John Calvin Commentary 1 Timothy 5:18

"For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his hire." — 1 Timothy 5:18 (ASV)

Thou shalt not muzzle the ox. This is a civic precept that commends equity and humanity to us in general (as we have said when explaining 1 Corinthians). For if God forbids us to be unkind to brute animals, how much greater humanity does He demand toward people! The meaning of this statement, therefore, is the same as if it had been said in general terms: that people must not misuse the labor of others.

Today, the custom of treading out the corn is unknown in many parts of France, where they thresh the corn with flails. Only the inhabitants of Provence know what is meant by “treading it out.” However, this specific example does not alter the core meaning, for the same principle applies to plowing.

The laborer is worthy of his hire. The apostle does not quote this as a passage of Scripture, but as a proverbial saying that common sense teaches to everyone. Likewise, when Christ said the same thing to the Apostles (Matthew 10:10), He presented nothing more than a statement approved by universal consent. It follows that those who permit cattle to suffer hunger are cruel and have forgotten the claims of equity; and incomparably worse are those who act similarly toward people, exploiting their sweat for their own gain. And how intolerable is the ingratitude of those who refuse to support their pastors, to whom no salary can be truly adequate!