Deuteronomy 25:4

"Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn."

The kind of threshing spoken of here was, "The sheaves were spread out upon a hard, beaten piece of ground, the threshing floor, and over them a pair of oxen dragged a wooden sledge or harrow, about five feet square, upon which the driver stood to add weight to it."[7] Paul quoted this passage in 1 Corinthians 9:9,10 as follows:

"It is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for oxen that God careth, or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written."

"In spite of Paul's question, this law does show a respect for animals similar to that in Deuteronomy 22:6f."[8] "The claims of the lower aspects of creation upon human sympathies are typical of the Scriptures. God indeed cares for animals, but he cares more for human beings (1 Corinthians 9:9)."[9] Paul made excellent use of this passage in his argument for the adequate support of Christian teachers and preachers. In portions of our society today, however, it is not the adequate support of preachers that needs attention, but a more diligent effort on the part of preachers to "do the work of an evangelist."

Oberst has this:

"It is well to note here that no eating privileges are mentioned for lazy or non-working oxen! "The laborer is worthy of his hire," but "He that will not work, neither let him eat!" The Church of our Lord has no room for mercenaries, hirelings, or leeches."[10]