Tag: honour

Honour

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1Timothy 5:3-7 Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusts in God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. 

‘Honour’ [Greek: timao] respect; revere; reward; support. Translated honour (5:3; Matt. 15:4-8; 19:19; Mark 7:6, 10; 10:19; Luke 18:20; John 5:23; 8:49; 12:26; Acts 28:10; Eph. 6:2; 1Pet. 2:17) and value (Matt. 27:9).

‘Nephews’ [Greek: ekgonos] children; descendants. This shows that a widow indeed was one who had no relatives or friends to support her. Let the children or descendants of any who need support manifest their religion at home by caring for those they are responsible for, and thus repay their parents for bringing them up.

‘Widow indeed, and desolate, trusts in God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,’ Fourteen qualifications of a “Widow Indeed”: No children or descendants (5:4). Desolate and in need (5:5). Trusting in God. Living in daily prayer. No pleasure seeker (5:6). Blameless in life and conduct (5:7). At least 60 years old (5:9). Not often married or divorced. Her reputation is one of good works (5:10). She has brought up children. Been hospitable. Served the saints. Relieved suffering. Followed every good work.

‘Pleasure’ [Greek: spatalao] to live riotously, wantonly and in pleasure (5:6; Jas. 5:5).

‘Dead while she lives’ – This proves that death in Scripture does not mean the extinction of being, but separation. This kind of death is separation from God because of sin.

‘Charge’ [Greek: parangello] Translated “charge” (5:7; 1:3; 6:13, 17; Luke 5:14; 8:56; Acts 16:23; 23:22); “declare” (1Cor. 11:17); and “command” (Matt. 10:5; Mark 6:8; 8:6; Luke 8:29; 9:21; Acts 1:4; 4:18; 5:28, 40; 10:42; 15:5; 16:18; 17:30; 23:30; 1Cor. 7:10; 1Thess. 4:11; 2Thess. 3:4, 6, 10, 12; 1Tim. 4:11).

Vessels

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Romans 9:19-24 Thou will say then unto me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who are thou that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why has thou made me thus? Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 

‘Thou wilt say then unto me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who are thou that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why has thou made me thus? Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory in the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?’ Here the Jews argue again, as they did in Romans 3:7. Paul answers by questions (9:20-24). Who are you to reply against God? Who are you to blame God for your sinfulness? Cannot God deal with you as is necessary (Jer. 18:1-17)? If God still wants to save people who will obey Him, Jews or Gentiles, is that not His right? If He has to damn those who harden themselves may He not do so without our criticism?

‘Vessels of wrath fitted to destruction’ – vessels of wrath are Jews who were: stubborn (9:6); proud (9:31); rebellious (9:32); ignorant (10:3); jealous (10:19); angry (10:19); disobedient(10:21); blind (11:7); fallen (11:12); cast away (11:15); broken off (11:20); spared not (11:21); unbelieving (11:23); cut off (11:24).

‘The riches of his glory’- True riches that are mentioned in Scripture: Riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7); the riches of the glory of the inheritance in the saints (Eph. 1:18); the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8); the riches of glory (Eph. 3:16; Rom. 9:23); the riches of His goodness (Rom. 2:4); the riches of wisdom, knowledge (Rom. 11:33); the riches in glory (Php. 4:19); the riches of the glory of the mystery of Christ in you (Col. 1:27); the riches of the full assurance of understanding of God’s mystery (Col. 2:2); the reproach of Christ had greater riches than that what was in Egypt (Heb. 11:26).

‘Vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory’ – these are the Jew and Gentile converts to Christianity (9:23-24).

Endure Grief

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1Peter 2:18-20 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when you be buffeted for your faults, you shall take it patiently? but if, when you do well, and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 

‘Be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward’ three commands are given to servants (all of us serving in work and at home): Be subject to masters with fear, not to the good ones only (2:18). Suffer wrongs patiently (2:19-20) and follow Christ’s example in suffering for righteousness (2:21).

‘Froward’ the Greek word skolios translated froward (the contrary, 1Pet. 2:18); untoward (i.e., stubborn, Acts 2:40); and crooked (Luke 3:5; Php. 2:15). Your time belongs to your master. If he wastes your time, let him answer for it.

‘For conscience toward God endures grief, suffering wrongfully’ let them that suffer for well-doing endure it and commit themselves to God who is faithful to avenge all such (Heb. 10:30-31). All sufferings for doing right will work to your good (Rom. 8:28), providing you take the right attitude (Matt. 5:10; Luke 6:22-23).

‘For what glory is it, if, when you be buffered for your faults, you shall take it patiently?’ there is no honour in suffering with patience when guilty of wrongdoing because the honour lies in not to transgress at all. ‘But if, when you do well and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God’ if we do, however, suffer for no wrong-doing, we should do it with patience, for this is the attitude Christ had when crucified (2:21-23).

Six things to do in view of suffering: Be happy in suffering (3:14; Matt. 5:10); be not afraid of man (3:14; Matt. 10:28); be not troubled by trouble (3:14); take suffering as unto God and hold Him sacred in your heart (3:15); be ready to give an account of your life, conduct, and hope (3:15); maintain a good conscience by good behaviour (3:16).

You Have Tasted

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1Peter 2:1-4 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby: If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious 

‘Laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings’ Five things Christians must lay aside: All malice; all guile; hypocrisies; envies; all evil speakings (Eph. 4:22-31).

‘Newborn babes’ in 1Peter 1:23 Peter speaks of his readers as being born again. Here he tells them how to grow as newborn babes in Christ. It is by taking the unadulterated milk of the Word of God, the pure doctrines of the gospel, as recorded in the new covenant.

‘Of the word’ [Greek: logikos] belonging to speech; belonging to reason; that which is rational; fit for reasoning; hence, logic. Translated ‘of the word’ (1Pet. 2:2) and reasonable (Rom. 12:1). The milk to be found in the Word of God is in the highest sense reasonable.

‘Grow thereby’ six facts about spiritual growth: Like a cedar of Lebanon (Ps. 92:12); like calves in the stall (Mal. 4:2); into a holy temple (Eph. 2:21); in grace (2Pet. 3:18); in knowledge (2Pet. 3:18); into Christ in all things (Eph. 4:15).

A five-fold former state of apostates is described in Hebrews 6:4-5: Those who were once enlightened but are not now enlightened. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says this refers to “those who have been made Christians.” Paul uses the same term of saved individuals elsewhere (Eph. 1:18; Hebr. 10:32; cp. Ps. 19:7-8; Luke 11:34-36). Only saints are called “children of light” (Eph. 5:8; Col. 1:12; 1Thess. 5:5), and only saved people are spoken of as being in the light (Matt. 5:14-15; Luke 16:8; John 3:20-21; 8:12; 12:36; Rom. 13:12; Eph. 5:14; Col. 1:12; 1Jn. 1:7; 2:9-10). Only people who have not been saved as spoken of as being darkened from gospel light (2Cor. 4:4; Eph. 4:18; 5:8; Col. 1:13; 1Thess. 5:5; 1Pet. 2:9; 1Jn. 1:6; 2:8-11). Those who have tasted of the heavenly gift (Heb. 6:4). The [Greek: geuomai] have experience of. Translated “to eat” (Acts 10:10; 20:11; 23:14) and “to taste” (Heb. 6:4,5; 2:9; Matt. 16:28; 27:34; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27; 14:24; John 2:9; 8:52; Col. 2:21; 1Pet. 2:3). How could one taste of death, taste the Lord, taste the heavenly gift, and other things of these passages without experiencing them? They were made partakers of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 6:4). The Greek word metochos meaning a partner and fellow with (Heb. 3:1). No sinner is a partaker of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9-16). It is almost blasphemy to accuse the Holy Spirit of being a partner, sharer, and an associate with the ungodly. Jesus said that sinners cannot receive the Holy Spirit (John 14:17). Jude confirmed the same truth (Jude 1:19). They have tasted the good Word of God (Heb. 6:5). To taste the Word of God is to be saved, as proved in Matthew 13:20-23; Luke 8:13-15; John 15:3; Acts 2:41; 4:4; 8:14; 11:1; 17:11; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 5:26; James 1:18-25 and 1Peter 1:18-23. No man receives the Word and remains unsaved. They have tasted the powers of the world to come (Heb. 6:5). To taste of these powers means to experience eternal life. Every time such statement is found it refers to eternal life (Matt. 10:30; Luke 18:30; 20:35).  

‘Tasted’ to taste means to experience the thing tasted. Four heavenly things to taste: The Lord (2:3; Ps. 34:8); the Word of God (Ps. 119:103; Heb. 6:5); the heavenly gift (Heb. 6:4); the powers of the world to come (Heb. 6:5). ‘The Lord is gracious’ eight facts about Christ: He is gracious (2:3; Ex. 34:6; Ps. 86:15; 103:8; 111:4; 112:4; 116:5; 145:8); He is a Living Stone. The only foundation of the body (2:4, 6; Isa. 28:16; 1Cor. 3:11; Eph. 2:18-22); chosen or elected of God (2:4). He was chosen to be the Saviour of the world and founder of the congregation and body of believers (Luke 18:7); He was disallowed of people, (2:4) which is a fulfilment of Psalm 118:22 and Isaiah 53:1-12. The Greek word entimos translated “precious” (2:4, 6); “dear” (Luke 7:2); “hold in reputation” (Php. 2:29); and “honourable” (Luke 14:8). Regardless of the attitude of men, God holds Christ to be supremely precious, dear, and honourable. He is the chief cornerstone (2:6-8; Isa. 28:16) and a stone of stumbling (2:8; Ps. 118:22) and a rock of offence (2:8; Ps. 118:22).