Deuteronomy 25
Deuteronomy 25:1-3:
If there is a dispute between men and they come into court and the judges decide between them, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty then if the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence with a number of stripes in proportion to his offense. Forty stripes may be given him, but not more, lest, if one should go on to beat him with more stripes than these, your brother be degraded in your sight. |
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Deuteronomy 25:4:
"Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. |
When the oxen were threshing grain they were not allowed to be muzzled. Rather they were allowed to eat their fill of the crop which they had plowed, planted, cultivated, and harvested. This was an act of kindness to creatures who had shared men's labors, but it was much more. Paul asked (I Cor 9:9-10, 13-14), "Doth God take care for the oxen?" RCH Lenski translates it literally as "Is it care of oxen to God?" Were the oxen God's only concern? Rather, says Paul, he said "altogether," or as some commentators prefer to translate it "assuredly" for our sakes. He even repeats the phrase "for our sake" twice.
Because Paul here uses Biblical law regarding rewards due to oxen for their labor, a number of commentators over the years have seen Paul as using the law to create an allegory to make his point regarding wages. But he is doing far more. Paul says the law pertains to "he that ploweth" and "he that thresheth." Paul looks at the law regarding rewards to oxen as a fundamental principle we are to apply to work animals and workmen. "Oxen cannot read, " said Luther. The law was thus never for them even if it worked to their benefit. Oxen cannot be sustained in "the object hoped for." The worker is to partake of the increase his labor made possible. This is true of an ox, an apostle, and all laborers in between. The law said this for our account. Therefore, says Paul, we must understand what it means for us. |
F. Godet points out in his commentary that plowing and treading out are not parallel examples of work done in the expectation of reward. Rather, plowing is a hard and painful work in which man must be encouraged by the hope of a bountiful harvest. Threshing, on the other hand, was not such a painful task, especially when the labor was supplied by oxen (threshing could also be done by hand). Threshing was part of the harvest and was thus a time of celebration. The entire harvest process was thus the reward hoped for by the plowman all season long. This is in agreement with Psalm 126:5-6: "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves." The plowman sowed in tears because much of the remainder of his grain had to be cast onto the ground. If the weather or insects destroyed his crop, the bulk of his remaining food was also lost. The oxen, however, could not partake in the joy of harvest. Therefore, they were to be guaranteed their fill of its fruit.
Paul had plowed and sowed at Corinth to establish the church there. He was entitled to partake of the harvest at least in the form of salary. For his own reasons Paul had decided not to accept his due. There were, however, elements in the church who sought to deny Paul not only of his position as a faithful worker but also his very apostlehood. He thus referred to this Mosaic law to remind the church that it had an obligation to remember him as the one who had plowed and planted the seeds of their faith.
Paul had plowed and sowed at Corinth to establish the church there. He was entitled to partake of the harvest at least in the form of salary. For his own reasons Paul had decided not to accept his due. There were, however, elements in the church who sought to deny Paul not only of his position as a faithful worker but also his very apostlehood. He thus referred to this Mosaic law to remind the church that it had an obligation to remember him as the one who had plowed and planted the seeds of their faith.