1 Timothy 5:16

16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, she should provide relief for them - the congregation shouldn't be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are really in need.

1 Timothy 5:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Timothy 5:16

If any man or woman that believeth have widows
That is, if any member of a church, whether a brother or a sister, have mothers or grandmothers, or any near relations widows, in mean circumstances, and incapable of taking care of themselves:

let them relieve them;
out of their own substance; which is what the apostle before calls showing piety at home, and requiting their own parents:

and let not the church be charged;
or burdened with the maintenance of them:

that it may relieve them that are widows indeed;
that the church may be in a better capacity, its stock not being expended on others, to supply the wants of those who are really widows; who have neither husbands, nor children, nor any relations, to provide for them; nor anything in the world to support themselves with.

1 Timothy 5:16 In-Context

14 Therefore, I would rather the young widows get married, have children and take charge of their homes, so as to give the opposition no occasion for slandering us.

15 For already some have turned astray to follow the Adversary.

16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, she should provide relief for them - the congregation shouldn't be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are really in need.

17 The leaders who lead well should be considered worthy of double honor, especially those working hard at communicating the Word and at teaching.

18 For the Tanakh says, "You are not to muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain,"b in other words, "The worker deserves his wages."