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First Timothy chapter 5, the 
entire chapter highlights our responsibilities or our duties 
to others within the church. Remember that in chapter 5, specifically 
in verses 1 and 2, Timothy is encouraged or exhorted on how 
he is to deal with various people groups within the context of 
the church. Older men, younger men, older 
women, and younger women. And then in verses 3 to 16, the 
church is instructed on how they are to care for widows. And then 
in the section we're dealing with this evening in verses 17 
to 25, the church is told how to deal with the elders within 
the context of the local body. There are three primary elements 
involved in verses 17. to 25. First, the honor that 
is due to elders, which we'll look at this evening in verses 
17 and 18, the discipline of elders in verses 19 to 21, and 
then the ordination of elders in verses 22 to 25. And then the section is 
rounded out in chapter 6 verses 1 and 2 that deals with masters 
and slaves. So that's an overview of the 
section. As I said our focus this evening 
is on verses 17 and 18 and what it means to honor elders who 
rule well. But I'll just read verse one 
in chapter five to get us back into the mindset of this epistle 
to Timothy. Do not rebuke an older man, but 
exhort him as a father. Younger men as brothers, older 
women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity. Honor widows who are really widows, 
but if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first 
learn to show piety at home, and to repay their parents, for 
this is good and acceptable before God. Now, she who is really a 
widow and left alone trusts in God and continues in supplications 
and prayers night and day. But she who lives in pleasure 
is dead while she lives. And these things command that 
they may be blameless. But if anyone does not provide 
for his own, and especially for those of his household, He has 
denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Do not let 
a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and 
not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for 
good works, if she has brought up children, if she has lodged 
strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has 
relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every 
good work. but refuse the younger widows, 
for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire 
to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their 
first faith. And besides, they learn to be 
idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle, 
but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought 
not. Therefore, I desire that the younger widows marry, bear 
children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary 
to speak reproachfully, for some have already turned aside after 
Satan. If any believing man or woman 
has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church 
be burdened, that it may relieve those who aren't really widows. 
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, 
especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the 
scripture says, you shall not muzzle an ox while it treads 
out the grain, and the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not 
receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three 
witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke 
in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. I charge 
you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that 
you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with 
partiality. Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, 
nor share in other people's sins. Keep yourself pure. No longer 
drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake. 
and your frequent infirmities. Some men's sins are clearly evident, 
preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 
Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those 
that are otherwise cannot be hidden. Amen. Well, let us pray. Our Father, we thank you that 
your Word speaks to our relationships within the context of the local 
church. We pray that you would give us the Holy Spirit. I pray 
that you would give us grace to obey what the Word says. Help 
us, Father, to comply with these instructions. We know that this 
is the house of God Most High. This is your place and you rule 
it according to your pleasure and according to your decree. 
And help us as your people to respond favorably. Grant us grace 
now as we proceed in this passage Grant us help and strength from 
on high. May the Spirit open our minds 
and open our hearts. And we pray through Jesus Christ, 
our Lord. Amen. Well, as we move through 
the passage this evening in verses 17 and 18 in chapter 5, I will 
argue that the emphasis in honoring elders who rule well is on paying 
them. And of course, you can understand 
that as a paid elder in the church, these are sometimes difficult 
things. They almost feel a bit self-serving. But I can assure you that I often 
approach this task with the assumption that I could drop dead after 
the sermon tonight. I could get hit by a truck any 
time this week. There's innumerable ways of men 
going out of this particular world. Cam could get slammed 
by a truck as well. We could be together and get 
hit in concert and not show up here next Sunday. So this is 
still abiding. It's not a self-serving sermon, 
rather it is to educate our church in what we are to do in terms 
of obedience to God within the context of the household of God. 
And in 1 Timothy 5, 17 and 18, the Apostle tells the church, 
tells Timothy, let the elders who rule well be counted worthy 
of double honor. So we'll look at that command, 
first of all, the command to honor elders, and secondly, the 
reason for the command to honor elders. So that's a basic, simple 
outline of verses 17 and 18. Let's proceed by looking at verse 
17 under three considerations. First, the elders identified. Now we've already seen this same 
word applied in chapter 5 at verse 1. Do not rebuke an older 
man. It is the word elder, the same 
word that's employed here in 1 Timothy 5.17. The word has 
that semantic range. It can apply to older men within 
the context of the local church, but officers tasked with rule 
or government and preaching and teaching within the context of 
the local church are also identified as elders, and we see that in 
1 Timothy chapter 3. You can look there for a moment. 
1st Timothy 3 verse 1, this is a faithful saying, if a man desires 
the position of a bishop or an overseer, he desires a good work. A bishop or an overseer then 
must be, and then he highlights several things that the church 
must look for in a man or men who are being considered as bishops 
within the context of the local church. Now that we get to 1st 
Timothy chapter 5 and verse 17, and Paul says, let the elders 
who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, you might ask 
the question, what happened to bishops? Well, I argue that bishop 
and elder and pastor are terms that are employed in the New 
Testament that are applied to one particular office. Those 
who have the task of exercising oversight within the local church 
and those who have the task of preaching and teaching. You can 
turn back to Acts 20 for just a moment just to show you the 
overlap in these terms and how they apply to the self same office 
in the church. Notice in Acts chapter 20 in 
verse 17. from Miletus he, Paul, sent to 
Ephesus and called for the elders of the church." Again, this isn't 
just the older men, these are the officers in the church that 
are subject to the instruction that the Apostle gives to them 
concerning oversight in the local church. So here's our word, from 
Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the 
church. Now notice in verse 28, He says, or He charges them, 
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which 
the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. There's our word, 
Bishop. So He calls for the elders, and 
he instructs them and then he charges them and tells them that 
the Spirit has made them overseers within the context of the local 
church. Another term that is used with 
reference to this element of pastoral ministry follows. He says in verse 28, therefore 
take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the 
Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd, there's the word 
pastor, to shepherd the church of God which he has purchased 
with his own blood. So these are elders who have 
oversight of the church that engage in pastoral shepherding 
or ministry within the context of the local church. We see a 
similar instance in Titus chapter 1. Titus chapter 1 is similar 
to 1st Timothy chapter 3 where the qualifications of elders 
or for elders are set forth. And in Titus chapter 1 we read 
in verse 5, For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should 
set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders 
in every city as I commanded you. And then notice in verse 
7, For a bishop or an overseer must be blameless as a steward 
of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to 
wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a 
lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled." 
So a few weeks ago, or probably a month or two ago now, we installed 
deacons into our church. We have three. Deacons take up 
the task of service within the context of the church. To use 
that helpful analogy from John Gill, they serve the table of 
the Lord, the table of the poor, and the table of the minister. 
That is their task or calling. The only other office that exists 
in the Church of Jesus Christ is the office of overseer slash 
elder slash pastor. All those terms are used synonymously 
of the one office that has as its primary focus oversight in 
the Church and teaching and preaching within. the context of the local 
church. So that's who's in view in 1st 
Timothy 5.17. Calvin says here elder is not 
a name of age but of office. So going back to 1st Timothy 
5 at verses 17 and 18. We've identified the elders, 
now notice secondly the tasks performed. Let the elders who 
rule well be counted worthy of double honor. especially those 
who labor in the word and doctrine." They rule well. What they do, 
they do competently. What they do, they do with a 
degree of proficiency. They do not do it perfectly, 
they do not execute it flawlessly, but they do engage in it in a 
manner that is defined as well. Let the elders who rule well 
be counted worthy of double honor. The idea of rule here has the 
idea of one who has been placed before or at the head of the 
church and who has responsibility in that position both to rule, 
lead, or direct, and to be concerned for and care for the Church. It's not a contrast between the 
good ruling elders and the poor ones. Men who are doing a poor 
job ought not to be in that particular office. That's not the point. It is simply rather to highlight 
the personal competency of a man or men that are in this particular 
task and to honor them doubly. So they rule well. Notice secondly 
they are diligent in the word and doctrine. Let's read the 
verse again. Let the elders who rule well 
be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in 
the word and doctrine." We might also translate that particular 
word especially as, that is. Very often in the pastoral epistles, 
that's how Timothy uses, or Paul rather, uses that particular 
word. So the text, I think, should read this way. Let the elders 
who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, that is, those 
who labor in the word and doctrine. All elders must be able to rule. all elders must be able to teach. It seems that the apostle is 
identifying within that mass of men committed with this particular 
task, there are a few or there are a couple that do it in a 
very effective manner and they are the ones that are to be given 
double honor in this regard. They rule well. That is, they 
work hard in the Word and doctrine. And isn't this what rule and 
government in the Church is about anyways? It is about rightly 
applying and rightly preaching and rightly teaching the Word 
of God. The best ruling elders within 
the context of the local church do so through the Word. You don't 
want a man who's a gifted leader, who's read all of the manuals, 
who has all of the formula, and yet does not understand the Word 
and doctrine. Leadership, government, rule 
within the context of the church of our Lord Jesus Christ comes 
via the Scriptures. That man is effective who does 
these things or engages in rule through the Word and through 
doctrine. Go back for just a moment to 
1 Timothy chapter 4 verses 6 to 16. What is the priority for 
the man of God in that particular section? It is upon the Word. It is upon his grasp of Scripture. It is upon his ability with the 
Word of God. It is upon his ability to understand 
and to preach and teach sound doctrine. It is not on people's 
skills. It is not on management techniques. It is not on ability simply to 
encourage a group of people. The elders study the Word, the 
elders know the Word, the elders privately and publicly preach 
and teach the Word. And so Paul says within the context 
of the local church, look out for those elders who rule well. That is, those men who work hard 
in the Word and doctrine. And you are to honor them. And 
not just honor, but doubly honor them, which we will look at in 
just a moment. the elders in Christ Church govern 
or rule not because they have successfully completed a management 
course or read the latest leadership manuals. I'm not necessarily 
discounting all of that stuff, but brethren, there has been 
a trend, there has been a tendency, there has been a trajectory to 
substitute from faithful preaching and teaching CEOs and leaders 
and managers and movers and shakers and And I said, shuckers and 
jivers this morning. That's what we've substituted 
in the place of the herald of God that is tasked with preaching 
the Word of God for the salvation and felicity of men, or for the 
damnation and hardening of the reprobate. We are not to substitute. We are not to supplement. We 
are not to think smarter than God. We are never to conclude, 
well, our people just don't like that. They want stories. They 
want an easy chair. They want a chatty man with his 
hand in his pocket telling them helpful tips on how to have a 
better Monday. That is not what the preaching 
ministry is about. And when we rip it apart like 
that, we are no longer walking in obedience to God. Remember 
that 1 Timothy 3.15 controls the entirety of the book. I write 
these things so that you, Timothy, may know how you ought to conduct 
yourself in the house of the living God, which is the church 
of God, the pillar and the ground of the truth. If God wanted chatty 
men with their hands in their pockets, He would have specified 
that. But according to His Word, He 
wants men who preach, men who are ready in season and out of 
season, men who convince, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering 
and teaching. He wants men that are committed 
to the truth of Holy Scripture, 16 ounces to the pound. He wants men that give themselves 
that work to labor or work to toil in this particular task 
of handling accurately the word and doctrine. Paul says, let 
the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, that 
is, those who labor in the Word and Doctrine. George Knight is 
probably right when he says it is likely he is speaking of a 
subgroup of the overseers that consists of those who are especially 
gifted by God to teach, as opposed to other overseers who must be 
able to teach. So in the mix of elders, there 
will be a man or men that God has put some grace or gift into 
in such a way that as they preach, the church is to give them double 
honor. So they rule well, they're diligent 
in the Word and doctrine, and notice they work hard. Verse 
17, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine. I think 
it was probably It's probably easier, at least in my home now, 
than it was when the children were little. If you were to communicate 
to your child, Daddy's busy right now, and then you picked up a 
book. Wait a minute, what do you mean 
busy? We look at picture books, that's not busy work. If you 
say, Daddy's busy, and then you go out and dig a six-foot hole 
in your front yard, they can connect that dot a little easier, 
can't they? If somebody phones you up, you 
say, oh, I'm really busy right now. And you're picking up big 
rocks and putting them from one pile to another. And they happen 
to come over. They say, oh, yeah, you really 
are busy. Well, what if you called me and I said, well, I'm really 
busy right now. And you happen to have a, my people works the 
other way. So you look in on my office and 
I'm sitting there with a book. Well, that's not really busy. Yes, 
it is. There has to be the pursuit of information and knowledge, 
the assimilation of the Word and Doctrine, in order to effectively 
articulate that and preach that to other people. And notice what 
the brother says, those who labor in the Word and Doctrine. Pastor 
Kim read Colossians 1 this morning. Turn there for just a moment. 
Colossians chapter 1. Very instructive on this particular 
point. Again, I hope this doesn't sound 
self-serving. You could drop dead tomorrow. 
You have to find other elders. If Cam drops dead too, make sure 
you find men that look like what Paul is speaking about in 1 Timothy 
5, 17. Notice in Colossians 1, verse 
28, him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in 
all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. That's a high calling. There's 
a lot riding on this particular passage. You need to preach in 
such a way, not so that people will have a better Monday, but 
that they will be prepared to stand before the Living God. 
You need to preach and teach in such a way that you can present 
every man ready to meet their Maker. Now note what Paul goes 
on to say in verse 29, "...to this end I also labor, striving 
according to his working which works in me mightily." It's a 
great quote from Gordon Keddy in his commentary on Acts. when 
he refers to the labor of the Apostle Paul. He says, he did 
not give quiet talks. He was enthusiastic and animated 
in his speaking. He broke some sweat in the pulpit, 
precisely because he was fervent in his commitment to the message 
he proclaimed. It is one of the scandals of 
the modern church and a symptom of its powerlessness that a passion 
for Christ and the gospel is so conspicuously absent from 
so many of its pulpits. Fervent preaching is never comfortable 
to those who sit under it, but those who treasure God's truth 
and value their own souls will love to be disturbed by such 
ministry. and will bless the Lord for the 
privilege." Love what he says there. He did not give quiet 
talks. He didn't call the churches and 
say, I want you to move that big, formidable, nasty pulpit 
out of the way and put a big easy chair in there so I can 
just relate with the people of God. Is that the task of the shepherd? 
To relate with the people of God? Yes, on a certain level. Drop in, we'll relate. Give me 
a call, we'll meet and we'll relate. But when it comes to 
Sabbath day worship, you want to hear from God. You want biblical 
preaching. You want men that don't stick 
their hands in their pockets and chew gum while they give 
you a few helpful tips on how to live a better life. You want 
to know what God says concerning everything from Dan de Beersheba. You want to know what God's Word 
says concerning your never-dying soul. You want to know the Gospel. You know how many times I hear 
from people that they left churches because the Gospel wasn't preached 
there? Then shut those places down! If the Gospel isn't preached 
in a church, where's it going to be preached? I just still 
can't get my mind around that. That's like saying when the moose 
gather together, they don't talk about moose. When the elks gather 
together, they don't talk about elks. When the lions gather together, 
they don't talk about lions. They probably actually don't 
talk about those things. When the church gathers together, 
what ought to be planted front and center is the cross of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. Why is that revolutionary today? Anyways, we see that Paul worked 
hard. So we've seen the elders identified, 
the tasks performed. Notice thirdly, the honor prescribed. Let the elders who rule well 
be counted worthy of double honor. Now this idea of honor certainly 
includes being kind, showing respect, The text, the various 
texts in the New Testament affirm this. 1 Thessalonians chapter 
5, you can turn there. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, doesn't 
mean that you gotta, you know, bow down to the right reverend 
elder and say, hello sir, and snap to and fire one up when 
he stands in your presence. No, but there ought to be at 
least some semblance of respect. There ought to be some semblance 
of esteem. When you visit your doctor, you 
visit your attorney, you visit other people, you show them esteem 
and respect. 1 Thessalonians 5.12, And we 
urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you and 
are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them 
very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among 
yourselves. I don't think that be at peace 
among yourselves is just dangling out there. It seems to attach 
itself to this exhortation. In a context where elders are 
not esteemed, in a place where people do not show those basic 
common courtesies, It's not going to probably be a place where 
peace thrives and flourishes. When we look suspicious at every 
elder, when we suspect them for being involved in it for whatever 
reason, not the good of our souls, there's not a peace that will 
govern our understanding in that particular instance. Hebrews 
chapter 13. Hebrews 13, it says to remember 
Now, I don't think it just means contemplate the thought, oh yeah, 
yeah, he happens to be a preacher in our church. It's probably 
the same idea as what we find here in 1 Thessalonians 5. Verse 
7 of Hebrews 13, remember those who rule over you, who have spoken 
the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the 
outcome of their conduct. So back to 1 Timothy 5, when 
the apostle says, let the elders who rule well be counted worthy 
of double honor, It could involve and probably does involve the 
kindness and esteem afforded to men who serve in such a capacity. Secondly, however, and probably 
primarily, however, honor takes on the same connotation that 
it does in 1 Timothy 5, 3. Honor widows who are really widows. Yes, we're to love them. Yes, 
we're to esteem them. Yes, we're to give them hugs. 
Yes, we're to surround them with affection and all those sorts 
of things, but we're also to give them money. We're also to 
help them live. We're also to give them some 
financial assistance so that they can eat regular food and 
not purée a catch-up. And so when we get to 517 and 
the Apostle says, let the elders who rule well be counted worthy 
of double honor, financial remuneration is probably the primary element 
involved. The similar word as we've seen 
is used in 5.3 where financial support for widows is the focus. Note the reason in 1 Timothy 
5.18. The laborer is worthy of his 
what? He's worthy of his wages. There is a prohibition in the 
qualifications for the elders against covetous men. Why? Probably because money is involved. And while you want a man to be 
recompensed by the church, you don't want him to be a covetous 
man trying to get rich off the back of the church. As well, 
there are passages in the New Testament that highlight abuse 
when it comes to this whole issue of money. 2 Corinthians chapter 
2, you may turn there. I want you to see this. 2 Corinthians 
chapter 2. There was money to be made in 
religion in the first century. There is nothing new under the 
sun. There's money to be made in religion today. I mean some 
men who preach and teach and have rule over churches make 
quite a bit of money depending on the denomination that they're 
in. Some men use the church in a way that is ungodly and those 
are covetous men and you do not want them there. But notice in 
2 Corinthians 2.17, For we are not, as so many, peddling the 
word of God, but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in 
the sight of God. Christ. First Timothy chapter 
6 at verse 3. If anyone teaches otherwise and 
does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 
He is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes 
and arguments over words from which come envy, strife, reviling, 
evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute 
of the truth. Notice, who suppose that godliness 
is a means of gain. You see, there was money to be 
made in religion in the first century, and the apostles cautioned 
the people of God against such a thing. 1 Peter chapter 5 and 
verse 2. 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 2. Again, where we see these words 
used synonymously in verses 1 and 2. who are among you, I exhort, 
I who am a fellow-elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, 
and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed, shepherd," 
there's the word pastor, "...shepherd the flock of God which is among 
you, serving as," here's our word bishop, "...serving as overseers, 
not by compulsion, but willingly, not for dishonest gain, but eagerly." 
You see, they're not supposed to serve in order to line their 
pockets. So what is in view in 1 Timothy 
5.17 with reference to double honor is financial remuneration, 
or recompense, or payment, or compensation. The fact that there 
can be abuse, argues, for the position. The fact that some 
men will exploit it argues for the position. The fact that you 
keep covetous men out argues for the position. The fact that 
we're in a context that deals with honoring widows indicates 
that when he comes to verse 17 in 1 Timothy 5, when he says 
they're worthy of double honor, we ought to assume and conclude 
that he means to pay the ox. Other passages in the New Testament 
that highlight this reality. Galatians chapter 6. You may 
turn there. Galatians chapter 6 at verse 
3. I'm sorry, Galatians chapter 
6 at verse 6. Let him who is taught the Word 
share in all good things with him who teaches. Oh, I do that. I tell them, breathe fresh air 
and let's all love, right? Love and fresh air, we share 
that with everybody. Is that what Paul means? Just 
give them a little love and a little fresh air. No, he's saying that 
if there is an ox working in your field, don't muzzle him 
and let him eat. It's legit, it's right, it's 
good. There are actually churches or 
denominations that are against this whole idea of having a paid 
ministry. What do you do with 1st Timothy 
5.17? What do you do with Galatians 
6.6? What do you do with these passages? 1st Corinthians, you can turn 
back, chapter 9. 1st Corinthians chapter 9, verse 
6. Or is it only Barnabas and I 
who have no right to refrain from working? Whoever goes to 
war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does 
not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does 
not drink of the milk of the flock? Do I say these things 
as a mere man, or does not the law say the same also? For it 
is written in the law of Moses, you shall not muzzle an ox while 
it treads out the grain. Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it all together 
for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this 
is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who 
threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. You say, well, pastor, 
you ought to preach with the goal and the desire that souls 
come to Jesus. And that's why we do it. But 
if you don't put food in this belly, I'm going to drop dead. 
That's just the way it goes. That's why Paul appeals to Deuteronomy. And that brings us to... Well, 
just one minute before we get to verse 18. There's a couple 
of quotes here with reference to this whole idea of double 
honor. Why double honor? Should they 
have big cars? Should they have big houses? 
Should they have big everything? Double honor. Does that mean 
you give double honor to the well-ruling elders and single 
honor to the guy who doesn't do that well? Some have said, 
yeah, that's exactly what it means. Christianity is not egalitarian. It's not socialistic. You know 
what socialism is, don't you? It is spreading misery to everybody 
equally. Right? That's what socialism 
does. That's not Christianity. If you 
have a man that labors this way, pay him well. Some take that 
interpretation. Others say the double honor plays 
off of verse 3. If you honor a widow, double 
honor the elder, because the widow doesn't have a wife and 
kids that she has to provide for. She is probably going to 
need modest accommodations. She's certainly not going to 
eat as much as a man who labors in the word and doctrine. So 
if the widow gets honored, doubly honor the particular man or men 
that you've identified in that capacity. Maybe that's the way 
it goes. Or the double honor means both 
esteem and compensation. Gill seems to favor this interpretation. He says, but rather, this is 
to be understood both of that outward respect that is to be 
shown them by words and actions, and of a sufficient maintenance 
that is to be provided for them, in which sense the word honor 
is used in this chapter before. All that to say, I don't know 
what it means to double the honor. I think Gil's probably the closest 
with reference. to the overall arching context 
and that sort of thing. But I think our confession captures 
well the emphasis of New Testament teaching on this particular topic. In 2610, it says, the work of 
pastors being constantly to attend the service of Christ in his 
churches in the ministry of the word and prayer with watching 
for their souls as they that must give an account to him. 
It is incumbent on the churches to whom they minister not only 
to give them all due respect but also to communicate to them 
of all their good things according to their ability. so as that 
they may have a comfortable supply without being themselves entangled 
in secular affairs, and may also be capable of exercising hospitality 
towards others. And this is required by the law 
of nature and by the express order of our Lord Jesus, who 
has ordained that they who preach the gospel should live of the 
gospel. 1 Corinthians 9.14, those who 
preach the gospel should live from the gospel. Now there's 
obviously two temptations or two extremes that we ought to 
avoid in this particular text. One is making men rich in gospel 
ministry, but on the other hand making them starve isn't godly 
either. So we've seen the command itself. Look at the reason for the command 
in verse 18. Note Paul's respect for the authority 
of Scripture. Let the elders who rule well 
be counted worthy of double honor, that is, those who labor in the 
word and doctrine for the Scripture says. Why are we supposed to 
do this, Paul? Because God says so. That's it. It's settled. It's over. It's 
done. If God commands an activity, 
our task is to obey it. For the scripture says, this 
is the showstopper in Christianity. You know, with your child. Why? 
Because I said. That's supposed to end the argument, 
isn't it? Well, but, no, I said. No, but, but, but about it. The 
principle, George Knight says, is true because God's authoritative 
writing speaks on the subject. The church is to doubly honor 
well-ruling elders who work hard in the word and doctrine because 
God says to. A church that does not do this 
is being disobedient to the true and living God. And then notice 
what Paul does that's absolutely beautiful. For the scripture 
says, you shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. 
If an animal earns his food, how much more someone that handles 
the Word of God. You don't begrudge the ox that 
steals a bite here and there, not steals a bite, that takes 
a bite here and there while he's threshing out the grain. You've 
got big problems if you're beating that ox because he eats a bit 
of the grain in the midst of his busy workday. You should 
encourage the ox. Take in more food. You'll be 
stronger and able to thresh more grain. We want you to be happy, 
healthy, and whole so that you can serve us better. That's what 
you'd say to the ox. But look at what Paul does. You 
shall not muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain, and 
the laborer is worthy of his wages. Isn't that beautiful? Deuteronomy 25.4 and Luke 10.7 
are scripture. There was a canon consciousness 
in the early church. There was the reality that the 
New Testament documents were on par with Old Testament scripture. We see proof positive in this 
verse. That little word chi or and between 
Deuteronomy 25.4 and Luke 10.7 falls under for the Scripture says." Old 
Testament text and New Testament text. Paul had a regard for the 
authority of Scripture. Some have tried to dismiss that 
the Apostle is actually quoting Luke. I mean, you and I see this, 
don't we? Paul's quoting Luke. Luke 10, 
7. It's pretty obvious. It's pretty evident. But you 
see, there's some people out there in scholarship and academic 
circles that don't like the implication of that sort of a canon consciousness 
that early in redemptive history. And so they try to dismiss it 
and say, well, you know, the Jesus tradition was out there. 
It wasn't as if the Gospel of Luke was actually written yet 
or anything like that. Here's what one man, Kruger, 
says. He says, in the end, we can agree with John Mayer when 
he declares, the only interpretation that avoids contorted intellectual 
acrobatics or special pleading is the plain obvious one. 1 Timothy 
is citing Luke's gospel alongside Deuteronomy as normative scripture 
for the ordering of the church's ministry. That's what verse 18 
is about. Why do we double honor the elders 
who rule well? Because God says so in Deuteronomy 
25 and in Luke chapter 10. There's our exposition. We conclude 
with a few thoughts. First, the church needs well-ruling 
elders. The church needs well-ruling 
elders. That's why 1 Timothy 3, 1-7 is 
in our Bibles. That's why Titus 1, verses 5-9 
are in our Bibles. That is why 1 Peter 5 is in our 
Bibles. That's why, and one of the reasons 
why, throughout the book of Acts we see this emphasis. The church 
needs well-ruling elders, those who labor in the Word and doctrine. those who know theology, those 
who know the scripture, those who study to show themselves 
approved, workmen who need not be ashamed, men who rightly divide 
the word of truth. men who teach, men who preach, 
men who equip the people of God. Secondly, as we've seen in the 
passage, the church must honor well-ruling elders. Yes, there's a degree of esteem 
and there is a degree of financial recompense or remuneration. The 
minister of Christ should not be in this particular task or 
calling to get rich. However, the minister of Christ 
shouldn't die of starvation while he is in this particular calling. As our confession says, it ought 
to be a comfortable enough supply so that they themselves can exercise 
hospitality. We'd love to have some brethren 
over, but we have no soup in the pot. We could all sit around 
and look at each other and live off the love and fresh air, but 
you probably want some hot food in your stomach on a Thursday 
night. There's a comfortable supply 
so that the minister of God can indeed exercise those particular 
things as well. Thirdly, we ought to appreciate 
the blessing of well-ruling elders. I wonder if anybody caught Jeremiah 
315. That's a great test, right? We 
just read it about 30-40 minutes ago. We read a whole chapter 
of Jeremiah. Does anybody remember Jeremiah 
3.15? Oh yeah, I remember. Without looking, without typing 
it into your little device there, Isaac, I don't want you to get 
Jeremiah 3.15. I'll read it for you. And I will 
give you shepherds according to my heart, who will feed you 
with knowledge and understanding. In that particular context, God 
is denouncing the sin of Judah. But as God is often wont to do, 
He looks beyond the impending judgment to a time of blessing. And I think the context there 
looks specifically to the reunification of the house of Israel and the 
house of Judah, which Jeremiah 31 shines a little bit more light 
on, and the book of Hebrews chapters 8 and 10 really underscores for 
us. What Jeremiah says in 3.15 points 
forward to New Covenant era blessing. And within the New Covenant era 
blessing, in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, God Most High 
says, I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will 
feed you with knowledge and understanding. Isn't that the point? Isn't that 
what the elders in the church should be tasked with, is preaching 
and teaching the Word of God, so that the people of God get 
knowledge and understanding of the Bible and theology? When 
we jump to the New Covenant Scriptures, we see solidarity with this theme. The apostle in Ephesians 4.11 
says, and he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, 
some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. And he does this 
for a threefold reason. I don't like the way that the 
new King James is punctuated. The old King James is better. 
There are three coordinate phrases. The way the New King James reads 
is that we have one with a subordinate and then another. But the way 
it ought to be read is this way. Here is why Jesus gave some to 
be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some 
to be pastors and teachers. For a threefold purpose. One, 
for the equipping of the saints. 2, for the work of ministry, 
and 3, for the edifying of the body of Christ. It's a beautiful 
thing, isn't it? And now notice what the benefit 
is in this. Till we all come to the unity 
of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect 
man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that 
we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried 
about with every wind of doctrine. by the trickery of men in the 
cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting. But speaking the truth 
in love may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ, 
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every 
joint supplies, according to the effective working by which 
every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying 
of itself in love. Isn't that gorgeous? Isn't that 
beautiful? Isn't that what God's purpose 
is? So you see, the church ought to see the blessing of well-ruling 
elders, especially in light of the text we looked at this morning, 
1514 in Matthew's Gospel. These are blind leaders of the 
blind. If a church has safeguides, if 
a church has men, as described in 1 Timothy 5.17, who labor 
in the word and doctrine and who preach the truth, the church 
ought to count themselves blessed that God has provided for them. And then finally, The Lord has 
done this for His glory and for the salvation of sinners. I love 
what the Confession says in chapter 3, paragraph 6. As God has appointed 
the elect unto glory, so He has, by the eternal and most free 
purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto. You 
know what one of the means is? Prophesied in Jeremiah 3.15, 
instituted by the ascended Christ in Ephesians 4.11-16, men qualified 
according to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 to preach the gospel. Why? Because God is getting glory 
in the salvation of sinners and He has sent men and equipment 
to call them unto Himself. You see in this the macrocosmic 
plan of God and His heart of benevolence and grace and the 
kindness and the mercy wherein He deals with men. He sends men 
to preach to others so that others may come to the Son of God for 
the forgiveness of sins. All of these things serve as 
guideposts in your life to point you to the Lord of glory, to 
believe on Him, and to turn from your sin. Well, let us pray and 
ask God to guide us in our conduct as a local church. Our Father 
in Heaven, we thank you for 1 Timothy. We thank you for the very practical 
instruction that it affords to us as a church. God, I pray that 
you would fill us with your Spirit and fill us with an obedient 
heart, that we may take these things seriously and that we 
may live accordingly. Thank you for this Lord's Day. 
Thank you for the people of God. Thank you for this haven that 
you've given to us, this Pisgah, wherein we can view the promised 
land. God, we pray that you would go with us now, that you would 
cause your face to shine upon us, that your peace would flood 
our hearts, and that you would protect us, and defend us, and 
watch over us, and bring us together again, that we may worship you 
in spirit and in truth. And we pray these things through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.