9:10 for our sake. It may appear that Paul denies the original meaning of Deut. 25:4, which commands Israelites to allow their oxen to eat as they work. We should remember that the whole complex of laws in Israel constantly reminded the community of religious principles. Some scholars have suggested that the command not to muzzle the ox was intended to reinforce the instructions about human relationships mentioned in the immediate context (Deut. 24:5–25:4).