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Scott's Reference Library
1 Corinthians 9:1 through 1 Corinthians 9:16 (NIV)
1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you
not the result of my work in the Lord? 2Even though I may not be an apostle to
others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4Don’t we have the right
to food and drink? 5Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with
us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6Or is it only
I and Barnabas who must work for a living?
7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not
eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? 8Do I say
this merely from a human point of view? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9For
it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out
the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10Surely he says this for
us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and
the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the
harvest. 11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a
material harvest from you? 12If others have this right of support from you,
shouldn’t we have it all the more?
But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather
than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13Don’t you know that those who work in the
temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in
what is offered on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that
those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope
that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive
me of this boast. 16Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am
compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 1-14
It is not new for a minister to meet with unkind returns for good-will to a
people, and diligent and successful services among them. To the cavils of some,
the apostle answers, so as to set forth himself as an example of self-denial,
for the good of others. He had a right to marry as well as other apostles, and
to claim what was needful for his wife, and his children if he had any, from the
churches, without labouring with his own hands to get it. Those who seek to do
our souls good, should have food provided for them. But he renounced his right,
rather than hinder his success by claiming it. It is the people’s duty to
maintain their minister. He may wave his right, as Paul did; but those
transgress a precept of Christ, who deny or withhold due support.
VERSES 15-23
It is the glory of a minister to deny himself, that he may serve Christ and save
souls. But when a minister gives up his right for the sake of the gospel, he
does more than his charge and office demands. By preaching the gospel, freely,
the apostle showed that he acted from principles of zeal and love, and thus
enjoyed much comfort and hope in his soul. And though he looked on the
ceremonial law as a yoke taken off by Christ, yet he submitted to it, that he
might work upon the Jews, do away their prejudices, prevail with them to hear
the gospel, and win them over to Christ. Though he would transgress no laws of
Christ, to please any man, yet he would accommodate himself to all men, where he
might do it lawfully, to gain some. Doing good was the study and business of his
life; and, that he might reach this end, he did not stand on privileges. We must
carefully watch against extremes, and against relying on any thing but trust in
Christ alone. We must not allow errors or faults, so as to hurt others, or
disgrace the gospel.