August
4th 1
Corinthians 13 Love conquers all
1:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2: And
though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and
all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove
mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3: And though I bestow
all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be
burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4: Charity
suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth
not itself, is not puffed up, 5: Doth not behave itself unseemly,
seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6:
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7: Beareth all
things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8: Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall
fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be
knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9: For we know in part, and we
prophesy in part. 10: But when that which is perfect is come, then
that which is in part shall be done away. 11: When I was a child, I
spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but
when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12: For now we see
through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part;
but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13: And now abideth
faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is
charity.
Previously,
Paul had discussed the fact that there are different ministries and
spiritual gifts in the church. Paul had said l want to show you a
more excellent way and then follows chapter 13. So Chapter 13 is a
more advanced and more mature way of thinking and living spiritualy.
Paul poses a number of hypothetical scenarios. He says lets suppose
that l did speak in all languages and of angels (that’s even
supposing that they do speak some sort of angelic language – its
purely hypothetical) He says - lets suppose that l did speak with the
languages of angels if l do not have love in my heart then my gift of
languages is just clashing brass and a noise which means nothing like
the sound of wind chime. Then Paul says Lets suppose that l receive
direct revelations from God and l understand all of the secret things
that God has not explained yet and lets suppose that l have all the
knowledge that it is possible to have and lets suppose that l have
all the faith that it is possible to have so that l can move
mountains but if l don’t have love in my heart then it amounts to
nothing. And lets suppose that l give away everything l have to feed
the poor (the height of Jewish piety) and lets even suppose that l
give my own life away being burnt at the stake, If l have not love in
my heart then all that is pointless. Love surpasses all gifts,
languages, prophecy, knowledge, and even self sacrifice. Love is
patient, Love is kind, and Love does not envy or think highly of
itself, Love is not proud. Love is not rude or selfish and is not
easily provoked, Love thinks no evil of anyone, Love does not rejoice
in the sins of other people. Love rejoices only in the truth, Love is
able to bear all things. Love is able to believe in the best in
everyone. Love hopes for the best of everyone. Love can endure any
unkind word. Love never fails. But when we compare love to gifts we
see that love supersedes gifts every time. Although Love never fails
the gift of prophesy will fail. There will come a time when the gift
of languages will cease. Supernatural knowledge will vanish like the
morning mist. At the moment the knowledge we have of the Lord is only
in part. But when that which is perfect is come then all the partial
revelations will pass away. (This perfection is described in Hebrews
a great deal and it seems to be the time in the future, when in the
New Covenant, everyman will have the full knowledge of God. 1
)
When l was a child l spoke with childish language, and l had a
child’s understanding and l thought as children think but when l
became a man l put away childishness. At the moment we see things in
a dark mirror but then we will see face to face. Just now we know the
revelation of the Lord only in part but soon we will know God fully
in the same way that men know me. So for now faith, hope and love
remain. But the greatest of these three is love.
- Gifts are important but what is the better way?
- How does Paul describe love?
- Why is love the greatest thing?
- What is Paul looking forward to?
1.
Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a
new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in
the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land
of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband
unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I
will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the
LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their
hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And
they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his
brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the
least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will
forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
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