LABORER WORTHY OF HIS WAGES
1Timothy 5.18This is the one of the most controversial issues about reward for preaching the Gospel. No such word as "money" is mentioned anywhere in the Bible concerning this issue, but only various help, providing food, shelter, and other things for the need of missionaries and teachers is meant in this passage.
18. The Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing' (Deuteronomy 25.4) (1Corinfians 9.9) (1Timothy 5.18)
Under this context the first part of the verse 18 meant not to block, or be obstacle for those who are preaching the true Gospel of Christ. Of course, not everyone preaching the Gospel of Christ properly and for a good reason, but in general it means not to resist the true preaching of Gospel no matter who is preaching it.
and, *'The laborer is worthy of his wages.' (Matthew 10.10) (Luke 10.7) (1Corinthinas 9.14) (1Timothy 5.18)
The second part of this verse talking about rewards for those who are preaching the true Gospel of Christ in proper way. Because the Gospel is a Spiritual thing, and those who preaching Spiritual Gospel are Spiritual people, and so, they are worthy of their Spiritual Reward and their Spiritual Wages, which is Eternal Life and high position in the Kingdom of GOD. No material physical things are meant in this passage, only Spiritual Reward.
Some pastors and preachers usually ask, "How we will support ourselves and our families?" The answer is given by Paul in different places of the Bible, which pointed out to do work with your own hands, for yourself and your family, which had been done by the Christ, His Apostles, and all the prophets of GOD. None of them received or accepted monetary pay for their teachings.
~ 18. Working with your own hands: (Acts 18.1-3, 20.34-35, 28.30-31) (1Thessalonians 4.11-12) (2Thessalonians 3.6-12).
Matthew 10.10 Luke 10.7 1Corinthians 9.14 1Timothy 5.18
KJV "meat" "hire" "live" "reward"
ESV "food" "wages" "living" "wages"
NRSV "food" "paid" "living" "paid"
Gideons "food" "wages" "live" "wages"
KSB "support" "wages" "living" "wages"
GNB "needs" "pay" "living" "pay"
Russian "provisions" "reward" "live" "reward"
KSB - Mathew 10.10. "support"
1. Or, knapsack or beggar's bag.
2. Or, inner garments.
3. A literal translation - nourishment.
KSB, Mid-reference. P-1274.
CONSECRATION
1Timothy 5.22
From the OT to NT laying hands upon a person means his consecration. It is done for different purpose and for different reasons. Paul does not specify here for what reason he is mentioned it, but in general term the consecration is done for the purpose to be holy, like for priests, or to put someone in leadership position to serve Spiritually his congregation, for initiation into something important or for deliverance as it was with the deliverers of Israel, and for some other reasons what required cleanness and holiness of a person. In some churches it is also practice during Baptism of a person, to clean symbolically off the spiritual and physical sins for good conscience.
Word "hastily" means rush to consecrate, issued as a warning for those who take this important ritual lightly, with little consideration for its purpose and its consequences. The consequences for consecration of the wrong person equivalent to sin, and both parties will share the same guilt. A person who does not deserve consecration will not benefit from his/her false consecration in any way.
For this reason, by this statement, Paul warned us not to rush to perform ritual of laying hands, but to investigate, check, and to know very well and for sure a person who is a candidate for consecration, otherwise will be guilty and share responsibility for sin and the punishment with one whom he consecrated, for defilement of consecration.
I myself have been witness of such practice when pastors in some churches were rush and, in a hurry Baptize children, adult, and everybody else who expressed wish to be consecrated by Baptism of Christ, without much knowing about them. The consent of the candidate for Baptism to be Baptize was enough for those pastors and they were in a hurry to created spectacle of Baptism without having a clue whom they actually Baptizing.
This was like a race and like a competition among them, who will Baptize more people and be the more important and respectful pastor of them all. They done it for the sake of their own personal pride and ego, and not for the sake of Christ or for the sake of a person they Baptized. They guilt and condemnation of their deed certainly will be caught up with them sooner or later.
They can fool people by their action, but they cannot fool GOD.