Deuteronomy 25 · a question people ask
Is "You shall not muzzle the ox" about oxen, or about people?
The law itself speaks of an ox: "You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the grain" (25:4). Paul quotes it for the pay of those who serve the gospel: "For it is written in the law of Moses, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.’ Is it for the oxen that God cares, or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake" (1 Corinthians 9:9-10). Readers agree that Paul applies it to people who work (1 Corinthians 9:11; 1 Timothy 5:17-18). They read what it means for the ox in two main ways.
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
Both the ox and the worker
Those who hold this view read the law as caring for the animal in its own right, as other verses do: "A righteous man respects the life of his animal" (Proverbs 12:10), and the law of the bird's nest three chapters earlier, "You shall surely let the hen go" (Deuteronomy 22:7). They read Paul as drawing a further point from it, "for our sake" (1 Corinthians 9:10), without taking away its first one.
Proverbs 12:10 · Deuteronomy 22:6-7 · 1 Corinthians 9:10
Written for the worker
Those who hold this view take Paul's question and answer as his reading of the law's purpose: "Is it for the oxen that God cares, or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope" (1 Corinthians 9:9-10). They note that the law sits among laws about people (25:1-3, 25:5-10), and that 1 Timothy uses it for elders (1 Timothy 5:17-18).
1 Corinthians 9:9-10 · Deuteronomy 25:1-10 · 1 Timothy 5:17-18
The verses
“You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the grain.”
“For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it for the oxen that God cares, or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope. If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?”
“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.””