Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Timothy 5:21

21 I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels that thou observe these things , without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality .

By these things may be understood the whole of what went before, or what followeth. I judge it most proper to referre it to all the precepts foregoing in this Epistle, which evidenceth them to be things which he had received from the Lord, not what he directed without any express notice of the Will of God as to them. This is evident by his grave, and severe charge to Timothy to observe them, for he chargeth him to observe them, as in the presence of God, and Christ, and calleth the good Angels to be witnesses both of his faithfulness, in giving him this charge, and of Timothies faithfulness or unfaithfulness, according as he should observe or neglect the things given him in charge, he calls the Angels Elect unquestionably in opposition to the evil, and reprobate Angels.

He requires the doing of them, without respect to any persons, rich or poor, Friends or Foes. Partiality no way becoming a judge in any cause who ought to hold the ballance even, not inclining it any way, but judging things and not persons. Some of the things before mentioned, may seem of too minute a consideration for the Apostle to lay such a stress upon, or God to give him particular direction in, but the things are not so much to be considered as the end of the Precepts which was the upholding the tree honour and reputation of the Church, which is a very great thing and supposing the things given in charge to have any tendency of that nature, they must not be judged small.

Marginal references: chap. 6.13. 2 Tim. 4.1.; Or, prejudice.