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"A widow under sixty years old..."

Text: 1 Timothy 5:9

GREATER CLARITY

The issue of ministering to widows must have been quite challenging. The apostle Paul felt that he needed to explain things at length to provide greater clarity of thought!

“Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number,
and not unless she has been the wife of one man,
well reported for good works: if she has brought up children,
if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet,
if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed
every good work.”
1 Timothy 5:9-10

1. “Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number”

a) This suggests that the Church in Ephesus had taken up a special ministry to widows.

b) Paul gave a short list of criteria to be observed.

2. Criteria for admission

a) Only those who were above sixty years old.

b) That widow had been married only once.

c) “Good works”

i) These must be noted.

ii) They need to be ascertained.

d) “Children”

i) She must have been a good mother.

ii) Her children may not be able to support their widowed mother.

e) “Lodged strangers”

i) She must have shown hospitality.

ii) A good test would be how she cared for strangers (as opposed to friends).

f) “Washed saints’ feet”

i) A reference to humble service.

ii) She has shown true humility if she had stooped to wash feet.

g) “Relieved the afflicted… followed every good work”

i) Shown compassion.

ii) Shown consistency in doing good works.