The Muzzled Ox

Weekly Torah Lesson

Parasha: Ki tetze when you go forth
Torah: Devarim 21:10 – 25:19

74 of the 613 mitzvot are contained in this week’s parsha;

** A verse in this week’s Torah portion gives us some insight on how the Apostolic writers used the Scriptures to support their positions on seemingly unrelated issues.

“You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the corn.” (De 25:4)

** In a sense, the ox is considered to be a “worker”, an “employee”. It’s not a far reach to assume that if someone couldn’t afford to keep an ox, they would be pushing that millstone themselves. So, in Deuteronomy, we are told that if you have an animal that is doing work for you, you must treat the animal with compassion and not abuse it by denying it food and water while it is “working”. There are several other verses in the Torah that strengthen this concept of how to treat a working animal.

** About fifteen hundred years after the instruction on how to treat an animal was written, Shaul is writing a letter to the Corinthian Congregation. Let’s notice how he uses this Torah instruction.

*** “1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Yeshua HaMeshiach our Master? are not you my work in Avinu? 2 If I be not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of my apostleship are you in Avinu. 3 My answer to them that do examine me is this, 4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brothers of the Master, and Kifa? 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 7 Who goes a warfare any time at his own charges? who plants a vineyard, and eats not of the fruit thereof? or who feeds a flock, and eats not of the milk of the flock? 8 Say I these things as a man? or said not the law the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, You shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn. Does God take care for oxen? 10 Or said he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that plows should plow in hope; and that he that threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 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 Meshiach. 13 Do you 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? 14 Even so has the Master ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done to me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid on me; yes, woe is to me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed to me. 18 What is my reward then? Truly that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Meshiach without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant to all, that I might gain the more.” (1Co 9:1-19)

** In the above passage to the Corinthian Congregation, Shaul uses the “muzzled ox” verse to claim that he had the authority to receive the tithes and offerings to support his ministry, including a wife and family if he chose to.

** In the next verse, Shaul uses the “muzzled ox” verse to justify his instruction to give Elders “double honor” in the congregations. Notice how he “expanded” the muzzled ox verse to include, “…And, The laborer is worthy of his reward.” Which also appears in the Torah but in a different book.

*** “17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture said, You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward.” (1Ti 5:17-18)

** Yeshua shows us an example of how He “opened up” the Scriptures to His disciples. ** First He speaks to the general population:

*** “And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:” (Mt 13:4 AKJV)

**Notice that He used the term “fowls” to describe “the devourer of the seed”. ** Now He is speaking privately to His disciples:

*** “He answered and said to them, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” (Mt 13:11 AKJV)

*** “13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which said, By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly I say to you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them.” (Mt 13:13-17 AKJV)

** Now He “opens up” the Scripture by defining “the fowls of the air”.

*** “When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.” (Mt 13:19 AKJV)

** When Yeshua used the term “fowls”, He is referring to “the Evil one.” When Shaul used the word “ox”, he was either referring to himself and Barnabas or an “elder”.

** Now let’s consider a different verse and the possibilities of it’s meaning.

*** “10 And he took to him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. 11 And when the fowls came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.” (Ge 15:10-11 AKJV)

** Could it be that satan attacked the sacrificial offerings to try to prevent Avraham from receiving the promise? Did Avraham have to literally “fight Satan in order to receive the promise? Could it be that “the Promise” was received by faith but not without a “fight”?

** Who do you think that “the fowler” is in the following verses?

*** “Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” (Ps 91:3)

*** “The watchman of Ephraim was with Avinu: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his demon-idol.” (Ho 9:8 AKJV)