The Church’s Responsibility to its Elders
1 Timothy 5:17-25
May 30, 2010
One passage of Scripture that gives a lot of perspective to me
In my daily routine as a pastor is:
1 Peter 5:1-4 “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
And while I find that entire passage extremely valuable,
There is one phrase that continually gives me perspective as to my role.
“shepherd the flock of God among you”
1) The flock is not mine, it is God’s “the flock of God”
2) The entire flock is not here, only a portion of it “flock of God among you”
3) God has turned the care of His flock over to me
4) God intends for me to do for it what He would do if He were here “shepherd”
That phrase really helps me put things into perspective.
And that passage should give you perspective as well.
It should help you see how tremendously valuable
The church is to the Lord.
She is not only His flock
She is also His bride
She is also His body
Keeping that perspective will help you understand
The significance of the passage we are studying tonight.
In 1 Timothy 5:17-25,
Paul is outlining the church’s responsibility to its elders.
We have already seen (in some sense) the elder’s responsibility to the church.
We talked about (The Eight-Point Preacher)
1 Timothy 4:11-16 “Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”
He Preaches Truth He is Spiritually Mature
He Focuses on Essentials He Submits to the Spirit
He Works hard and Improves He Evaluates Himself
He Doesn’t Quit He Realizes What is at Stake
We could potentially add a ninth by saying that he is GENTLE
1 Timothy 5:1-2 “Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.”
That is the elder’s responsibility to the church.
Tonight the emphasis is reversed
And it is the church’s responsibility to the elder.
The weight of this passage falls on the congregation.
And in order to do this accurately you must also adopt the view that the flock of God is more important than any one man.
4 Points
#1 THE EXHORTATION
1 Timothy 5:17-20
Here Paul gets right to the point
In regard to what he expects from the church in regard to its elders.
1) WHEN TO HONOR (17-18)
“The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”
“elders” translates PRESBUTEROS
PRESBUS = “old man”
Here we are referring to an official office in that regard.
I have told you before that this is the same as the overseer.
We say that because the terms are used interchangeably.
Acts 20:17 “From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.”
Acts 20:28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
It is obvious that the “elders” were the “overseers”
Paul is not just dealing with all of the old men,
But rather that he is dealing with the ordained leadership of the church
And it was an office of men who literally ruled the church.
There is no hint of business meeting, or majority rule in Scripture,
The rule of the church was assigned to the elders who ruled the church.
“The elders who rule well”
“rule” = PROISTEMI
“to put before, to set over, to rule”
It is the same word translated “manages” in 1 Timothy 3.
1 Timothy 3:4 “He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity”
1 Timothy 3:12 “Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.”
They have the same duty to the church that a father has to his children.
He is to manage, or rule over the church.
This was never a one man job in the New Testament.
This was an office held by several men, ordained to rule the church.
And Scripture says that ALL OF THEM are to be honored.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-14 “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
1 Corinthians 16:15-16 “Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints), that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.”
Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”
It is clear, that in following God’s designed order,
The church is to honor and obey those who rule over them.
In our text tonight Paul carries it a step further.
“The elders who rule well are to be considered of worthy of double honor,”
While all elders are to be honored, those who do their job well
Are to be considered worthy of more.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “RULE WELL”?
Paul seems to answer that question next.
“especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”
It may never be universally accepted in the church again,
But time and time again we are reminded that the main priority of the elder or overseer is a commitment to the ministry of God’s word.
WHY?
Because the preaching and teaching role
Carries with it the most extreme consequences.
1 Timothy 4:16 “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”
To put it plainly, salvation lies in the balance.
God wants those who work hard in regard to the salvation of the flock
To be found worthy of double honor.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HONOR?
Certainly recognition is implied, but even beyond that, Paul explains it.
(18) “For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING.” And “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
I don’t know what you immediately think of when you hear the word “honor”, but it is obvious what Paul had in mind.
Paul was referring to their payment.
If you have several oxen, but one outperforms all the rest,
Don’t you make sure that that ox is the best taken care of?
You are aware that in Paul’s day finances were not always stable.
And at times Paul even had to suspend his ministry to earn a living.
Acts 18:1-5 “After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers. And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.”
It is clear that the finances allowed Paul to focus himself
More on preaching than on tent making.
And that illustrates our point well.
If you have a man among you who really works hard at preaching Then by all means make sure he is able to do that.
When to Honor
2) WHEN TO PROTECT (19)
It is also no surprise to us that when Satan attacks the church of God,
he would just as soon start at the top as anywhere.
And so we know that the preacher or elder
Will always take his fair share of criticism.
Matthew 10:24-25 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. “It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!”
The exhortation of Paul is that the church
Protect her elders from such slander.
“Do not receive an accusation against an elder”
This doesn’t mean hear it, investigate it, and prove it wrong.
This means ignore it.
DON’T EVEN LISTEN TO IT
Proverbs 26:20 “For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.”
Proverbs 20:19 “He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip.”
Paul is asking the church to extend the same courtesy
That they would give Jesus to their leaders.
Don’t listen to it, and don’t believe it.
UNLESS
“except on the basis of two or three witnesses.”
Now, if that many come up with the same accusation,
The church is forced to deal with it.
It doesn’t mean they are guilty,
But because it is a rumor with some momentum
The church is required to at least investigate it.
They will either prove it true or prove it false,
But it is already so out there, that they must deal with it.
But Paul wants the elder protected, after all,
They carry to a large degree the reputation of the church.
It is definitely in the church’s best interest to prove their elder’s innocent,
And not entertain slander against them.
When to Honor When to Protect
3) WHEN TO REBUKE (20)
“Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest will be fearful of sinning.”
Now this is interesting.
You are probably familiar with our Lord’s admonition
In regard to church discipline.
Matthew 18:15-17 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
There the order is obvious.
But it is also obvious that that order is modified in regard to an elder.
By the time the accusation has reached two or three witnesses,
It is already common knowledge.
And the point is that the church cannot deal with it in private.
The rest of the congregation and the community
Must know where the church stands on such immorality.
And if it is proven that this man is continuing in sin,
No private meeting will suffice.
“rebuke in the presence of all”
And the result is obvious.
“so that the rest will be fearful of sinning.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
This is one of those unique incidents
Where God wins the day even through difficult circumstances.
If the church will do as God says,
The church will not be embarrassed by their sinning elder,
But will instead reaffirm their commitment to holiness.
When to Honor your elders When to Protect your elders When to Rebuke your elders
That is the exhortation
#2 THE EXPECTATION
1 Timothy 5:21
I hope you notice the charge.
And not only that, but a solemn charge (a serious charge)
“in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels”
In other words, Paul wants the church to realize that this situation
IS BIGGER THAN JUST THEIR LOCAL CONGREGATION.
It may very well be that an elder be one who works hard at preaching and teaching but because the church doesn’t want to, they ignore Paul’s command.
It could be that an elder be guilty of sin, but because he is so popular that the church decides to overlook it and keep him anyway.
Paul is here reminding the body that they do not have such an option.
This is God’s flock.
God gets to decide.
Make your decisions as though God were sitting in the room
Watching what you decide.
And here is Paul’s charge.
“to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.”
First you and I have to remember that God requires
That we never exercise partiality in our lives.
James 2:1-4 “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?”
God hates unjust scales and partiality is certainly that.
And because God hates partiality,
It is only obvious that it is also forbidden in this situation.
“maintain these principles without bias”
Romans 2:9-11 “There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.”
I don’t care how much you like the preacher,
You have to rebuke him when he sins, because this is bigger than you.
YOU MUST HONOR THOSE WHO RULE WELL
AND REBUKE THOSE WHO CONTINUE IN SIN
The Exhortation The Expectation
#3 THE EXAMINATION
1 Timothy 5:22
While the first two have dealt with men already in office,
This deals with selecting those to serve.
These men are to be tested and examined
(that is why Paul gave the qualifications in ch. 3)
In regard to Timothy Paul said:
1 Timothy 4:14 “Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.”
It was the group of elders who recognized Timothy’s gift to preach
And who laid their hands on him.
They were setting him apart for the ministry.
They were pledging to support him and to protect him.
And this is what the church continues to do in selecting it’s leaders.
No man ascends to the position by his own ambition.
The gifting of God must be evident in his life
And he must be set apart to do it.
This is a protective measure for the church,
Where the church discerns those who claim to be called.
And here Paul gives a strong warning.
“Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.”
Because the church is to remain free from sin,
She must guard herself even here.
If you set a person apart for ministry…
If you ordain them… If you endorse them…
If you recommend them…
Then you are also responsible for the job they do.
The church is “giving their word” in a sense that
They have thoroughly examined this man and find him suitable to lead.
When I was called to preach, my home church ordained me.
(Explain process)
This shocked me because I had previously been ordained as a deacon
By another church and they didn’t ask me a thing.
That is foolish.
Would you recommend a carpet cleaner who tore up your carpets?
Would you recommend a mechanic who ruined your car?
Then why would you recommend a preacher
Who can destroy the soul of another?
These men must be examined.
The Exhortation, The Expectation, The Examination
#4 THE EXPLANATION
1 Timothy 5:24-25
Now, I know we skipped verse 23.
That seems to be a personal note from Paul to Timothy to help him.
(Explain)
But it obviously doesn’t follow the flow, in fact Paul returns to the flow in verses 24-25.
And in these two verses
Paul reveals two truths in regard to examining an elder.
1) SOME DEEDS ARE EVIDENT
(24) “The sins of some are quite evident, going before them to judgment”
(25) “Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident,”
The point is that if you will just open your eyes
You will quickly be able to see whether or not a certain elder is worthy
There are many things that can be discerned
Just by opening your eyes and looking at them.
Some deeds are evident
2) SOME DEEDS ARE EXTRACTED
(24b) “for others their sins follow after.”
(25b) “and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.”
The indication here is that there are some deeds that are hidden,
But if the church will be committed to examination,
Those will become evident as well.
If the church would simply try a little,
They would be able to see which elders
Are worthy of double honor and which are worthy of rebuke.
This is a discipline she must develop for the consequences are severe
For just as the faithful preacher will ensure salvation
Tolerating a bad one can have the reverse effect.
Isaiah 5:13 “Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge; And their honorable men are famished, And their multitude is parched with thirst.”
Isaiah 9:13-17 “Yet the people do not turn back to Him who struck them, Nor do they seek the LORD of hosts. So the LORD cuts off head and tail from Israel, Both palm branch and bulrush in a single day. The head is the elder and honorable man, And the prophet who teaches falsehood is the tail. For those who guide this people are leading them astray; And those who are guided by them are brought to confusion. Therefore the Lord does not take pleasure in their young men, Nor does He have pity on their orphans or their widows; For every one of them is godless and an evildoer, And every mouth is speaking foolishness. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away And His hand is still stretched out.”
Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
Jeremiah 10:21 “For the shepherds have become stupid And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they have not prospered, And all their flock is scattered.”
Ezekiel 34:5-6 “They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered. “My flock wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill; My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was no one to search or seek for them.”‘”
I think you get the point.
The church must see the big picture, look beyond the man,
And do what is necessary for the benefit of the flock;
“God’s flock”.
And when the church takes such action,
The flock will be well cared for and will thrive spiritually.
1 Timothy 3:14-15 “I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”
