1 Timothy 5:4
If a widow has children or grandchildren, these children or grandchildren should learn that they are to take care of their own family first. By doing that they can repay their parents and grandparents for all that they did for them when they were young, because doing that pleases God.
Translation for Translators
In The King James Version
In Context
3Make sure that the congregation takes care of widows who have no one to care for them.
Cross References
Genesis 47:12Joseph also provided food for all his father’s family. The amounts that he gave them were according to how many children each of them had.
Judges 12:14He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons. Each of them had his own donkey on which to ride. Abdon was the leader of the Israeli people for eight years.
Ruth 2:18She carried it back to town, and showed to her mother-in-law how much she had gathered. Ruth also showed to her the grain that was left over after she had eaten enough from what Boaz had given her at lunchtime.
Job 18:19They will have no children or grandchildren, no descendants where they previously lived.
Isaiah 14:22This is what the Commander of the armies of angels says: “I myself will cause Babylon to be conquered. I will get rid of Babylon and its people and their descendants.
Mark 7:11But you teach people that it is all right that people no longer must help their parents. You teach people that it is all right if people give their things to God instead of giving them to their parents. You allow them to say to their parents, ‘What I was going to give to you to provide for you, I have now promised to give to God. So I cannot any longer help you!’ As a result, you are actually telling people that they no longer have to help their parents!
Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 5:4-17
Directions Concerning Widows. ( a. d. 64.) 3 Honour widows that are widows indeed. 4 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. 5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. 7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. 8 But if any provide not… Read the whole commentary →