Do Not Support Widows Under Sixty

In writing to Timothy, Paul wrote, Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man… But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.^{1st Timothy 5:9, 11, 12}

This is a command completely of Paul's making. The law nor Jesus ever forbid charity to a widow on the basis of her age. In giving his reasons for this command, he makes the insensitive and stereotypical remarks that all young widows are promiscuous, busybodies, gossipers, idles and so forth.^{(1st Timothy 5:10, 13-5.)} Therefore, they should be married again, not be given charity.

The law of Moses states, Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.^{Deuteronomy 27:19 cf. Exodus 22:22-24}

We should investigate this matter, since the law stated that a man is cursed if he "perverteth the judgment of the widow." (Remember, Jesus came to fulfill the law and not to abolish it. So it is good to look into what the law says about such commandments from Paul.)

It is written in Deuteronomy, When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled; then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them.^{Deuteronomy 26:12}

So every third year, the tithe went to four groups, the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. The law makes no distinction of the age, financial status, the number of children, property owned, or any other metric of the widow, other than she is a widow.

Not giving food to those in need but telling them "good luck!" is useless. And yet, that is exactly what Paul proposes to do to widows under the age of sixty. He is withholding their judgment. Therefore, Paul is cursed under the law.

Jesus came to fulfill the law. We should see what he had to say on this subject. First, we should note that Jesus did not make a distinction between those who needed charity and widows. He said, Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.^{Matthew 7:12}

Thus, when we see the poor, and we have the means, and they are receptive to receiving, we should help them in love and charity. We should not be trying to determine their age and marital status.

A real apostle would be more in line with what Jesus said, and might write something like, If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?^{James 2:15, 16}

However, we expect a Pharisee, as Paul claims to be, to act more in accordance with what Jesus said about them. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.^{Matthew 23:14}

Value of this Evidence

This is indefensible evidence against Paul. Not only is Paul in contradiction against the law, and against Jesus, Paul follows the same widow-hating philosophy the Pharisees had that Jesus spoke about!