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1 Corinthians 9:8-14
In 1 Corinthians 9:8-14 the Apostle Paul continues his teaching that the church should look after the needs of the pastor, or as it may seem for him, the evangelist. It appears that there may have been some dispute with the hospitality given – or not given to Paul while he visited the church in Corinth. He quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 to support his teaching, and apparently others have been given care while visiting, so why should he receive this care as well. He states in 1 Corinthians 9:12 (NKJV), “If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?”
This is a command that the Church should not have disputes but be as one in caring for their pastors and evangelists.
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church at Corinth to help resolve the uncertainty of their behavior, disputes, and divisions within the church. But in his teaching and correction, we know that the people of the church at Corinth were blessed by God; they just needed some guidance in leading proper lives in the eyes of God. Paul addresses this letter to, “those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord…” as we learn in 1 Corinthians 1:2. But he also states in 1 Corinthians 1:10, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Paul is striving to help the congregation of the church at Corinth see that they are no longer to portray their old attitudes of the secular world, but that the mind of Christ Jesus should govern all of them together.
Dear LORD,
Please open our eyes to the fact that these letters that make up the books of the Bible were written not only for the initial recipients of the letter but for us today as well, that we can learn from them of how You would have us to be as one in our Lord Jesus who saved us all from sin so that by believing in Him we can live in one Spirit – the Spirit of salvation which You promised to all Your children. Please let it be so LORD. In Jesus name I pray, amen.