"THE CARE OF WIDOWS PART II"

Why does Paul spend so much time on the topic of widows?

Within the church at Ephesus the false teachers has had a major influence on the women specifically the widows - telling them that they are being taken advantage of. Telling the widows things like you can do whatever you want the church will take care of you.

As we continue in our study that I have titled “the care of widows” I want to begin to look at the care of widows. We will specifically look at verse 4 and 8 today.

Interrogative question - how are you prepared to care for your family specifically if there is a widow within your family?

Children if you are under the age of 16 please come up here - I have a question for each of you today - “What do you love about your mom?”

The Priority of Widows - vs. 3

The Care of Widows - vs. 4-10

The Positive Call for the Family - vs. 4

Priority of learning respect - vs. 4a

Priority of practicing respect - vs. 4a

Motivation for respect - vs.4 b

The Negative repercussions for the Family - vs. 8

Refusal to provide generally - vs. 8a

Refusal to provide specifically - vs. 8a

The Results of Refusal - vs. 8b

Qualifications for being a widow - vs. 5, 7, 9-10

Disqualified for care from the church - vs. 6

The Care of Widows - vs. 4-10

1 Timothy 5:4 NASB95

4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

The Positive Call for the Family - vs. 4

Priority of learning respect - vs. 4a

“Children” - (teknon) - noun, accusative, plural, neuter - direct object of the dependent clause - child

Sense: child - a son or daughter of any age; sometimes referred to collectively as children

“grandchildren” - (ekgonos) - adjective, accusative, plural, neuter - direct object of the dependent clause - descendent; grandchild -

Sense: grandchild - a child of a person’s son or daughter

“they must learn” - (manthano) - verb, present, active, imperative, third person, plural - finite verb - learn

Sense: to learn (knowledge) - to gain knowledge or skills

Matthew 9:13 (NASB95)

13 “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 11:29 (NASB95)

29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

John 6:45 (NASB95)

45 “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

Romans 16:17 (NASB95)

17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.

1 Corinthians 4:6 (NASB95)

6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.

Philippians 4:9–11 (NASB95)

9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Colossians 1:7 (NASB95)

7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,

1 Timothy 5:13 (NASB95)

13 At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.

2 Timothy 3:7 (NASB95)

7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:14 (NASB95)

14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

Titus 3:14 (NASB95)

14 Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

“First” - (protos) - adverb - temporal adverb - first

Sense: firstly - before anything else

Matthew 6:33 (NASB95)

33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Priority of practicing respect - vs. 4a

“to practice piety in regard to” - (eusebeo) - show devotion to; worship -

Sense: to revere properly - to show fitting and proper respect or reverence to (a deity or other deserving figure.)

This is the only time that this Greek word is used in the NT - (the other reference is Acts with speaking of “worship”)

“some return” - (amoibe) - noun, accusative, plural, feminine - direct object of the dependent clause - return; recompense -

Sense: recompense - reward or punishment (whether tangible or intangible) based upon what a person deserves.

This is the only time that this word is used in all of Scripture -

“to make” - (apodidomi) - verb, present, active, infinitive - substantival infinitive - pay back; repay

Sense: to requite (repay) - to make repayment for or return something.

“to their parents” - (progonos) - noun, dative, plural, masculine - indirect object - parents; forebears; ancestors

Sense: ancestor - someone from who you are descended; usually more remote than a grandparent and usually strictly masculine, though possibly generic in the plural.

“Family” - (oikos) - noun, accusative, singular, masculine - direct object - house

Sense: family - house - a social unit living together usually consisting of family, servants, and some extended family; understood by the physical building in which a family normally resides.

Titus 1:11 (NASB95)

11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.

Motivation for respect - vs.4 b

“acceptable” - (apodektos) - adjective, nominative, singular, neuter - predicate adjective - acceptable; pleasing

Sense: very welcome - being gladly received with great pleasure

Used only in the following passages -

1 Timothy 2:3 (NASB95)

3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

The Negative repercussions for the Family - vs. 8

1 Timothy 5:8 NASB95

8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Refusal to provide generally - vs. 8a

“does provide for” - (pronoeo) - verb, present, active, indicative, third person, singular - finite verb - take thought for; provide for

Sense: to make provision - to provide or take measures in preparation for

The Greek word is used in the following ways - respect, regard, or provide

Romans 12:17 (NASB95)

17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

2 Corinthians 8:21 (NASB95)

21 for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

1 Timothy 5:8 (NASB95)

8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Refusal to provide specifically - vs. 8a

The Results of Refusal - vs. 8b

“he has denied” - (arneomai) - verb, perfect, middle, indicative, third person, singular - finite verb - deny; repudiate; disown

Sense: to deny (contradict) - to declare untrue; contradict

Matthew 10:33 (NASB95)

33 “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 26:70 (NASB95) - Peter’s denial of Christ

70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.”

1 Timothy 5:8 (NASB95)

8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

2 Timothy 2:12 (NASB95)

12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;

2 Timothy 2:13 (NASB95)

13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

2 Timothy 3:5 (NASB95)

5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

Titus 1:16 (NASB95)

16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.

Titus 2:12 (NASB95)

12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

“worse” - (cheiron) - adjective, nominative, singular, masculine, comparative - adjective of comparison -

Sense: worse - inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability

A couple of thoughts on these phrases “denied the faith” and is worse than an unbeliever” -

Certainly one who does this is ignoring the commands of Scripture to be compassionate -

John 13:35 NASB95

35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Romans 5:5 NASB95

5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 NASB95

9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

2. “worse than an unbeliever” - believers who have God’s command and power to obey often times behave worse than unbelievers -

1 Corinthians 5:1–2 NASB95

1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. 2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.

SO WHAT??

Friends if you have a widow in your family it is your biblical responsibility to take care of them!