There is a blessed jewel in this passage that will
strengthen your belief in the authority of Scripture. The chapter begins with
Paul giving instructions to the church on caring for widows and who should
receive continual financial support from the church. Now, he turns his focus to
the pastors. The church has a responsibility to care for their pastor
financially as he cares for them spiritually. Those that labor in the Bible and
doctrine do a good work, and they are worthy of the church's support. Most
people bristle at this passage because it talks about the pastor and money.
Paul had to deal with accusations of being “in it for the money" so he worked
a job to support himself, proving he wasn't a prophet for profit. Paul does
what any man who labors in word and doctrine worth his salt does when addressing
an issue – he brings the book.
“For the scripture saith”. Paul shows from the Bible the
principle of supporting the pastor from two unlikely places. He first
illustrates that it is an act of love and mercy to support your pastor. Deuteronomy
25:4 says you shouldn’t put a muzzle on the ox that you use when threshing the
corn. It was cruel and counter-productive to starve out your ox while he is
working for you. Don't get greedy about mouth full of corn he’ll eat, and work
him hungry. The ox is worthy of taking some of the fruit of his labor. The application
is not that your pastor is a big dumb ox, but rather don’t starve out your pastor to keep
him humble and at least treat him as well as you do your livestock.
Here is the verse that I wanted you to see. “The labourer is
worthy of his reward”. Paul quotes Luke 10:7. This is a big deal because he
refers to the gospel of Luke as Scripture – the written word of God. Paul did
not viewed the writings of his friend, Dr. Luke, as the inspired word of God.
Luke's gospel, for Paul, has the same weight and authority as Deuteronomy! Paul
at once shows that both the Old Testament and the newly penned gospels and
epistles are authoritative for the Christian. All of Luke's gospel is Scripture;
the virgin birth, the life and ministry of Jesus, His miracles, and His death
and resurrection. The New Testament writers knew their writings were inspired
of God and quoted each other while submitting to that word. When you open the
gospel of Luke, you can know that it is God's word and have faith in its
message as not the words of men, but the very words of God.
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