Deuteronomy 25:4 [Preaching the Gospel Without Charge]

 

 

[Things to Meditate On]

1. The passage above, when connected with the passages below, sometimes seems to be regarded not only by those who preach the gospel, but also by those who hear it, as though “the one who preaches the gospel receiving support” is simply a natural and expected thing.

 

1 Timothy 5:18 “For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

Luke 10:7 “And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.”

 

2. However, with the word of God, it is always important to discern the meaning intended by what is written (Romans 12:2). Therefore, we also must have the attitude of the Bereans, always searching the Scriptures to see whether those things are so (Acts 17:11).

The passage that explains the words above more fully and clearly is recorded in 1 Corinthians 9 below.

 

1 Corinthians 9:9-14 “9For 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? 10Or 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. 11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12If 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. 13Do 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? 14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”

 

3. Through this passage, we can know that the “ox” in Deuteronomy 25:4 above is not referring merely to an animal, but is used as a figure of “those who preach the gospel.” In other words, just as an ox that treads out the corn may eat of that corn while working, the Bible says that those who preach the gospel have the “right” to receive support. However, immediately afterward, the passage explains that there is something even more important here.

 

“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” (1 Corinthians 9:12).

 

The apostle Paul says in this passage that although he had the right to receive support, he would not use that right, but would “suffer all things.” He said the reason was so that there would be no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. This is the important lesson shown through these words: to endure all things for the sake of the gospel. This is the example Jesus showed us (Matthew 26:48-54), and this is what Jesus desires of us (Matthew 10:8). Since Jesus commanded that “they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14), those who preach the gospel must be satisfied with the gospel alone and must endure all things, so that the matter of support may not hinder the gospel.

 

Matthew 26:48-54 “48Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. 51And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear. 52Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 53Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?”

Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

 

[Decision and Application]

People need “preaching.” The reason we need preaching is that this world, by its own wisdom, did not know God.

 

1 Corinthians 1:21 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

 

The necessity of preaching is explained more specifically in Romans 10:13-15 below.

 

Romans 10:13-15 “13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and 15how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

 

As this passage says, whoever calls upon the name of the Lord, that is, the name of Jesus, shall be saved. But if no one preaches this to us, how can we hear the name of Jesus, believe in Him, and call upon His name? For this reason, people need “preaching.” Therefore, if we have heard the name of Jesus through someone and have now come to call upon His name by faith, we also must share this beautiful news with others.

God makes beautiful the feet of those who preach good news, so that when we preach the gospel, He makes it profitable not only for those who hear, but also for those who preach.

 

1 Timothy 4:16 “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

 

Therefore, we must carefully continue in the work of preaching the gospel. But as mentioned above, when we preach the gospel, it is important that we be able to endure all things without receiving support, that is, without fully using the rights we have, so that there may be no hindrance to the gospel we preach. And we must remember that doing this becomes the “reward” for those who preach the gospel.

 

1 Corinthians 9:18 “What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.”

2 Corinthians 12:13-14 “13For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. 14Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.”

 

Through these words, we can understand why the apostle Paul preached the gospel while also working as a tentmaker (Acts 18:1-3). As shown in the passages above, he had a heart to preach the gospel without charge so that there would be no hindrance to the gospel, and he also had a heart not to be burdensome to others. Therefore, he tried to preach the gospel while working as a tentmaker (1 Thessalonians 2:9). Now we also must learn from such a heart and be able to think that we too can preach the gospel while doing other work at any time, so that there may be no hindrance to the gospel.

 

In fact, as 2 Corinthians 12:14 above says, children do not lay up treasure for the parents, but the parents for the children. Therefore, as it is written that “no man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life” (2 Timothy 2:3-4), Jesus will take responsibility for the lives of those who preach the gospel. What matters is our hearts. If, when we preach the gospel, we have a careful and cautious heart so that there may be no hindrance to the gospel and so that we may not be burdensome to others, then Jesus will surely supply all our need according to His riches, for the glory of the name of Jesus.

 

2 Corinthians 11:9 “And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.”

Acts 20:33-35 “33I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. 34Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

 

2 Timothy 2:3-4 “3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

Philippians 4:19-20 “19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

 

Amen.