(7) Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? (8) Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? (9) For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? (10) Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (11) If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? (12) If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. (13) Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? (14) Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
The Apostle possessed a great mind. He wrought at one time, and worked as a tent maker, that he might not be chargeable to any man for the mere common necessaries of life, Acts 18:3. He felt, as every generous mind cannot but feel, that it is painful to be beholden to be maintained by others, when the Lord hath enabled a man to get his own bread. But it might so happen, that Paul's trade of tent-making might not always be in request. And, if so, it was hard, when preaching was over, and hunger sharp, that no one would ask him to eat. The Apostle, therefore, reasons upon the subject, If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? Reader! what a wonderful subject will be opened at the last day, when it will be found, that some, truly sent, and truly ordained servants of Christ have labored in the word and doctrine, and been blest of God, and made blessed to the Lord's people, and yet wanted the daily supply of the bread that perished; while others, unordained of God, and sent only of men, have wallowed in all the indulgence of ease and affluence, and fed themselves, but not the flock. Ezekiel 34:8.