1 Timothy 5:18
1 Timothy 5:18
“For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul supports honoring elders with Scripture: the ox is not muzzled, and the laborer deserves his wages.
What Does 1 Timothy 5:18 Mean?
Paul backs his counsel with Scripture. The law forbade muzzling an ox as it worked, letting it eat as it labored, a picture of fair provision.
He adds that the worker deserves his wages, echoing words of the Lord himself. Those who give themselves to the church's work should be sustained by it. Paul grounds practical generosity in the principle that honest labor merits honest support.