Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Timothy 5:4

4 But if any widow have children or nephews , let them learn first to shew piety at home , and to requite their parents , for that is good, and acceptable before God .

By the widow indeed, mentioned by the Apostle, ver. 3. he here sheweth that he meant Women that not only wanted Husbands, but Children, or Grand-Children, or any near Kindred that were Christians, and in a capacity to relieve them; but if any Widows had any such near Relations▪ the Apostle willeth that they should be taught:

[non-Latin text not transcribed] word for word to worship their own house, or to be Religious or Godly toward their own house; that is, to shew a respect or Pagan homage to their own house. For Worship is nothing but a respect, honour, or homage paid to another in consideration of his or her excellency and superiority; only the use of this word which is the Gr[illegible: 2 letters]k word, generally used to express Religion and Godliness by, let us know that Religion and Godliness is vainly pretended to any that have of this Worlds Goods, and relieve not those from whom they are descended; (for the word [non-Latin text not transcribed] ▪ it signifies persons descended from another whether in the first generation or no) if they be in want, and stand in need of their assistance.

Nor is this an act of Charity, but Justice, a just requital of our Parents for their care of us, and pains with us in our Education.

And this is good, just, decent, and commanded by God, and acceptable in the sight of God for the precept, Honour thy Father and Mother, is the first Commandement with promise, Eph. 6.2. By the way that precept is excellently expounded by this Text, both as to the act commanded, which this Text teacheth is to be extended to maintenance as well as complements; and as to the object, viz. all those as to whom we are [non-Latin text not transcribed] descended from, whether immediate Parent[illegible: 1 letter], yea, or no.

Marginal references: Or, kindness.; See Gen. 45.10, 11. Matth, 15.4.