I Timothy 5:17-25

1. the financial support of pastors - 5:17-18
1. who should be honored - 17
1. those that rule well
1. "rule" means to superintend, over see
2. the gift of ruling is given by the Holy Spirit for use within the church
3. this is a occupational authority, not a personal supremacy
4. "well" makes a distinction between the good and those that are average or below
2. special consideration should be given to those who teach & preach the Word
1. "labour" means hard work, toil, grow weary
2. the activity of the labor is teaching & preaching
3. "the word" relates to their ministry among the unsaved
4. "doctrine" focuses on the instruction of the believer
5. take note of the importance given to the teaching & preaching of the Word
2. type of support - 17 ("worthy of double honor")
1. Paul is speaking about financial support
1. "honor" means a value, money paid, valuables or price
2. "double" may not mean twice in the strictest sense, but it does mean ample or generous
2. earlier in this book, Paul said the pastor should not be a lover of money - 3:3
1. this does not imply that the pastor should be the resident pauper in the congregation
2. he is worthy of adequate and generous support
3. the scriptural bases for financially supporting a pastor - 18
1. an OT verse of Scripture
1. it came from the law of Moses (Deut. 25:4)
2. this verse deals with the humane treatment of the ox while it worked
3. this verse has a larger application than the treatment of the ox
2. a NT verse of Scripture
1. this is a recorded quotation of Jesus (Luke 10:7) (written 5 years earlier)
2. Jesus is saying that the worker deserves his wage
3. the wage should equal that of those to whom he ministers
4. it is important to note that the words of Christ are made equal with OT Scripture
5. what we call NT Scripture was recognized as such in the lifetime of the writers
2. how to discipline a pastor - 5:19-21
1. pastors are human; they are not above doing wrong or sinning
1. as a member of a church, they are not immune to discipline
2. the same standard applies to them as to all the people
3. the goal of discipline
1. restoration
2. forgiveness
3. spiritual health of the church
2. they should be protected from false accusations - 19
1. "receive" means to welcome with total acceptance
2. accusations are more easily made than proven
3. discipline must be founded on fact, not rumor
4. disciplinary actions should not even be thought about unless there are several witnesses
5. this safeguard is a wise one
1. no person is more subject to the attacks of Satan than the servants of God (gossip & slander)
2. if every accusation required a full investigation, there would be little time for anything else
3. if discipline is necessary, it should be done before the whole church - 20
1. the preceding safeguard was not intended to protect evil men
2. the purpose for a public rebuke
1. to show that even leaders are not exempt from discipline for sin
2. the practice of sin among the leaders could not be tolerated
3. being a pastor does not provide a defense or an excuse for sin
4. discipline should not be administered with prejudice or partiality - 21
1. a serious appeal - "I charge thee before…"
2. the purpose of the charge - "that thou observe these things"
1. "observe" means to guard or to protect
2. encouragement to obey these difficult commands
3. how the commands were to be carried out
1. should not make a judgment before all the facts are set forth; do not prejudge - "without preferring
2. no verdict until there is a thorough understanding of the situation
3. should not give preferential treatment to a friend
4. not to give someone the benefit of the doubt when the evidence is against them
3. ordination of the elders - 5:22-25
1. some advice: avoid quick decisions - 22 ("lay hands suddenly on no man")
1. much prayer, thought, & examination must precede an appointment
2. Christ prayed all night before He chose the twelve apostles
3. quick decisions are usually wrong (based on peer pressure & superficial observation)
2. a warning about wrong recommendations - 22 ("neither be partaker of other men’s sins")
1. ordination implies an approval of the person’s doctrinal convictions, moral character & ability to execute the position of pastor
2. then failure of a new pastor could fall upon those who recommended him
3. personal advice to Timothy
1. keep your reputation clean - 22 ("Keep thyself pure")
2. take care of yourself 23
1. Paul had worked miracles in the past, but there was no miracle for Timothy
2. Paul is giving medical advice to Timothy
1. "drink no longer water"
2. "use a little wine"
3. some observations
1. Timothy was practicing total abstinence
2. Timothy was not to become a wine drinker, but was to use wine as a medicine
3. wine was to be used for his weak stomach, not to make his stomach weak
4. this has nothing to do with "social drinking"
5. Paul recognized that medicine is useful for God’s people
4. some general principles concerning sin & good works - 24-25
1. concerning sin - 24
1. the sins of some men are "open beforehand" (obvious)
2. some sins are judged in this life - "going before to judgment"
3. some sins will be dealt with at the judgment seat of Christ - "some men they follow after"
2. concerning good works - 25
1. the same is true of good works - "likewise"
2. some people are rewarded in this life
3. some people will be rewarded in the life to come