been married to one man. I think this requires a little bit of explanation. Does this mean that a widow could only be married once? It could mean that. However, the rest of the existing criteria all deal with character and a history of good works. It may be possible that Paul means that she did not move from husband to husband living a life of pleasure (cf. 1 Timothy 5:6).
She is renowned for good works. People within the church and without know of her deeds. This is somewhat of a catch-all for all good things she could have done. There are more specific ways this could materialize in the following verses.
She has brought up children. We know that she may have had children who did not help her as a widow. She may have had children, but they preceded her in death. She may not have had children of her own, but she helped others in raising theirs, or she was involved which a children’s ministry. Whatever it was, she had a hand in bringing up children.
She lodged strangers. Maybe she thought she would “have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2). Abraham and Lot housed angels, though it is unclear what they knew of them when they brought them into their homes. (Genesis 18:2; Genesis 19:1). The angels at Lot’s doors ended up saving his life.
She may have housed missionaries while they traveled (3 John 1:5-8). She was a hospitable person throughout her life and helped travelers in need.
She washed saints’ feet. This was a common practice. Abraham and Lot, while attending to the strangers, provided water to wash the strangers’ feet. Abigail told David, “Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord” (1 Samuel 25:41). Washing another’s feet was a sign of humility.
Mary, sister of Lazarus, washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, while His host produced no water to wash His feet. Jesus points out the distinction. If you think of all the traveling they did on foot without motor cars in those days, think of all the sweaty, stinky, nastiness that was on people’s feet! Foot washing became a clear picture of servanthood and service to others, which is why it became a practice initiated by Jesus in John 13. The widow indeed performed this activity to saints, literally and metaphorically.
She relieved the afflicted. “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain” (2 Timothy 1:16). This man sought out Paul in Rome, while he was bound for the sake of the Lord’s work. In 2 Timothy 4:9-10, we see that many left Paul alone when he was at his lowest. The widow indeed helps those who have been forsaken, especially for the cause of the Gospel.
Finally, she diligently followed every good work. The wording is a little different from before in this verse, but the point is that she was a diligent worker in spiritual matters throughout her life.
Notice there is no mention of widowers (pronouns are “she”). Perhaps it is because they have a paid profession established throughout their entire lives, unlike women typically had in those days. Perhaps it is expected they perpetually worked until the end of their lives. Perhaps they often died earlier than women. No explanation is given.
The Lord Jesus seems to make sure that Mary His mother was taken care of after His decease and resurrection. We see this in John 19:26-27. The Apostle John took in His mother, not His other brothers. Even though He would have known of the conversion of His brothers, He esteemed John the apostle above them, and wanted His mother to be with the best possible person. Joseph, His adopted father, likely had died. We do not see Him after His teaching in the Temple when He was 12 years old (Luke 2:41-52).