Honouring Our Shepherds Series

1 Timothy 5:17-25 Honouring God’s Shepherds

If the church is the Body of Christ with each member being given different gifts and responsibilities, then every part matters.

• Paul has been giving instructions on the responsibilities of overseers, deacons, and the members of the church, and how we ought to treat older men, younger men, older women and younger women.

• We are to take care - in the few verses before today’s text – the widows, and especially those who do not have family members to take care of them.

• The church cares because we are family, as Paul clearly illustrated by the words he uses – like fathers, like brothers, like mothers, like sisters.

Paul has been giving very practical advice to young pastor Timothy as he takes up the responsibility to care for the church.

• And now, in today’s text, Paul is going to talk about the care of our church leaders.

• In the First Century church, elders are the overseers, the leaders of the church.

• Paul’s words to Timothy are our lessons today too.

5:17-18 HONOURING OUR LEADERS

Firstly, we are to honour our shepherds – particularly those whom God has called to “labour in preaching and teaching.” 5:17

• The elders who rule well – who are dedicated and committed to the oversight of the church and do well – they deserve double honour.

• Double honour could mean showing them greater appreciation, or he could mean, in addition to our respect, we should give them our practical support.

Paul mentioned in the next verse the need to honour them in practical ways.

• 5:18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” (Deut 25:4) and, “The labourer deserves his wages.” (Luke 10:7)

• In OT times, the farmer would bring an ox to the threshing floor to trample the wheat and separate the chaff.

• But as the ox works, they do not muzzle it. They let it eat some of the wheat that has fallen on the ground.

• Meaning, as it works, don’t deprive it of the rewards or benefits it can get.

Paul quoted an NT equivalent in Luke 10:7, “The labourer deserves his wages.”

• That’s the words of Jesus, saying that those serving in ministry deserve to be provided for, so the “double honour” could mean the honorarium.

• A practical gift – whether financial or material – that we give the elders in support of their ministry.

I must add that this church has been doing this very well. I have seen, over the years, how our elders and pastors are being taken care of in many ways.

• You have shown our leaders your love and concern, and your support.

• I am blessed by the many acts of kindness, gifts of love, in addition to the words of concern that come from you. That’s what Paul is saying here!

Paul’s concern mirrors that of the priests and Levites in the OT.

• Because the priests and Levites devote themselves fully to the work of the Temple, their livelihood has to be provided for by the contributions of the Israelites.

• They give to the Levites and the Levites to the priests. You can read it in Num 18.

• 18:21 “To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting.”

• 8:28. “So you shall also present a contribution to the Lord from all your tithes, which you receive from the people of Israel. And from it you shall give the Lord’s contribution to Aaron the priest.”

The tithes/offerings of the people play a crucial role in Israel’s spiritual well-being, because they keep the spiritual work of the tent of meeting and Temple going.

• Imagine this: no one is serving in the church today because every pastor or elder, or missionary is out making a living for themselves.

So let honour those whom the Lord has called, those who have devoted their lives to the work of the Gospel as elders, pastors, teachers, ministry workers or missionaries.

Are they perfect people? No, which is why Paul must add the next few lines.

5:19-21 PROTECTING THE CHURCH

The need to correct our leaders, sometimes. Our care for them will also mean we need to tell them when they are wrong, because true love corrects.

• But we must do it carefully, Paul said. 5:19 “Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.”

• If someone accuses the elders of wrongdoing, we need to make sure it is true.

This is a good reminder for us. We do not judge a person by hearsay, rumours or gossip.