1 Corinthians 9:11,12 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

If we have sown unto you spiritual things By our incessant diligence in preaching to you the gospel of the blessed God; is it a great thing More than we have a right to expect; if we shall reap your carnal things Namely, as much as is needful for our sustenance? Do you give us things of greater value than those you receive from us? If others Whether true or false apostles or ministers; be partakers of this power over you Have a right to be maintained by you; are not we rather Entitled to it, having first preached the gospel among you, and brought you to the knowledge of the truth, and having laboured much more among you? Nevertheless we have not used this power Though founded in such evident and various principles of equity; but suffer all things Every kind of hardship, particularly the fatigues of labour, and the want of needful or convenient support, 1 Corinthians 4:11-12; lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ By giving an occasion of cavil or reproach to those who are watchful for opportunities to misrepresent and censure our conduct. “By preaching the gospel free of expense, the apostle rendered it the more acceptable to the Gentiles, and drew them the more readily to hear him. There was another reason also for his demanding no reward for preaching, namely, that in future ages mankind might be sensible that in preaching the gospel, he was not animated by any worldly motive, but merely by a full persuasion of its truth. Foreseeing, therefore, that his disinterestedness would, in all ages, be a strong proof of the truth of the gospel, the apostle gloried in preaching it to all men, without fee or reward.” Macknight.