1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Good morning, friends and faithful listeners, and welcome 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: to the Bible Explained podcast. On this lovely Christmas week, 3 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: we're gonna be finishing up part two of One Timothy 4 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: five one through sixteen. We talked about part one on Thursday, 5 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:18,760 Speaker 1: and so I highly recommend actually going back to Thursday's 6 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: episode and listening to part one if you haven't yet. 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: But basically, this is the rules for widows receiving financial 8 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 1: compensation from the church itself. We'll finish up this topic today. Well, 9 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:37,239 Speaker 1: faithful listeners, I don't know if you can tell, but 10 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:40,919 Speaker 1: I got a cold. It's not the worst cold I've 11 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 1: ever had. I've had actually like really really bad colds 12 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: where I'm just like miserable for a whole week. No, 13 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: this isn't that bad. It started on Friday, I think 14 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: it was like Friday evening, and I was able to 15 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: get through Monday's episode because I could still breathe by 16 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: that point, Like I had a sore throat, but I 17 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: could still breathe. Now I'm at the point where like 18 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: I'm just fully clogged up, you know what I mean, 19 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: And I can't breathe out of my nose really well, 20 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 1: so my voice sounds really weird. I hate I hate colds, 21 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: but not sick enough that I can take time off 22 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: of work. And also I don't want to take time 23 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: off of work. I like you, guys, I like talking 24 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 1: about the Bible. And we're gonna talk about First Timothy 25 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: five today right after this quick word from one of 26 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:28,320 Speaker 1: our sponsors, and now let's get into First Timothy five 27 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: one through sixteen. We talked about the first portion on Thursday, 28 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 1: and now we're gonna finish up the rest today. I'll 29 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: be reading, as always from the web version, but go 30 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:40,919 Speaker 1: ahead and grab it your favorite version of the Bible, 31 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 1: whatever that may be. And also your cup of coffee 32 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:45,759 Speaker 1: or a cup of tea or a cup of water, 33 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: which is what I'm drinking right now. I'm drinking lots 34 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: of water, trying to stay hydrated so I can hopefully 35 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: sing that song for you guys tomorrow night for the 36 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: Christmas Eve special. I don't know if I'm gonna be 37 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: able to sing it. I'm not gonna lie. It might 38 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: sound a little bit weird, but we're going to try 39 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: to get through it all, right, favor listeners, let's read 40 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 1: First Timothy five one through sixteen. Don't rebuke an older man, 41 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: but exhort him as a father, the younger men as brothers, 42 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: the elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters. In 43 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: all purity, honor widows who are widows indeed, But if 44 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first 45 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,519 Speaker 1: to show piety toward their own family, and to repay 46 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 1: their parents, For this is acceptable in the sight of God. Now, 47 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: she who is a widow indeed and desolate, has her 48 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: hopes set on God, and continues in petitions and prayers 49 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 1: night and day. But she who gives herself to pleasure 50 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 1: is dead while she lives. Also command these things that 51 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: they may be without reproach. But if anyone doesn't provide 52 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: for his own and especially his own household, he has 53 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Let 54 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, 55 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: having been the wife of one man. Being approved by 56 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: good works, if she has brought up the children, if 57 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: she has been hospitable to strains, if she has washed 58 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: the saint's feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and 59 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 1: if she has diligently followed every good work. But refuse 60 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: younger widows, For when they have grown wanton against Christ, 61 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have rejected 62 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 1: their first pledge. Besides, they also learned to be idle, 63 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 1: going about from house to house, not only idle, but 64 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,079 Speaker 1: also gossips and busy bodies, saying things which they ought not. 65 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:28,079 Speaker 1: I desire therefore, that the younger widows marry, bear children, 66 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary 67 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: for insulting, for already some have turned away after Satan. 68 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: If any man or woman who believes has widows, let 69 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: them relieve them, and don't let the assembly be burdened 70 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: that I might relieve those who are widows. Indeed, so 71 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: last week we did part one of financial giving to widows, 72 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: and we discussed some pretty controversial things. We talked about 73 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 1: how you know, children are the ones who should first 74 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: support their Christian parents, their elderly parents. It's actually something 75 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: God wants these Christian children to do. And remember, you know, 76 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: when Paul is talking to Timothy, he's talking specifically to 77 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: a pastor and how he is supposed to run the church. 78 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: So when we look at things like this, it's important 79 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: to remember that Paul is not talking about unbelieving households. 80 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 1: He's talking specifically to the church. Those children going to 81 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 1: that church should be supporting their parents financially at the 82 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 1: end of their lives when those elderly parents can't support 83 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: themselves any longer. You know, this was especially true in 84 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 1: Paul's day and age, when government assistants did not exist. 85 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: You know, there was nothing in the Roman government that 86 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 1: helped widows or elderly people. You know, that came back 87 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 1: down to the individual families would have to help each other. 88 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: So Paul's like, you know, these believing children who attend 89 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: your church, Timothy, if they refuse to provide for their 90 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: elderly parents, then they are actually worse than an unbeliever. 91 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: And why because unbeliev is even know that the elderly 92 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 1: need to be taken care of. You know, even a 93 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: person who does not go to church probably agrees, yes, 94 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 1: we need to take care of elderly people and not 95 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: let them starve to death or let them be homeless, 96 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: or let them die of disease or something like that. 97 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:18,479 Speaker 1: You know, most people agree we take care of the elderly. 98 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 1: So if a Christian person can't agree on that and 99 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: they're like, no, you know, my mom hurt me too bad, 100 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 1: and I refuse to help her in her old age, 101 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 1: in her widowhood. Paul's like, that person is worse than 102 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 1: an unbeliever because he is not taking care of his 103 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: own family members, even when unbelievers know that that is 104 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 1: something important to do. And then we also talked about 105 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 1: how whenever we see giving in the New Testament, almost 106 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: always not across the board, but more often than not, 107 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 1: when we see giving being commanded specifically in the New Testament, 108 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: it's almost always commanded that Christians give to other Christians. 109 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: And one of the points I made on Thursdays upisode 110 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: was that the church is not commanded to give financially 111 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 1: to every single person on the planet. It's not commanded 112 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,559 Speaker 1: to financially support every single person. And a lot of times, 113 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 1: you know, that's what people think the Church is supposed 114 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: to do. The Church is just supposed to give and 115 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 1: give and give and not have any finances for itself. 116 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: But as we're going to see from this passage today 117 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: that we finish up on, that is not a biblical idea. Yes, 118 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 1: the Church is supposed to give, but it's supposed to 119 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 1: be very careful with what and who they give their 120 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: finances toward. But also the church is not to create 121 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 1: a burden for itself by giving so much that it 122 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: doesn't have any finances to properly run. So let's talk 123 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: about that. Starting in verse nine, let no one be 124 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 1: enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been 125 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 1: the wife of one man being approved by good works, 126 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 1: if she has brought up children, if she has been 127 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saint's feet, 128 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,080 Speaker 1: if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she she 129 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: has diligently followed every good work. So this right here 130 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: is talking specifically about the church financially supporting a widow 131 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: for the rest of her life, like literally giving this 132 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: widow a paycheck until the day she dies. There are 133 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: stipulations for that. First and foremost, as we talked about 134 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: on Thursday, the children first have the responsibility to take 135 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: care of their parents before the church has that responsibility. 136 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: But let's say this widow doesn't have any children, then 137 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:34,679 Speaker 1: she is a candidate for being financially supported by the church. 138 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 1: But she can't be under sixty years old, is what 139 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: Paul says. So she has to be, so she has 140 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: to be retirement age. She can't be too young, because 141 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: if she's too young, she wouldn't need financial support from 142 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: the church in the first place, because she's healthy enough 143 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 1: to actually go and get a job for herself or 144 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: provide for herself, or even to get remarried and have 145 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: her husband provide for her then. So that's Paul's idea. 146 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: This woman has to be above the age of sixty 147 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 1: years old, somebody who no longer is able to work 148 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: for themselves, mainly because the things that they were able 149 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: to do are just getting harder and harder for them. 150 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: So that's why Paul says they have to be sixty 151 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: years old or above. And also they have to have 152 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: conducted themselves properly in the church. Also, they have to 153 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: have been the wife of one man. So this is 154 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: not talking about a woman who was previously a widow 155 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,319 Speaker 1: who ended up getting remarried and is now a widow. Again, 156 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: that's not what Paul's talking about here. He would be 157 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: talking about divorce in this situation, and most likely a 158 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: divorce where this woman willfully divorced her husband and was remarried, 159 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: or a woman who cheated on her husband and was 160 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: divorced because of that willful divorce or wilful infidelity within 161 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: the marriage. That's what I believe he is discussing. So 162 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 1: it says she has to have been the wife of 163 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: one man being approved by good works if she has 164 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: brought up children. So as we know, if a widow 165 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: had her own child and that child was an adult, 166 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 1: that child actually should be the one supporting the mother, 167 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: as we already discussed, but in that case that would 168 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,839 Speaker 1: disqualify the widow from being financially supported by the church. 169 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: So what Paul is likely talking about here is this 170 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: woman raising children who those children have died and she 171 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: is all alone, or raising somebody else's children like an 172 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 1: adopted child and that child was still very young, or 173 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 1: possibly being a mentor to other people's children as well. 174 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: The disciple teacher thing was very popular, not just for boys, 175 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 1: but also for girls as well, so girls would find 176 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: mentors to teach them all sorts of different things as well. 177 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 1: And it could be that Paul's talking about this widow 178 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: being a good minis enter to these children that she 179 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 1: is brought up. So yes, it could be talking about 180 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: her own children, somebody else's children, or even little disciples 181 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 1: we don't know, but regardless, this woman would have to 182 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: be someone who did not lead little children astray, but 183 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:20,200 Speaker 1: actually brought them closer to Christ, is what Paul's talking about. 184 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: If she has been hospitable to strangers, so inviting people 185 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: in cooking food, not minding having people in her house, 186 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: or maybe just bringing food to share at potlucks or 187 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: whatever people would do. Back in Paul's day, there was 188 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: a potluck. Actually, I think, if I'm remembering correctly, it 189 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 1: was called communion. So when people would gather for communion, 190 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 1: they would actually bring food to eat at the communion. 191 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: So maybe this woman consistently brought food to these communions 192 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: and was just hospitable in that way. So she has 193 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 1: to be hospitable. She has to be a good mentor 194 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 1: or a good mother. She also has to have been 195 00:10:57,080 --> 00:11:02,079 Speaker 1: not divorced due to infidelity or due to WillFull dislike 196 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 1: of her husband. And on top of this, she also 197 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: has to have washed the saint's feet and relieved the afflicted. 198 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: Now that could be literally talking about getting down on 199 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: her hands and knees and actually washing feet. As we know, 200 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 1: that was a humble position to take and a very 201 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: dirty position to take because you know, back in these days, 202 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 1: people primarily got around on foot, and they wore sandals 203 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: for the most part, So washing somebody's feet, you'd be 204 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: washing all the dust and grime and crap and whatever 205 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: else was stuck between your toes. And people would do 206 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 1: this to show honor to the guests that they were receiving. 207 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 1: It was a very humble position to take, and that's 208 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: why we see Jesus doing this very thing to his disciples. 209 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 1: He washed the disciples feet. And that's also why Peter 210 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 1: was offended by it when he saw Jesus coming to him. 211 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:56,680 Speaker 1: He's like, Jesus, you're not gonna wash my feet. Don't 212 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: wash my feet, because it was such an embey harassing 213 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 1: position to take, and yet it was a humble position 214 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 1: because you're showing care for the person you are receiving. 215 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,400 Speaker 1: So this very well could be Paul talking about this 216 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 1: woman actually washing the saint's feet, but it also could 217 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 1: be just an analogy of this woman serving other people, 218 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 1: humbling herself and thinking of other people and what they 219 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: would need, and also relieving the afflicted. So that would 220 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: be talking about giving to them, comforting them in some way, 221 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: visiting them if they're sick, making them soup if they're sick, 222 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: bringing them food. I don't know anybody who is afflicted 223 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:40,959 Speaker 1: with something, whether it is an ailment or a trial, 224 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: or even financial distress. This woman gave of herself to 225 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:50,439 Speaker 1: actually help these people. So these would be the qualified 226 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: candidates to live off of the church for the rest 227 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 1: of their lives. They have to have nobody else able 228 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 1: to take care of them. They have to have lived 229 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:04,559 Speaker 1: a life of servitude and kindness towards other people. And 230 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,720 Speaker 1: now her reward for doing all of that hard work 231 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,079 Speaker 1: before is that the church is now going to serve 232 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 1: her until the day that she dies. So it all 233 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: kind of comes back around. But in the case of 234 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: younger widows is what it says right here in verse eleven, 235 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: refuse them for when they have grown wanton against Christ, 236 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:27,079 Speaker 1: they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have rejected 237 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 1: their first pledge. So you may initially read that and 238 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 1: be like, oh, it's a sin for widows to get remarried. Well, 239 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 1: absolutely not, because if you actually keep reading through this, 240 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 1: Paul does say these widows should get married. It's good 241 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,120 Speaker 1: for them to get married. What Paul is saying here 242 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,559 Speaker 1: is that these young widows have recently lost a husband. 243 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: They are grieving, they are sad, they are discouraged, and 244 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: because of that, some of them end up making very 245 00:13:55,520 --> 00:14:00,679 Speaker 1: poor decisions when it comes to relationships because they're feeling lonely. 246 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: But in that case, you know, if this younger widow 247 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 1: does end up going and getting remarried, maybe rashly, and 248 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: she's being supported by the church, perhaps her new husband, 249 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: who sees that this young woman is being handed a 250 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: paycheck consistently every single week or month or whatever it is, 251 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: he might try to benefit off of that as well. 252 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 1: And so Paul is actually protecting church finances by saying 253 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 1: no to the younger widows, because most likely the majority 254 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 1: of them will go and get remarried. So that's why 255 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 1: Paul says refuse the younger widows, not because he doesn't 256 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: have a heart for them or because he doesn't feel 257 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 1: sorry for them. Obviously he does, because this entire chapter 258 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: is talking about how we're supposed to treat widows with 259 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: honor and respect. But if a young woman becomes a 260 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: widow and starts financially benefiting from the church, she may 261 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: get remarried and her new husband take advantage of the church, 262 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: and also she herself will start to take advantage of 263 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: the church as well. Paul says, she will learn to 264 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: be idle, going about from house to house. So this 265 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: young woman suddenly no longer has a husband, so she's lonely. 266 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: And she also is now getting financial support from the 267 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 1: church so much so that she doesn't even have to 268 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: work anymore. So she suddenly has all this time on 269 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: her hands, and she is lonely, so she starts bothering 270 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 1: other people, is what Paul says. She goes about from 271 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 1: house to house, not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, 272 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 1: saying things which they ought not to say. Women can 273 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: be real mean to each other, and if you've ever 274 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: worked in a salon, you will know that to be 275 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: the case. I don't know what it is, but women 276 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 1: are much more verbal. And so if this young lady 277 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: has nothing better to do because she doesn't have a 278 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: husband to talk to anymore, she doesn't have to go 279 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: out and get a job, she'll end up becoming a 280 00:15:56,400 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: busybody more likely than not, and start god gossiping and 281 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 1: saying things that she should not say to other church members. 282 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: And so that's why Paul says, refuse the younger widows. Now, 283 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: that doesn't mean that these younger widows can't get support 284 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: from the church in other ways. Absolutely not. Paul's talking 285 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: about a lifelong paycheck here that widows could receive if 286 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 1: they were qualified. So obviously all of these widows were 287 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 1: getting support from the church in other ways, maybe by 288 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 1: helping them find jobs, maybe by introducing them to people, 289 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: maybe by providing care for their children, or even financial 290 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: assistance here and there if that was what was needed. 291 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 1: So don't think here that Paul's saying, oh, younger widows 292 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: don't deserve any kind of compensation whatsoever. No, he is 293 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 1: not talking about that. Context is very important when reading scripture. 294 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 1: So instead of receiving this lifelong paycheck, Paul desires that 295 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: these widows, the younger widows, marry, bear children, rule the household, 296 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting. That 297 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: is how these younger widows are going to get out 298 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 1: of this slump that they find themselves in, not through 299 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: lifelong financial compensation, but actually by finding purpose in life, marrying, 300 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 1: having more children, ruling their households, and not giving an 301 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: occasion for the adversary for insulting purpose is far more 302 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:29,240 Speaker 1: important than finances. With the older widows, they've already fulfilled 303 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: their purpose. Paul talked about how they fulfilled their purpose. 304 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: They washed the saints' feet, they were hospitable, they brought 305 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: up children, they relieved the afflicted. They've served their purpose, 306 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: and now it's time for the church to serve them. 307 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:43,920 Speaker 1: But for the younger widows, who still have so much 308 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 1: life left, they need to find their purpose once again, 309 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,880 Speaker 1: and that's why Paul encourages them to find that purpose 310 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 1: through the family verse fifteen. For some have already turned 311 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:58,920 Speaker 1: away after Satan. Some widows, some young widows, have turned 312 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: away from the faith, maybe because they are angry at God, 313 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 1: maybe because now that their husband is gone, they feel 314 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: like they're free and can do whatever they want to 315 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 1: do now that they don't have their husbands stopping them. 316 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:15,159 Speaker 1: Paul says, be wary of those types of widows, the 317 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 1: ones that have turned away from God and are following 318 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 1: after Satan. So those women would not be included in 319 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 1: this list of widows that we are to honor. We 320 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: are to pray for them, but they aren't to receive 321 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 1: the same benefits that Christian widows are actually receiving because 322 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 1: they have fallen away from the faith. Yes, they have 323 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,679 Speaker 1: gone through hard things, and that's very difficult. That is 324 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 1: so so hard to lose a husband like that. I 325 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 1: can't even imagine it. I can't imagine losing my husband. 326 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: You know, he's like my favorite person on the planet. 327 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,639 Speaker 1: If I didn't have him, I'd be devastated, you know. 328 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:55,880 Speaker 1: But regardless, if these widows have so much bitterness inside 329 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:59,359 Speaker 1: their hearts that they choose to turn away from their 330 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:03,119 Speaker 1: Christian faith because of their anger, Paul says here in 331 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: verse six that she who gives herself to pleasure is 332 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:09,879 Speaker 1: dead while she lives. And so those are the widows 333 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:13,399 Speaker 1: that we definitely need to be praying for and encouraging 334 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: to come back to the church. But until they do, 335 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 1: they shouldn't be receiving financial compensation from the church if 336 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 1: they are not doing what they should be doing as Christians. 337 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: That would just be taking advantage of the people who 338 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,560 Speaker 1: give to the church, you know. Don't forget, all of 339 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: the church finances come from the individual people, and those 340 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 1: finances are redistributed. So we need to be very careful 341 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:41,919 Speaker 1: with church finances because it's not any one person's individual money, 342 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:44,359 Speaker 1: and if the church is not spending that money, well, 343 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:48,400 Speaker 1: then it actually becomes a burden on the individual members. 344 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 1: Is what Paul says right here in verse sixteen to conclude, 345 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 1: if any man or woman who believes has widows, let 346 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 1: them relieve them and don't let the assembly be burdened, 347 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: that it might relieve those who are widows. Indeed, so 348 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:06,880 Speaker 1: there you go. The church itself is actually the last 349 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 1: line of defense. That's why Paul says here, if any 350 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 1: man or a woman who believes has a widow in 351 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 1: their family in their life, those individuals need to be 352 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 1: taking care of those widows so that the church is 353 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,239 Speaker 1: not burdened. Don't let the church become burdened. Do what 354 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 1: you can so that the church doesn't become burdened. You know, 355 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 1: I often get a lot of pushback, specifically with giving. 356 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 1: I don't know what it is, but people don't like 357 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 1: the topic of financial giving, and I kind of understand it. 358 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,479 Speaker 1: You know, you feel like you've earned the money, you 359 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: feel like it's yours, and you don't want people telling 360 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: you how you can spend your money. Like I completely 361 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 1: get that. But giving is commanded for Christians in the 362 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 1: New Testament tithing is not commanded in the New Testament, 363 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 1: but giving is in fact commanded in the New Testament. 364 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 1: So as Christians, we need to be supporting other Christians 365 00:20:56,000 --> 00:21:00,159 Speaker 1: and also the church, and not expecting the Church to 366 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 1: financially support everything and everybody for us well, faithful listeners. 367 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:07,439 Speaker 1: There's a few more things I'd like to say to 368 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:10,520 Speaker 1: close out this episode, but before I do, please take 369 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 1: a quick listen from one of our sponsors. I definitely 370 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 1: knew this was going to be a more controversial couple episodes, 371 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:21,159 Speaker 1: mainly because it is talking about giving. But if you 372 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 1: have a hard time with giving, which once again I 373 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 1: do understand that, maybe you know, pray to God and 374 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 1: ask him to help you with that. And I'm not 375 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:33,680 Speaker 1: specifically saying that you have to go and give your 376 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 1: church like a ton of money right now. You don't 377 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 1: have to do that at all. You should be giving 378 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 1: with a cheerful heart and not out of obligation. But 379 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: if this is something you feel convicted by, maybe pray 380 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 1: to God and ask him to help you see how 381 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 1: you're going to be okay, even if you do give 382 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 1: some of your income to the church. You know, that's 383 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:55,159 Speaker 1: something that I had to do I am not a 384 00:21:55,240 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 1: natural giver. I don't want to give anything. Usually. My 385 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 1: husband has helped me with that because he's much more 386 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 1: of a giver than I am. And the one thing 387 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 1: that God showed me is that when we give, it 388 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: always comes back to us, like God always ends up 389 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: supporting us. Even when I feel like, oh man, you know, 390 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:16,160 Speaker 1: we're giving a lot of money. It always just ends 391 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 1: up coming back in some way or another. And that's 392 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: the one thing God has shown me through giving. But 393 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:24,479 Speaker 1: faithful listeners, do not forget. Tomorrow will not be a 394 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:27,879 Speaker 1: normal scheduled episode. Instead, the episode will be coming out 395 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:31,439 Speaker 1: midnight tomorrow, and I'm very much looking forward to the 396 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:34,640 Speaker 1: annual candlelit Christmas episode that I do every single year, 397 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 1: which is what it's going to be now. Of course, 398 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,360 Speaker 1: on Thursday, there's not going to be a regular scheduled 399 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 1: episode because it is Christmas Day. Well, faithful listeners, have 400 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 1: a fantastic and wonderful day. I will see you guys 401 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 1: tomorrow Christmas Eve for the Christmas Eve special. Happy listening, 402 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 1: and God bless. I just want to take a second 403 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 1: to thank the team at Life Audio for their partnership 404 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:02,440 Speaker 1: with me on the Bible explain podcast. In fact, if 405 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:04,879 Speaker 1: you go to lifeudio dot com you will find dozens 406 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 1: of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've got 407 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:11,080 Speaker 1: shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.