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1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. ~ 1 Timothy 5:1-2
False teaching had found its way into the first century church in Ephesus. Legalism had led many astray. Selfish men and obnoxious women were wreaking havoc during times of worship. Relationships were a mess between children and their parents, servants and masters, men and women, the young and the old. Sinful lifestyles were allowed and were ruining everything. Godlessness threatened to destroy the young church in Ephesus.
Throughout this first letter written by the Apostle Paul to his young disciple, Timothy, Paul elevates the utter importance of relationships by offering godly wisdom on how they should work. If we do not have natural and loving relationships wherein respect reigns, sin will run rampant and lives will be destroyed. This is one of the many reasons God chose to live inside the believer through the Holy Spirit, to aid us in dealing with the various issues that come up in life.
In the first half of v.1 we read, "Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father."
How we view others is generally the way we treat them. But, this should not be so among believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. There should be no caste system among believers because the ground is level at the foot of the cross. God is so clear in His word on how we should relate with and to one another. In fact, the first of the second group of commands in the Ten Commandments is: Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Very few understand that God gave us the fifth command for our benefit and well-being. You see, if we were taught to respect our parents when we were young, we will not have any difficulty respecting anyone who happens to be in the position of authority in our lives. When we were young, having been trained in the culture of God, the basic approach to get life right was born and we were given the basic infrastructure in our souls to deal with the problems that come along with living. If we do not have God's infrastructure, well, life is going to be a bit more difficult.
In v.1 of today's text, there are two principles given. The first is respect for our elders and the second is accountable for a lifestyle that is not in line with God's definitions of things. The believer in Christ has the responsibility within the family of God to go to a sinning brother and lovingly confront him with his sinful lifestyle. The goal is not to show the sinning brother up, the goal is to lovingly get him back on track with God's definitions of all things. We are to confront the sin with determination and the sinner with respect. God expects the young brother in the Lord to confront the older brother as he would his father, with respect and humility.
In the latter part of v.1 we read, "Treat younger men as brothers." Further, the Apostle Paul tells Timothy to view young men as though they were his brothers. Young men are not to be our rivals or enemies; they are our brothers. Our brotherly relationships should be one of openness, honesty, respect and concern for each other. When we see young men as brothers in the Lord, we will treat them as such.
The real issue is this: will we be defined by man's ways or God's ways? Within the believer in Christ a war is being waged which is not being waged inside the nonbeliever. In Galatians 5:1 we read, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
When you and I became believers in Christ, His presence through the Holy Spirit came into our lives. Now, we have the ability to know and walk in God's ways. We are learning that the Christian life is not about following rules, it is about this newfound relationship that we have with God, wherein we are learning His heart of goodness for us. And, this growing understanding of God will translate itself in the way we treat others.
In v.2 we read, "Treat older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity." God is clear throughout the Scriptures, young women are to be protected in purity. There is nothing more as evil and wicked as a man taking advantage of a younger woman. It is hard to take advantage of a woman whom we see as our mother or as our sister. This is why the Apostle tells us that whoever deals with younger women, they are to deal with them as a sister, in purity.
This word "purity" is only used twice in the New Testament and both times are in the book of First Timothy (4:12; 5:2). This word brings with it the sense of “sexual purity.” This is another of those areas where, if we were not trained in the thinking and ways of God when we were younger, it will show up in this area. There is a connection between being trained in the wisdom of God and avoiding sexual sin. We all share a void in our souls that the culture of this world will lead us to think that will be filled by sexual intercourse, but real intimacy is feeling without touching.
In the Song of Solomon there is an admonition given three times (2:7, 3:5, 8:4) by the soon to be bride to her female companions: it reads, "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases." In other words, "Do not artificially stimulate romantic involvement; it will come in the context of marital commitment. In the meantime, relate to one another as brothers and sisters. That gives an opportunity to really learn who people are, without the blindness that accompanies sexual attraction.
Finally, when time began, God said it was not good for us to be alone (Genesis 2:18). So He gave us relationship. The Bible shows us what our relationship to God is meant to be and how we can have that kind of relationship with Him. It shows us how we should interact and treat our fellow man. This is what makes Christianity unique. The God we worship wants a personal relationship with us! And, it is out of our relationship with God that we learn best how to relate with others.
