1Tim 5:18 Don't Muzzle the Ox

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Don't Muzzle the Ox

1Tim 5:18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," (Deut 25:4)and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages." (Lev 19:13)

Paul elaborates upon this in 1Cor 9:7-12 saying, "is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with ! anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ."

Thus while those who labor in word and doctrine have the RIGHT to get paid for doing so, they may chose to give up such personal rights in order to serve even better.

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources

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