1 Timothy 5:17-21

1 Timothy 5:17-21 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.  For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”  Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.  Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.  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. 

As Paul continues his fatherly advice to his spiritual son, Timothy, we see him covering almost a checklist of all areas of the church in his admonitions on effective church leadership and church order.  He is trying to help Timothy establish guidelines that will ensure sound doctrine, avoid conflict, and deal with the problems that arise within churches.  He has already dealt with false teachers, trustworthy sayings, prayer, promoting faith in Christ, worship, setting an example, guidelines for overseers and deacons, the care of widows, and now he moves on to the role of teaching and preaching elders.  He says if we give honor to widows and we do, how much more should we honor those who preach and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.  To validate this claim, he quotes the Law: Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain.  Timothy or anyone else reading his letter would have understood this concept of honoring and supporting financially a teaching pastor.  Many churches in our self-centered modern world would do well to remember to support their local churches and to pay their pastors a living wage.    

Next Paul moves quickly to the idea of accountability from elders, and the need to avoid unfounded gossip or false slander against preachers and teachers.  Paul understood the vulnerability involved in this position from his own experiences, and he demanded the same conditions set down in the Law of Moses for an accusation to be brought against an elder.  But if a claim was proven, then the sin was to be exposed before the elders and the person would be dealt with as a warning to others to avoid temptation.  Timothy is also warned that these instructions apply to all without any personal revision of what was right or partiality toward a particular individual.  Paul realized that sin contaminates a person's life and a church.  A pastor or a teacher or any person in church leadership must present Christ to the church and to the world.  We all know the damage that occurs when a church leader falls and his sin is exposed to all.  Of course, there is forgiveness and restoration in Christ for anyone at any time, but how much better if men and women of God would follow the warnings that Paul gave Timothy earlier in this letter to set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.  None of us can do that in our own strength, but through Christ our hope of glory, all things are possible to them that believe.  Praise the name of the Lord!