For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

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For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”[a](A) Is it about oxen that God is concerned?(B) 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us,(C) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.(D) 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?(E) 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right.(F) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder(G) the gospel of Christ.

13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?(H) 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:9 Deut. 25:4