1 Timothy 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep yourself pure. If such judicial inquiries are to be avoided, there ought to be great care in the original appointment of ministers. I. THERE MUST BE DUE CARE IN ORDAINING RIGHT PERSONS TO THE MINISTRY. "Lay hands on no one hastily." 1. This does not refer to the practice of receipting offenders back into the Church by the imposition of the bishop's hands. No such practice can be identified with the apostolic age, or with that immediately succeeding it. 2. It refers, as the usage of the pastoral Epistles suggests, to "the laying on of hands in ordination." (1) Saul and Barnabas were thus designated to their missionary tour (Acts 13:1). Timothy was thus ordained by the hands of the presbytery. It was the solemn recognition by the Church of the call which the minister-elect had received from on high. (2) Timothy was to guard against the possibility of rash appointments to the ministry by a due inquiry beforehand into the spiritual character and pastoral qualifications of the candidates for office. The glory of God, the salvation of man, the honor of religion, were all involved in such appointments. II. THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF SLACKNESS IN THE DISCHARGE OF SUCH A DUTY. "Neither participate in other men's sins." Timothy would "adopt the sins he overlooked' if he did not rightly distinguish between the worthy and the unworthy. III. THE NECESSITY OF PERFECT PURITY ON TIMOTHY'S OWN PART. "Keep thyself pure." He must be pure who is called to judge others. There must be no shadow of evil attaching to his character or conduct. Any impurity of character would utterly destroy his influence, and silence his rebukes of others. - T.C. Parallel Verses KJV: Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.WEB: Lay hands hastily on no one, neither be a participant in other men's sins. Keep yourself pure. |
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