Worthy of Double Honor

By Rev. Craig A. Brown

First Timothy 5:17-18 reads, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” (KJV)

The church of Jesus the Christ is a kingdom. Jesus is the King and his ministering servants are rulers under Him. The elders referred to in our text aren’t aged persons - they are described as good rulers and laborers in the Word and doctrine for Timothy was a young man.

Civil magistrates in Israel who executed their duties well were worthy of honor. Deacons are considered worthy of honor if they address the social concerns of the kingdom - not the educational, structural or financial matters of the church. However worthy the aforementioned offices and others may be they still aren’t considered to be due maintenance.

Ministers should:

• labor in preaching, ruling well, not with force and cruelty, or positioning themselves as a dictator over God's heritage;
• govern according to the laws which Christ the King and lawgiver has prescribed;
• explain and enforce those laws, and show them to the people, and see that they are put in execution

When ministers discharge this part of their work with diligence, prudence and are persons of integrity (and not moral depravity) then they are to be counted worthy of double honor.

Ministers of the Word; who for their strength and labor are compared to oxen, ought to be comfortably supported and maintained on account of their work.

The Gentiles had several ways of restraining their cattle from eating, while they made use of them.

Aelianus relates a very particular way of hindering oxen from eating while treading the corn. He says they prevented oxen from eating the ears of corn, in a floor where they were trod out, by besmearing their nostrils with cows' dung, which was so disagreeable to the creature, that it would not taste anything though pressed with famine.