Will these text count as a biblical proofs that the men in the church are supposed to take care of the widows, both within the church and economically? These verses, of course, need to be look at from their historical content in order to fully understand what was going on. Most of them take into consideration the responsibility of the spiritual leaders (which were men), like the pharisees; in which Jesus rebuked for devouring their houses, instead of providing for them.

John 19:27 (New King James Version)

27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

The charge given to John.

Mark 12:40

40 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

Pharisees should have provided instead of taking from the widows.

Acts 6:1

1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.

The complained was made by Hellenists men against the Hebrew men for neglecting the Hellenists widows.

1 Timothy 5:3

Honor widows who are really widows.

Charge given to Elder Timothy.

Galatians 2:9-10

9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

Charge given to Paul and Barnabas by James, Peter, and John not to neglect the poor (the oppressed) which included widows.

__________________
Gil Garcia
Rehoboth Reformed Church (RCUS)
La Habra, CA


"Indeed, one might say that as far as the doctrine of justification
is concerned, if you are not on the road to Wittenberg or Geneva, then the old proverb is indeed true: all roads lead to Rome." Carl Trueman