Today we seem to have open season on leaders of all kinds – even before people are elected to office, they become targets of all kinds of abuse. Now, it is true that those who have been blessed to choose their own leaders need to take this responsibility seriously, and to seek God’s will as we elect them (v. 22). And after they are elected, we do need to hold them accountable. In verse 20, Paul says that it is important to rebuke even leaders of the Church who persist in sin. No one should be above the law, especially the Law of God.

But at the same time, Paul encourages us to respect our leaders, especially those who have been chosen by God and recognized by God’s people as elders in the Church. Teaching God’s Word is hard, especially when it involves pointing out things people don’t want to hear. It’s important that we not shoot the messenger when God’s Word tries to illuminate and correct the sin in our lives. Instead, we need to give our elders the benefit of the doubt, even if what they say doesn’t make sense to us at first.

And when an accusation is leveled at any leader, we shouldn’t just take one person’s word for it. No, in Deuteronomy, the need for two or three witnesses mentioned in verse 19 applies to anyone accused of a serious crime (see 17:6, 19:15). Everyone deserves due process, even our elected officials, so we need to be careful about repeating unsubstantiated rumors about anyone.

But as we choose leaders in both Church and state, and as we hold them accountable so that they can lead us in the way of righteousness, verse 21 cautions us to avoid any sort of prejudice, any sort of partiality. How different would all our disagreements be if we were to follow Paul’s advice?

I Timothy 5:17-22 (ESV)

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.
22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.