The Church and Her Elders

1 Timothy 5:17-21

Immanuel – 11/30/25

          In 3:15, Paul proclaimed that the church is the household of God. It’s a stunning proclamation. The King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, robed in everlasting honor and glory, he has made his home among broken sinners such as us. What are we that he is mindful of us? What have we done that he should care for us?

          And yet he does. For not only does he make his home among us, but he also brings us into his family. Christ laid down his own life to ransom and redeem us, and by faith we are justified. When we believe, we are forgiven by the Father and adopted as sons and daughters, brought into the divine family, image bearers restored and reconciled unto God. So it is in the household of God!

          For the last five chapters, Paul has been carefully instructing Timothy what the household of God is supposed to look like, its function and form. It is governed by love (1:5), a place of prayer (2:1), oriented by Scripture (4:6), where every individual is honored (5:1-2), and the vulnerable receive care (5:3-16).

          It’s a beautiful picture of the church. And every human heart longs for God’s household, to belong, to be loved. Yet, until Christ returns, the church is not yet freed from the effects of sin. And how forgetful we are! So God has called certain men to lead his church in godliness, and to shepherd the sheep safely home.

          The shepherds of the church are the elders. Really, they are the under-shepherds, serving under the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Back in chapter 3, Paul laid out what qualifies a person to be an elder in God’s household. There we see a high degree of godliness expected of elders. If they are going to lead the church in godliness, they to be living examples of authentic God-centeredness!

          In 3:1-7 we learned what qualifies a man to become an elder. Today we learn how the church is to relate to its elders.

          Read vs 17

          From chapter 3 we learned that elders are qualified men, called by God, who shepherd in love, prioritizing teaching God’s word and prayer.

          If the church is to honor elders who lead well, the church needs to know what good eldering looks like. As I’ve just mentioned, elders prioritize prayer and teaching Scripture. They are men of prayer, bringing others into prayer. They are men of the Word, continually discipling the church with God’s word, whether formally or not.

          More than anyone else in the church, the elders must be wholly convinced that…

          All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.                                      -2 Timothy 3:16-17

          The elders shepherd the flock with Scripture and labor in prayer for the sheep, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. The Elders lead in word and in prayer. But let’s zoom in even more.

Richard Baxter, a puritan from the 17^th century, wrote one of the most influential books for elders called, “The Reformed Pastor.” In his book he identifies seven primary duties of biblical shepherding.

1. Labor for the conversion of the unconverted.

2. Give answers to seekers who are under conviction of sin.

3. Study so you can build up those already in the faith.

4. Exercise careful oversight of families.

5. Be diligent in visiting the sick.

6. Be faithful in correcting and admonishing offenders.

7. Be careful in exercising church discipline.

          On top of these, there are more things elders do: managing finances, setting the church’s direction, overseeing other leaders, guarding against threats, and more. Yet, Baxter’s seven duties are critically important for elders– for these seven are how we shepherd souls.

          Do you see your elders shepherding in these seven ways? Are they devoted to prayer and teaching Scripture? Then they lead well. And any church whose elders lead like this are recipients of heaven’s blessings. Do you know your elders are literally a gift from Jesus himself? As Paul writes,

[Christ] gave the apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain…the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.     

                                                                   -Ephesians 4:11-13

          Jesus gifts the church its shepherd-teachers – or elders – so everyone under their care becomes more and more like Jesus – unto the fullness of Christ! And, if elders are leading well, every member of the church (all of you!) are increasingly equipped, empowered, and committed to the work of ministry. A healthy church does not rely on the man on the stage, nor do its members defer to others. In a healthy church, every member is a minister and ambassador of Jesus Christ!

          Again, the signs of a healthy church, with elders who lead well, is a church where Christlikeness is on the rise and each member is about the work of ministry. If the local church has these elders, if Immanuel has elders like this, then Paul says they are worthy of double honor.

          Especially those [elders] who labor in preaching and teaching. Not all elders are gifted the same, nor do they all have the same calling. Only some has God gifted and called to labor in preaching and teaching – meaning it is their job. They preach and teach, week in and week out, laboring in the word, seeking wisdom on how to apply it to a hungry flock, dependent on the Spirit to empower their work.

          Obviously this is my job, my gifting and calling. I don’t love highlighting myself in this moment, but I cannot escape the fact that Paul is talking about my role at Immanuel Baptist Church.

          So, what is this double honor the church gives its deserving elders? First, double honor means respect. Consider the context: in 5:1 Paul is effectively telling Timothy to honor the various age categories in the church. In 5:3 he says widows should be honored. In 6:1, masters of a household deserve honor. Honor is the thread that ties together all of chapter 5 and the beginning of 6.

But Paul says only the elders who lead well are worthy of double honor, especially if they labor in teaching and preaching the word. First, double honor means giving your elders (if they lead well) high respect. For are they not the shepherds of your soul?

The second thing Paul means by double honor is remuneration, or financial compensation. When he writes widows should be honored in 5:3, it’s very clear he means the church should use its resources to support them. Double honor for deserving elders carries a similar meaning.

The elders who lead well, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching, should be compensated for their time. And they shouldn’t be paid a bare minimum, but should be treated with generosity – a double honor. Anticipating someone might question Paul’s intentions, he demonstrates his teachings have an authoritative foundation.

Read vs 18

Paul quotes the Mosaic Law, found in the Old Testament, and then he quotes Jesus. First the quotation from the Law: Paul quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 nearly verbatim.

You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.

A farmer would lead an ox to walk over a threshing floor, its hooves separating the grain from stalk and chaff. Wanting to maximize profits, a farmer might muzzle the ox so the animal eats none of the grain. But that is not God’s heart, and he commands Israel not to keep everything for themselves, but allow the ox to eat.

From very early on, Israel understood there was a principle behind the command – a principle beyond animals. Paul is applying that exact principle. If someone works for something, allow them to enjoy the fruit of their work. Let them be sustained by their work.

Indeed, Jesus teaches the same principle, and Paul quotes him: “The laborer deserves his wages.” (This is the only time Paul directly quotes Jesus in either of his letters to Timothy.) This is a quotation we find in Luke 10:7.

And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.

Jesus was giving instructions to his disciples before he sends them out to preach the gospel, seeking peaceful people who would receive them and their message. A moment earlier, Jesus told the disciples not to carry money or provisions with them. Instead, they were to be sustained by the people they encountered. If those people were blessed by the proclamation of the gospel, then it is only right for them to return a blessing.

This is Jesus’ own teaching: “The laborer deserves his wages.”

Writing about these same principles to other churches, Paul writes,

If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?                                                          -1 Corinthians 9:11

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

                                                                   -Galatians 6:6

It becomes clear, a big part of what it means to give double honor to deserving elders – especially those who labor in preaching and teaching – is for the church to provide for their material needs. From the earliest days, perhaps even in Paul’s day, churches have paid certain elders so they can devote themselves to preach and teach God’s word.

You do this for me, Immanuel – and I am deeply grateful. If I had to work a job, there is no way I could invest in the church like I have done these past eight years. You are a tremendous blessing to me; I don’t take it for granted. What a beautiful thing our King has arranged, for us to be a blessing to one another!

Still, I am often humbled by this arrangement, fully aware that I am the simple ox, led to the threshing floor by the Lord of the Harvest.

Indeed, may Jesus lead and I not stray too far. May the elders – all seven of us – follow close to Jesus, and in our submission to Christ may we lead you well.

(Parenthesis)

Though it is debated, Paul likely wrote this letter to Timothy in the early 60s – about 30 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. The fact that Paul quotes Jesus, and we can read that same quote in the gospel of Luke, means Paul had in his possession the teachings of Jesus. Jesus’ words were already written down and in circulation.

Also, we know Luke was a part of Paul’s missionary band. In the beginning of his Gospel, Luke tells us he collected material for an orderly account of Jesus’ life. It seems Luke used teachings of Jesus, written some time prior to the 60s, which Paul had in his possession, to help form his Gospel. There’s so much to consider with Paul’s short quotation in verse 18, but one thing is for sure: the teachings of Jesus were written down and circulated shortly after the life of Jesus.

(Close Parenthesis)

Back to elders and how the church is to relate to them. Elders who lead well are worthy of double honor; but there will be times when their leadership is called into question. Paul addresses this next.

Read vs 19

Making an accusation is one of the easiest things. Anyone can say anything; and online, they do. There are more accusations on the internet than there are snowflakes that fell over the last few days. The Mosaic Law, which Paul references here, says do not even listen to accusations unless there are two or three corroborating sources.

(Though Paul is talking about accusations in the church, I wish Christians would do this with social media. If we corroborated what we hear with trustworthy sources, perhaps fewer of us would be so quick to give ear to outlandish theories! There are too many gullible people in the church!)

In verse 19, Paul is advocating for the concepts of “innocent until proven guilty” and “due process.” Just because someone lodges a complaint, or makes an accusation, doesn’t mean the elder in question is guilty. It is written in God’s Law.

A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.        -Deuteronomy 19:15

Now let’s be clear, if there is objective evidence of wrongdoing, witnesses may not be necessary. But if there is no physical evidence, there needs to be two or more corroborating witnesses for a charge to be admissible. The Mosaic Law is the foundation of our modern justice system, and justice must be upheld in the household of God!

Accusations against elders need to come from two or three witnesses. Paul then addresses what the church should do if wrongdoing is found.

Read vs 20

In Matthew 18, Jesus outlines a process for confronting legitimate wrongdoing.

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 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.”

                                                                   -Matthew 18:15-17

Church leaders are sinners too. Like all other Christians, their sins need to be confronted. Elders, pastors, need constantly to bear the fruit of repentance. But when Paul writes, in verse 20, about an elder persisting in sin, he appears to be indicating the first two steps of Matthew 18 have occurred. If an elder refuses to repent from his sins, turning away from his wrongdoing, then he is to be exposed before the whole church.  

The church must not engage in cover up culture. Too many churches have tried to hide their sinful leaders, only for them to be exposed, and Jesus’ name is dragged through the mud.

The church is to be holy as God is holy, robed in the righteousness of Christ, indwelt by the Spirit of God. Shall we then decorate this living temple with things offensive to our Lord?

So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

                                                                   -Deuteronomy 21:21

And the church shall fear when the unrepentant elder is publicly rebuked. Paul speaks of a godly fear, meant to keep people from falling into the same sins. In the same way you hear of the destructive consequences of driving while under the influence, and for fear of them, choose never to drink then drive.

Read vs 21

The elect angels refer to the angels who have not fallen – those chosen by God. (There is a profound truth of God’s election here, which we have not time for.) God the Father, the glorified Christ, the holy angels, these watch Timothy, and how he will obey Paul’s charge. If Timothy does not enact Paul’s words, three witnesses the Father, Son, and angelic host – will testify against him.

Paul, Jesus’ authoritative apostle, has charged Timothy to keep these commands. Timothy must. But so also must the Ephesian church. Remember, Paul expected his letter to be read before the church; they were words for the congregation as much as they were for Timothy. The church must doubly honor its deserving elders, upholding justice if accusations arise, and expose unrepentant leaders. The heavenly court is in session, and they watch.

Neither Timothy, nor the church, should show any partiality. The Roman world favored the rich and strong. The Jewish world favored those who appeared most religious. God shows no partiality.

God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.                                           -Acts 10:34-35

Timothy, as the leader of the Ephesian church, and all elders ever afterward, are to be unifiers – not dividers. Favoritism – and its opposite, discrimination – destroy unity. Appearances, possessions, personality, politics, opinions, culture, abilities; our command remains: show no partiality. Even if someone is an elder, do not give them special treatment in regard to sin. Heaven is watching.

          What should be know? The elders are shepherding the household of God, a household meant to flow with justice and mercy.

          What should we believe? Elders who lead well are a gift given to you by Jesus himself. Trust the shepherds Christ has given you.

          What should we do? If you see your elders ruling well, consider how you might doubly honor them, especially if they labor in preaching and teaching.