1 Corinthians 9:13-14
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Paul’s point isn't just about getting paid; he's drawing a parallel between those who serve God in the Old Testament system and those who serve in the New Testament church. The implication is that just as the temple workers had a right to their provision from the sacred duties they performed, so too do those who minister the gospel have a right to be supported by the church.
Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing the Corinthians' right to be supported financially by the church since he is a minister of the gospel. He uses examples from the Old Testament temple system to argue that those who serve God have a right to be supported by God's people. This leads into his discussion in the following verses about his own voluntary refusal to exercise this right for the sake of the gospel.
Imagine working a job where your pay comes directly from the place you serve. That's the picture Paul paints from the Temple in Jerusalem.
The Principle of Provision
Paul uses an analogy from the Old Testament Temple system to make a point about supporting those who serve God. He highlights that the Levites and priests who worked in the Temple were provided for by the Temple itself. Their livelihood was directly tied to the services they rendered, often receiving portions of the sacrifices or other temple resources as their 'wage'. This wasn't seen as a bribe, but as a rightful and established system of support for those dedicating their lives to God's work.
Serving at God's altar wasn't just a spiritual duty; it came with tangible benefits directly linked to the sacred work.
The Right to Receive
The second part of the verse speaks of those who 'serve at the altar.' These were typically the priests performing the sacrifices. The sacrificial system involved portions of the animals and other offerings being set aside for the priests. Paul emphasizes this wasn't just a handout; it was a share in the offerings – a recognition that those closest to God's work had a right to be sustained by it. This established a precedent: dedicated service to God carries with it a legitimate claim to be supported by the community for whom that service is performed.
Understand the original words
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hieron · Greek Noun
The place of sacrifice where God met with His people under the Mosaic covenant. It signifies the site of worship and the administration of divine ordinances.
thysiastērion · Greek Noun
The place where sacrifices were offered to God. It represents the central location of atonement and communion between God and humanity.
symmerizomai · Greek Verb
Refers to the portions of sacrifices given to the priests for their sustenance. It signifies the provision God established for those set apart for His service.
diatassō · Greek Verb
A divine decree, mandate, or authoritative instruction given by Jesus. It highlights the binding nature of His teaching for the church.
Paul draws on the well-understood system of support for Temple personnel in Jerusalem, a practice spanning centuries and central to Jewish identity, to make his point about the right of gospel workers to be supported.
c. 1446 BC
Mosaic Law Established
God gave Moses the Law, which included detailed instructions for the Tabernacle and its worship, including provisions for the priests and Levites.
c. 1000 BC
Solomon's Temple Dedicated
King Solomon built the First Temple in Jerusalem, becoming the central place of worship and a perpetual home for the Ark of the Covenant.
c. 970 BC
Temple Priesthood Organized
Following David's preparations, the Levitical priesthood and temple service were meticulously organized, with specific roles and provisions for sustenance.
586 BC
Destruction of the First Temple
The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and destroyed Solomon's Temple, ending the centralized sacrificial system and leading to the Babylonian exile.
516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
After the return from exile, the Second Temple was completed under Zerubbabel, re-establishing the sacrificial system and the support for temple personnel.
c. 20 BC - AD 30— this verse
Herod's Temple Expansion
King Herod the Great undertook a massive renovation and expansion of the Second Temple, making it a magnificent structure and a focal point of Jewish life.
c. AD 40-60
Paul's Missionary Journeys
The Apostle Paul traveled extensively, establishing churches and addressing various issues within the early Christian communities, including the church in Corinth.
This passage directly lays out the Old Testament law that the Levites, who served in the Temple, were given the tithes of Israel as their inheritance and provision, mirroring the principle in 1 Corinthians 9:13.
Deuteronomy 18:1-3Here, the Lord Himself instructs that the priests and Levites who minister in His name should receive their portion from the sacrifices and offerings, establishing the precedent of those who serve being supported by their service.
1 Timothy 5:18This New Testament passage echoes the logic by stating that the laborer deserves his wages, specifically referencing the Old Testament command not to muzzle an ox while it treads grain, a principle applied to supporting spiritual workers.
Matthew 10:10Jesus instructs His disciples not to take a bag or extra tunic when they go out to preach, implying that they should be provided for by those who receive the message, much like the Temple workers were provided for by the Temple system.
Paul’s point isn't just about getting paid; he's drawing a parallel between those who serve God in the Old Testament system and those who serve in the New Testament church. The implication is that just as the temple workers had a right to their provision from the sacred duties they performed, so too do those who minister the gospel have a right to be supported by the church.
Paul is addressing the Corinthians' right to be supported financially by the church since he is a minister of the gospel. He uses examples from the Old Testament temple system to argue that those who serve God have a right to be supported by God's people. This leads into his discussion in the following verses about his own voluntary refusal to exercise this right for the sake of the gospel.
Paul is addressing the Corinthians' right to be supported financially by the church since he is a minister of the gospel. He uses examples from the Old Testament temple system to argue that those who serve God have a right to be supported by God's people. This leads into his discussion in the following verses about his own voluntary refusal to exercise this right for the sake of the gospel.
"Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel s…" — Paul’s point isn't just about getting paid; he's drawing a parallel between those who serve God in the Old Testament system and those who serve in the New Testament church. The implication is that ju…
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Last reviewed October 2026
