UBF Daily Bread

HONOR ELDERS

Passage: 1_Timothy 5:17~6:2

Key verse: 5:17

¹⁷The elders^(A) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,^(B) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. ¹⁸For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”^[a]^(C) and “The worker deserves his wages.”^[b]^(D) ¹⁹Do not entertain an accusation against an elder^(E) unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.^(F) ²⁰But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove^(G) before everyone, so that the others may take warning.^(H) ²¹I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus^(I) and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

²²Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands,^(J) and do not share in the sins of others.^(K) Keep yourself pure.^(L)

²³Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine^(M) because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

²⁴The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. ²⁵In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

6 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect,^(N) so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.^(O) ²Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers.^(P) Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare^[c] of their slaves.

False Teachers and the Love of Money

These are the things you are to teach and insist on.^(Q)

Footnotes

1 Timothy 5:18 Deut. 25:4
1 Timothy 5:18 Luke 10:7
1 Timothy 6:2 Or and benefit from the service

Paul says that elders who teach and preach are worth double honor. The need for elders in the church who are shepherds of God’s flock is so vital. We should respect them and not entertain false accusations against them. On the other hand, if they are in the wrong, we should take them to task. We should not show favoritism, even if they are our relatives, shepherds, or close connection. The church must guard itself against nepotism.

Paul also gives Timothy various other instructions. He should not lay his hands freely on others until he is sure they are committed Christians. He should not be legalistic about drinking wine, since it could help his stomach problems. He should have discernment about who is sinning and who is doing good by looking at the outcome of their actions.

Lastly, Christian slaves should honor their masters. Though in Christ they enjoyed equality with their brothers, they should be sensitive to the Roman world around them and be a good influence that leads others to Christ when they submit to their masters.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the elders who sacrificially serve you as Bible teachers and preachers of your word. Please help me honor them and pray for them to do what is right.

One Word: Honor elders who teach and preach