In a similar fashion to that of spiritual fathers in the church, spiritual mothers are to be honored as well, and I would then also make the parallel to biological mothers as I did between the two kinds of fathers.
In 1 Tim 5:1-16 states:
Do not rebuke an elder harshly but exhort him as a father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
This passage essentially argues that older women are to be honored as mothers, and that when they can no longer be supported by a husband as widows and their children cannot or will not support them, they are to be financially honored and supported by the church. Notice that younger widows of marrying age are not in the same category. Women who also have grown old but have not acted as mothers through the example of their good deeds toward the children of the church, brothers and sisters, in terms of the things listed by Paul here are not given that same title of mother and honor is not obligated.
The same condemnations occur when one does not honor his mother as representing his father in Scripture. This is how the older woman in the church is a mother. She displays the teaching of the fathers in her conduct. Hence, she is a teacher of the family through wisdom and conduct as the father is a teacher through both conduct and wisdom, albeit in a different role since she is not in a role of authority. However, this does not mean that she is not in a role of honor, so we see here that she is in a role of honor as a mother without her own authority, but rather by subjecting herself to the authority of the fathers in her obedience/submission to the elders, she carries with her the honor of the fathers.
Hence, to disregard her, mock her, treat her as lesser, ignore her financial needs, etc. is damnable. This is why the obligation to the widow is a display of true religion in the Bible. To honor her is to honor God who is represented by the old mother who represents the father who has passed away.
With that in mind, read again the post concerning honoring the mother in the household. It will be enlightening and perhaps give a better understanding of how the women who meet this description ought to be treated.
Likewise, this passage talks about women who have not represented the fathers but rather have divorced themselves from their teaching in their conduct and disobedience even though they still hang around the church. These women are not mothers and ultimately should be put out of the church (i.e., the opposite treatment of those who actually represent the fathers/elders of the church).
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