How does 1 Tim 5:4 honor God's laws?
How can honoring parents in 1 Timothy 5:4 reflect God's commandments?

What 1 Timothy 5:4 Says

“But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to carry out their religious duty to their own family and to repay their parents; for this is pleasing in the sight of God.”


Why This Matters

• God calls family members to step up first; church support is never meant to replace a child’s responsibility.

• Caring for parents isn’t merely nice—it is “pleasing in the sight of God,” language that echoes God’s delight when His commands are obeyed.


Linking Back to the Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16: “Honor your father and your mother.”

1 Timothy 5:4 shows how that honor looks when parents are older or vulnerable—meeting daily needs, providing financial help, and showing respect.

• Honoring parents is the only commandment in the Decalogue tied to a promise (“that your days may be long”), reinforcing that God blesses those who live this out.


What “Repay” Communicates

• Parents invested life, love, and resources; caring for them is fair repayment.

• It reflects God’s justice: give what is due (Romans 13:7).

• It mirrors Christ’s love, who repaid our debt at the cross and calls us to imitate His sacrificial care (Ephesians 5:1-2).


Practical Expressions of Honor Today

• Regular visits or calls that convey value and affection.

• Financial support—covering medical bills, housing, groceries.

• Managing paperwork, appointments, and transport.

• Defending their dignity; speaking well of them before others.

• Including them in family worship, celebrations, and decision-making.

• Listening to their stories, seeking their wisdom, and thanking them openly.


Other Scriptures Echoing the Call

Proverbs 23:22 – “Listen to your father … do not despise your mother when she is old.”

Matthew 15:4 – Jesus rebukes those who neglect parents under the guise of religious generosity.

Mark 7:10-13 – Traditions must never cancel care for parents.

Ephesians 6:1-3 – Children obey and honor; the promise still stands.

1 John 3:17-18 – Love shows up in deeds, not words alone.


The Witness It Gives

• Shows the gospel at work—selfless love that points to Christ.

• Demonstrates true religion: “to look after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27).

• Models faith for the next generation; children learn how to treat you by watching how you treat your parents.


Closing Thought

Honoring parents by active care fulfills God’s enduring command, delights His heart, and testifies to a living, obedient faith.

What does 'repaying their parents' mean in the context of 1 Timothy 5:4?
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