1 Corinthians 9: 9,10 – you shall not muzzle the threshing ox

For in the law of Moses it is written: You shall not muzzle the threshing ox. Not for oxen is the care of God! Or is He undoubtedly saying it because of us? Because of us, for it was written that the plower ought to be plowing in expectation, and the thresher to partake of his expectation.

Paul quotes Deuteronomy 25: 4 which says it’s forbidden to hinder an ox eating the threshed grain, while it is pulling the threshing board. Strictly speaking this is a measure that protects these animals. That may be true, but (Paul asks rhetorically) is this not “undoubtedly because of us”, humans? Of course! For the human is far beyond the animal, although that’s nowadays not done to say.

If God makes a provision for a threshing ox and takes care for its food during its labour, than of course He does for people! The plower and the thresher (human and animal) ought to be in hope to receive some result of the work they do. For “worthy is the worker of his wages” (1 Timothy 5: 18!). That surely counts for them who are working on “God’s farm (1 Corinthians 3: 9).

Delen: