First, those widows who have children or nephews (basically including grandchildren or other close relatives) are not to be supported by the church.  The rule is that these immediate relatives should shew piety at home, by supporting the widows who are related to them.  Doing so is good and acceptable before God.  In fact, Paul says that if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. The rule is that if any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. The church’s resources should be used to help those who are deserving widows.

Secondly, widows that liveth in pleasure are bad testimonies to the church, and should not be supported. The woman who liveth in pleasure is a woman who has forsaken the Lord to live in the world. Widows who have no heart for prayer - but merely live for pleasure - are dead already; there is nothing more wonderful than a older woman who is godly, and nothing more unseemly than a older woman who lives only for the flesh.  Those who live in pleasure are dead while they live, spiritually dead, dead in trespasses and sins.

Thirdly, there is a reference to an age limit.  Widows under 60 years of age are not to be supported, nor those who have divorced or remarried, for they must be the wife of one man.  The reason for this is that if the church employs younger widows they may grow weary of their employment, and begun to wax wonton against Christ.  They run the risk of casting off their first faith, and learning to be idlers, tattlers and also busybodies speaking things which they ought not.  Doing so will play right into Satan’s hands, and Paul warns that some are already turned aside after Satan. The advice given to young widows is to remarry, bear children and then guide the house, giving no occasion to Satan to speak reproachfully.

So who are the widows worthy of support from the church?  As stated earlier, she is not a young widow, and must be the wife of one man. She is one who is desolate (i.e. left alone, without living children or close relatives).   She is also one who trusteth in God (i.e. a believer) and one who continueth in supplications and prayers night and day (i.e. a prayer warrior). Notice that when a Christian is all alone, he has no one to turn to except to God on whom he places his trust.  She has to have a good Christian testimony as one well reported of for good works. 

What kind of good works?  First, good upbringing of children.  Notice that Paul says if she have brought up children, not if she have borne children. She may not have children of her own, but she may have brought up other people’s children in a godly manner.

Next, she may have lodged strangers or washed the saints’ feet. This speaks of Christian hospitality, entertaining godly men who pass by during their travel to spread the word of God.  Or perhaps she may have relieved the afflicted at the time when she had the ability to do so.

Elders

v17-20  Paul next gives instructions on the treatment of elders.  First he says to let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.  Notice that the duties of the elders are to rule and to labour in the word and doctrine.  These duties cannot be separated or delegated away.  An elder cannot just rule and not be involved in the preaching and teaching of the word/doctrine. 

Secondly, notice that ruling, teaching and preaching are laborious tasks and those elders who are not idle are worthy of double honour – twice the honour, esteem and maintenance.  Yes, ministers of God are to be maintained by the churches through offerings from members. 

To support this point, Paul quotes from Deut 25:4, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.  Under the Mosaic Law, the ox that treadeth out the corn was allowed to eat while it worked, so that the more work it did, the more food it had.  This ties in with the New Testament command that the labourer is worthy of his reward (Matt 10:10) and therefore a hardworking elder is worthy of double honour.  This is God’s way of taking care of his ministers.  Those who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel (1Cor 9:14).  Are we living up to this responsibility?

What about elders who do not rule well, or neglect to labour in the word and doctrine?  There are rules to follow in such an instance.  Paul says, against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. In other words, it is not right for the church to act against an elder on the basis of rumours. The church needs a specific charge, an accusation, against the elder concerned before action can be taken.  And that accusation has to be made in person, face-to-face between accuser and accused, and before two or three credible witnesses. 

The reason for this is that the minister’s reputation is at stake, and therefore the charge against him has to be proved. If the charge against an elder is proved, then the church has a duty to rebuke that errant elder publicly. 

Public rebuke is designed so that others may fear.  At the same time, it is designed to let the rebuked person to repent publicly.  Sins that are done publicly have to be rebuked publicly.  The church should not hide such sinful acts.