John Calvin Commentary 1 Timothy 5:16

"If any woman that believeth hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it mat relieve them that are widows indeed." — 1 Timothy 5:16 (ASV)

If any believer. Since it is customary for everyone willingly to throw their own burdens on the whole Church, for this reason he expressly enjoins that this practice be guarded against.

He speaks of believers who ought to support their own widows; for, regarding those widows who had renounced a wicked relationship, it was proper that they should be received by the Church.

And if those who, by sparing themselves, allow the Church to be burdened with expense act sinfully, let us learn from this the aggravated sacrilege in which those are involved who, by fraud or robbery, profane what was once dedicated to the Church.