Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 9:8

"Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?" — 1 Corinthians 9:8 (ASV)

These verses present illustrations supporting the proposition that God’s servants have the right to be supported with food and drink and other necessities of life as they labor in their work. Verse 7 gives illustrations from common experiences in ancient life: the soldier supported at public or royal expense; the vineyard keeper, who eats of the grapes he gathers; the shepherd, who drinks milk from his flock. But as an additional argument, Paul cites the authority of Scripture, “Do not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain” . This merciful command covered the practice in ancient times of oxen pulling the threshing sledge over the grain or treading it out with their feet (Isaiah 28:28; Isaiah 41:15; Hosea 10:11). They were allowed to eat as they did their work. The reason for the command, Paul says, is not just God’s care for the cattle (cf. Matthew 6:26–29), but because by it he wants to teach us a lesson about God’s care for us (v.10). This is evident, too, in the provision for the farmer: When a plowman and thresher do their work, they do so expecting that through God’s blessing they will share in the crop.