"Double honour" 1 Tim. 5:17

"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." 1 Timothy 5:17

It is always funny to hear a money grubbing pa$tor quote 1 Timothy 5:17 to teach that he should get even more money than he is already receiving. What is even funnier is that the congregation will actually give him the money, even though the use of 1 Timothy 5:17 is completely out of context. 

First of all, note that the verse says "elders".....plural. That is not only referring to a bishop/pa$tor, it also includes deacons.  So for a pa$tor to be consistent, he would also have to advocate deacons receiving "double honour" as well. But I have never heard a pa$tor do that.  

Secondly, something that should be blatantly obvious but is often overlooked, most pa$tor$ already receive way more than "DOUBLE" honour. Think about it: if the verse says that elders should be counted worthy of DOUBLE honour, then there must be someone who is receiving 'single' honour. Who are the elders suppose to receive double honour than? The widows. The context (vs. 1-16) is referring to honouring widows. The chapter explains who qualifies as a widow and under what circumstances the church should "relieve them" (vs. 16).

1 Timothy 5:
[1] Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
[2] The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
[3] Honour widows that are widows indeed.
[4] But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
[5] Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
[6] But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
[7] And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
[8] But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
[9] Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
[10] Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
[11] But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
[12] Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
[13] And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
[14] I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
[15] For some are already turned aside after Satan.
[16] If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
[17] Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

It does not make since to isolate verse 17 and proclaim "I'm a pa$tor, I should be counted worthy of double honour". Double than who? Pa$tor$ never answer that question. Why? Because most churches aren't giving widows anything (for various reasons) which would mean that "double honour" in that situation would be ZERO. Two times zero is zero. Double of zero is zero. 

The passage is teaching that the elders that rule well should receive double the amount of what the church gives a widow. In most cases, that would be zero.
Elders would also include deacons, not just pa$tor$. 

1 Peter 5:
[1] The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
[2] Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
[3] Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

Titus 1:
[5] For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
[6] If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
[7] For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

1 Timothy 3:
[1] This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
[2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
[3] Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
 
--Hoss