A.T. Robertson Commentary 1 Corinthians 9:13

"Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat [of] the things of the temple, [and] they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar?" — 1 Corinthians 9:13 (ASV)

Sacred things (τα ιερα).

Of the temple (του ιερου). Play on the same word ιερου (sacred). See Nu 18:8-20 for the details. This is a very pertinent illustration.

They which wait upon the altar (ο τω θυσιαστηριω παρεδρευοντες). Old word παρεδρευω, to sit beside, from παρ--εδρος, like Latin assidere, and so constant attendance. Only here in the N.T. Locative case θυσιαστηριω, late word found so far only in LXX, Philo, Josephus, N.T., and ecclesiastical writers. See on Mt 5:23.