6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
9 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.
The apostle Paul uses some very common experiences to illustrate his points. For example, a soldier who goes to war does not go at his own expense. He is a mercenary, hired to be a soldier. He gets paid for it. Or the farmer who plants his vineyard reaps the harvest of the vineyard. He expects to benefit from the grape gathering. The shepherd who cares for his sheep expects to profit from the milk, meat, and wool of the flock. It is expected that the flock will return benefit to the shepherd.
Paul then reached into the Old Testament and quoted from Deuteronomy 25:4: “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the grain.” He used this illustration to show that God is concerned about the animal who treads out the grain.
Certainly, God would be concerned about the minister who ministers the Word of God. So Paul went on and pointed out that those who minister spiritual truth and spiritual benefit should have some remuneration, some compensation in the carnal things, the fleshly things.
Sow the spiritual and harvest the fleshly. The minister of God has bodily needs and physical needs just like anyone else does. He also lives a mortal life. So his daily need of food, clothing, and shelter are just as current as those for anyone else. The apostle recognized that there is a spiritual body and a physical body. So when the Man of God ministers to the spiritual body, those who benefit from that ministry should respond and meet the needs of his physical body. We are to nurture both.
Again Paul reached into the Old Testament for further instruction. By the Mosaic Law, those who ministered at the altar were to receive from the altar. They were to experience the blessing of receiving. The priest received a part of the animal and grain sacrifices as they were brought to be sacrificed. This is clearly outlined in Leviticus. The priests and Levites had no inheritance like the rest of the people of Israel. But they were given certain territories and villages around the towns. And they were then blessed and helped by the offerings the children of Israel brought to the tabernacle or temple. They were sustained by the gifts of the people. This is the illustration the apostle Paul brings in terms of the Man of God in the present situation.
When the Lord sent...
