BE IMPARTIAL

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

1 Timothy 5:21

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In chapter 5 of 1 Timothy, we find the Apostle Paul providing guidance to his missionary partner and the Ephesian church he was pastoring.

Older men and women were to treat younger people as their brothers and sisters respectively. In return, younger men and women were to treat elder men and women as they would their father or mother. Either way, it was to be done “with absolute purity” (Vv. 1-2).

Next, Paul addresses the matter of aid to widows in Ephesus, providing stringent guidelines to ensure the church was only helping those who were “really in need”.

You’ll remember that family members, children and/or grandchildren were expected to “put their religion into practice” and care for their widowed mothers/grandmothers. It was important for family to take care of family, removing financial burden from the church so funds could be diverted to widows who had no form of support. To not do so would be akin to denying the faith as an unbeliever would.

For widows who had no support, there were certain qualifications in regard to age (must be over 60) and godly spiritual behavior which included:

- putting “hope in God”

- prays continually “night and day”, asking “God for help”

-  Not consumed by lustful pleasures

- Was faithful to her husband while he was alive

- Was well known for good deeds which could have included “bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, and helping those in trouble”

In regard to younger widows, age 60 or younger, Paul recommended they “marry”, “have children”, “manage their homes” and “give the enemy no opportunity for slander” (Vv. 3-16).

Finally, Paul touches on the matter of pastoral support. He proclaims that these elders who directed “the affairs of the church”, many through “preaching and teaching”. The Apostle lets the Ephesian believers know that these leaders were worthy of “double honor”. The church needed to not only appreciate their pastor and ensure they showed him their gratitude but also provide an adequate wage to compensate him for his hard work and dedication.

Conversely, the church was called to publicly rebuke their pastor if he committed any sinful improprieties which were validated by two or more witnesses as instituted by the Mosaic Law. This would serve as a deterrent for others who might think about doing likewise (Vv. 17-20).

So given all this, we find Paul sealing these exhortations with the following words:

I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. v. 21  

With rules and regulations, there was always a danger of inequity in application. For example, elders or younger people could pick and choose who they wanted to respect and who they didn’t or churches could stringently apply standards to one widow to support while conveniently overlooking them for another. Finally, one church could possibly decide to not support their pastor while another did or to turn a blind eye to a pastor sinning unchecked while another church would discipline properly.

And so with this potential risk in play, Paul charges the Ephesian church “in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels” to carry out his “instructions without partiality” or “favoritism”. As in all other areas of scripture, the word of God is to be followed to the tee without exception and, in this instance, it’s to be followed uncompromisingly in regard to respect between seniors and juniors, assistance to widows, and the support and correction of pastors.

Today, we should still be upholding biblical standards as they are presented by the scriptures and be impartial in our application of such standards. As we see in every other area, words of instruction written more than 2,000 years ago, in different times and within different cultures, still remain relevant in governing our lives today. We are still charged with staying obedient to the Bible in the sight of our Father God and His Son Jesus, our Savior.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.