“But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them. For this is what pleases God” (1 Timothy 5:4 NET).
This passage from 1 Timothy 5:4 shares an association with another well-known Scriptural teaching from the Old Testament. You see, the Biblical book of Exodus provides some important direction regarding parental relationships within the portion of Scripture known today as the Ten Commandments…
“Honor your father and mother, that you may have a long, good life in the land the Lord your God will give you” (Exodus 20:12 TLB).
An adult child who was no longer under direct parental supervision usually fulfilled this responsibility by helping to meet an elderly parent’s financial and/or material needs. However, the religious establishment of Jesus’ day established a clever loophole that enabled a child to circumvent that responsibility while aiding those same religious leaders. Jesus identified that evasive (and unbiblical) maneuver in the New Testament gospel of Mark…
“For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do'” (Mark 7:10-13).
“Corban” referred to money or property that had been dedicated to God but was still possessed by the owner. That designation permitted the owner to use the asset in question but rendered it ineligible to be sold or given to someone else (such as a needy parent). These religious leaders then gained access to those resources once the owner passed away.
Not surprisingly, Jesus rejected this attempt to nullify God’s Word. 1 Timothy 5:4 then went on to ensure that children maintained a similarly God-honoring attitude towards their widowed parents. One source highlights an important perspective in commenting upon this responsibility…
“Care for parents in their declining years is but small payment for the many years they cared for us. We were helped in every way by them when we could not help ourselves, Can we not return in kind such care? It is good to know that God sees and appreciates our efforts if no one else does.” (1)
(1) Don De Welt, Paul’s Letters to Timothy and Titus, [Comment on 5:4] College Press, Joplin, Missouri Copyright 1961