PROCLAMATION
“Rebuke
not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all
purity.” 1 Timothy 5:1-2 (KJV)
EXPLANATION
These
words were written by the Apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit
of God, to Timothy, his son in the ministry, to provide him with directions and
instructions. (1 Timothy 1:2) In this the fifth chapter of this
pastoral epistle, Paul begins by telling Timothy how to treat older men and
women, and then how to treat those who are younger than he is. (1 Timothy
5:1-2) Then Paul goes into a lengthy discussion regarding the
treatment of widows including those with and without children. (1 Timothy
5:3-16) He follows this with instructions regarding the treatment of
the elders of the church. (1 Timothy 5:17-21)
Paul tells Timothy to take care of his health. (1 Timothy 5:23) Then
he ends the chapter by telling Timothy not to hit anyone, and not to join them
in their sinful behavior. He tells him
to be careful because the sins of some people are obvious, while the sins of
other will only become apparent over time. The same can be said of their good works. (1
Timothy 5:22-25)
APPLICATION
The
advice which the Apostle Paul gives Timothy, the young preacher, regarding
rebuking, or reprimanding, or correcting people is appropriate for all of
us. We are taught to let all of our conversations be full of grace
and seasoned with salt. (Colossians 4:6) Salt adds a certain flavor
to food, but salt has a purifying influence; it was used to preserve meat
before refrigeration. Our words, like
salt, should add something and be helpful to the hearer, including our words of
correction or reprimand. A soft word turns away wrath, while a harsh
word can stir up anger. (Proverbs 15:1) We should speak to our
elders respectfully and differently than we speak to those our own age and
younger. However, all of our conversations should be done out of
love, brotherly love. (Ephesians 4:15)
And, finally, we should avoid the use of profane words and vain babbling
as they are ungodly. (2 Timothy 2:16)
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