4 Do we not have a right to eat and drink ? 5 Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife , even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas ? 6 Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working ? 7 Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense ? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock ? 8 I am not speaking these things according to human judgment , am I? Or does not the Law also say these things ? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses , " YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING ." God is not concerned about oxen , is He? 10 Or is He speaking altogether for our sake ? Yes , for our sake it was written , because the plowman ought to plow in hope , and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. 11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share the right over you, do we not more ? Nevertheless , we did not use this right , but we endure all things so that we will cause no e hindrance to the gospel of Christ . 13 Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple , and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar ? 14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel .
15 But I have used none of these things . And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case ; for it would be better e for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one. 16 For if I preach the gospel , I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion ; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel . 17 For if I do this voluntarily , I have a reward ; but if against my will , I have a stewardship entrusted to me. 18 What then is my reward ? That, when I preach the gospel , I may offer the gospel without charge , so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel .
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all , so that I may win more .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 9:4-19
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 9:1-14
(Read 1 Corinthians 9:1-14)
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.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 9:15-23
(Read 1 Corinthians 9:15-23)
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.