1 Timothy 5:18

“For the Scripture says”: The first Scripture cited is Deuteronomy 25:4 “Thou shall not muzzle the ox while He is threshing”. Threshing was sometimes done by having the grain trampled under foot by horses or oxen. This is still. common mode in the East. The cattle were driven over the grain, treading heavily as they go, and in this manner the threshing is accomplished. In general the beasts are allowed to eat of the grain they thread out. The principle involved is that all labor is to be duty requited.

Compare with 1 Corinthians 9:9.

“The text reflects the ancient agricultural practice of driving an ox drawing. threshing-sledge over the grain to release the kernels from the stalk. Out of mercy for the laboring animal the Israelites were forbidden to muzzle the ox, so that he might have some "material benefit" from his labor” (Fee pp. 406-407). And if God doesn't want the labor of an ox to go unrewarded, how much more the labor of. man! “Paul asserts that God does not legislate for oxen and forget men” (McGarvey p. 91). “Paul is saying that the law was written for man's benefit; after all, oxen cannot read” (Willis p. 288). And if this was the command given to Israelites concerning the "treatment" of their oxen, then how much more it applied to their treatment of their fellowman.

Point to Note

Note that Paul quotes from the Old Testament here as justification for the support of elders and yet clearly Paul does not believe that we are still under the Law of Moses. Therefore, when the New Testament writers quote from the Old Testament, those quotations are not to be taken as meaning that we are still under the Law, like James 2:8.

1 Timothy 5:18 “And”: This is another Scripture that is quoted.

1 Timothy 5:18 “The laborer is worthy of his wages”: This verse is an exact quotation of Jesus' words as recorded in Luke 10:7. This means: 1. The book of Luke was already in existence when. Timothy was written and it was regarded as “Scripture” by Christians. 2. This shows that the New Testament books were regarded as Scripture and inspired by God by First Century Christians (2 Peter 3:15). It was not. process that took decades or centuries to determine. 3. Both statements are placed on the same level, that is, both are inspired by God. “The Gospel of Luke is put on an equal basis with the Old Testament Scriptures as far as inspiration is concerned. Of course, the New Testament has taken the place of the Old Testament as the covenant for God's people to live by, and so likewise the writings of the New Testament are our rule of faith and practice in this Messianic age” (Reese p. 246).