1 Timothy 5:3,4 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Honour And endeavour honourably to support from the public stock; widows Whose destitute circumstances recommend them as the certain objects of charity. According to the Greek commentators, the widows of whom the apostle speaks in this passage were aged women appointed by the church to instruct the young of their own sex in the principles of the Christian faith, and who, for that service, were maintained out of the funds of the church. This opinion is rendered probable by the apostle's order to Timothy, (1 Timothy 5:9,) to admit none into the number of widows without inquiring into their age, circumstances, character, and qualifications, even as in ordaining bishops and deacons; who are widows indeed Really such; that is, who are desolate, and neither able to maintain themselves, nor have any near relations to provide for them, and who are wholly devoted to God. But if any widow have children Able to provide for her; or nephews Rather grand-children, as εκγονα signifies; let them learn Their children or descendants; first to show piety at home Before the church be burdened with them; and to requite their parents For all their former care, trouble, and expense; for that is good Καλον, decent, fair, and amiable, in the eyes of men; and acceptable before God Who requires us, out of regard to his honour and favour, to attend carefully to the duties of those relations in which we stand to each other.