The list of instructions for being sent into ministry by Jesus

I remember attending my wife’s seminary class (I call it a class), which was held in the School of Theology’s chapel. It was an episode of practicing being a priest, where some senior class members were going to hold a ‘pretend service,’ which was only the readings and a sermon. The adult family members of the students (spouses of seminarians) were welcomed to join; so I went. I recall the professor speaking before the ‘class’ began. He cautioned us all that someone was about to present a sermon orally, before a ‘live audience’ and this was an important role a priest must master. Thus, practice was necessary. In reference to a future career that would have a priest doing this frequently, he implied that was what a priest was paid to do. In that regard, he quoted Scripture, saying, “The worker deserves his wages.” To that quote a loud round of cheers and applause came from the student section. I got the impression from that response that the students had been putting in a lot of priestly work; but, not only were they not getting paid to do any of that work, they were paying [those not on diocesan scholarship] out of pocket for that privilege. I remember that now when I read of Jesus sending out the twelve, to be followed by his sending out seventy later. The element of “a worker deserves his wages” comes from Paul’s first letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 5:18), where the same verse begins by stating, “For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and  … “(the above quote).”  This is referencing the laws of Moses. Paul basically said the same thing in his first letter to the Christians of Corinth, making his remark to Timothy be a memory jog. In First Corinthians 9, Paul wrote: “For 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? Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings? In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast. Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility. What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.” (1 Corinthians 9:13-18) This means the professor was wrong to imply that a priest of God (Yahweh) deserved to be paid, because (as Paul wrote), “If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.” That was the deeper meaning of a Law of Moses that says [even to non-ox owning Americans today], “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”

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