C. Position of elders. 5:17-25 Sound Elder. v.17-18
Sinning Elder. v.19-24
Rewarding the sound works of an elder. v.17-18
The elders in view here are the overseers and not old people.
V.17 p) Rewarding the elder -
I. Well ruling elder - Position.
Those that rules well are worthy to receive double respect, more favour than the other elders. 1.Peter 5:1-4; Deu.21:17
II. Word labouring elder - Practice.
Those that are busy teaching and preaching are especially worthy.
V.18 q) Reliability of his Remarks -
I. Law and the Gospels confirm rewarding. Deu.25:4; II. Labourer of the church rewarded. Luke 10:7
V.19 r) Receiving accusation against an elder
I. Accusation Against an elder.
Accusations against an elder will arise sooner or later, whether they are right or wrong, but when they do the following procedure is necessary.
II. Acceptable way to receive Accusations.
There needs to be 2 people that has witness by seeing or hearing the sin of the elder. Deu.19:15; Matt.18:16; 2.Cor.13:1
V.20 s) Rebuking a sinning elder -
I. Rebuking the sinning elder.
If the accusations are right, the elder should be confronted in the gathering of the other elders, perhaps in an elders meeting.
II. Response of the rest of the elders.
This procedure would create the fear of God, that could refrain the rest of the elders to sin publicly.
V.21 t) Righteous character of a leader -
The sound works of an undivided heart.
I. Exhortation in God’ s Presence.
Paul is putting extra emphasis on the importance of what he is about to say.
II. Equality without Partiality.
Every elder should be treated equally, he should judge Fairly without any Form of Favouritism.
V.22 u) Restriction in laying on hands -
The sound works of kept pure.
I. Waiting - Concerning elders ordained to the office, he should be careful making a to hastily decision of ordination. II. Warning -
If he ordained him to quickly and the elder had publicly known sin, then he would receive accusation for having ordained him as an elder.
III. Watching - Timothy should also be careful and remain pure.
V.23 v) Remedy for his stomach -
I. Limitation of Water - Water is good but has limitations in healing.
II. Little Wine - His drinking of wine was for medical purposes only.
The works of man will sooner or later be evident. v.24-25
V.24 x) Rise of sin -
I. Clearly evidence of sins - Obvious these men wouldn’ t be ordained as elders.
II. Coming revelation of sins -
Some are good to hide their sins and their sins are first evident after they have been ordained as elders -These elders he had to deal with.
V.25 y) Reality of goodness -
I. Clearly evidence of good works -
The good works of some potential elders are clearly evident, these he should focus upon and pray about.
II. Coming revelation of good works.
Time will reveal the other potential elder’ s good works.