For it is written in the law of Moses, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” ¹  God is not concerned here about oxen, is he?

¹ He found in the temple courts ²  those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting at tables. ³ 

For the scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” ¹  and, “The worker deserves his pay.” ² 

Then ¹  he said to them, “Which of you, if you have a son ²  or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?”

Another ¹  said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, ²  and I am going out ³  to examine them. Please excuse me.’

Then the Lord answered him, ¹  “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from its stall, ²  and lead it to water? ³ 

So he made a whip of cords ¹  and drove them all out of the temple courts, ²  with the sheep and the oxen. He scattered the coins of the money changers ³  and overturned their tables.