Theophylact of Ohrid, on 1Tim 5:4

“But if any widow have children, or grandchildren, let her learn first to govern her own house, and to make a return of duty to her parents: for this is acceptable before God.”

“That is, let children and grandchildren learn to honor their mother, providing her with rest and sustenance. For εὐσεβεῖν – "to act piously" here means – to give rest to one's mother or grandmother in old age. The dignity of parents is a divine dignity, so that to give them rest means to be pious, and conversely, not to give them rest in old age is impiety. Render to parents, that is, to mother or grandmother. Notice the prudence of Paul, how he touches upon a noble feeling, namely the feeling of rendering to parents for their upbringing and nurturing. To this he also adds the reason: "for this is pleasing to God."”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.