I Corinthians 14:21-40
Last time we studied I Corinthians 14:1-20
and concluded with these thoughts:
(1 Cor 14:17) For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. {18} I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; {19} yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. {20} Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes,
but in understanding be mature.
What a tremendous way of wrapping up this first half of the chapter:
Brethren, do not be children in understanding;
They had a lot of “growing up to do!”
“however, in malice be babes,”
Ironically, it takes a mature person to be a “babe” in malice.
“But in understanding be mature.”
Paul was the example:
(1 Cor 14:18) I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; {19} yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Probably no one knew all the special gifts he had at his disposal, because he quietly used his gifts for the glory of God, and the benefit of others:
yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Having said that, we continue with the last half of
I Corinthians 14.
(1 Cor 14:21 NKJV) In the law it is written: "With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me," says the Lord.
Where is this quotation found?
(Isa 28:11-12 NKJV) For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, {12} To whom He said, "This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest," And, "This is the refreshing"; Yet they would not hear.
Problem: This is Isaiah which is prophecy, not one of the books of the law.
Solution: In some cases, “the law” was used in somewhat the same way we use the expression, the Old Testament.
If you must have one of the five books of law, then this passage may come close:
(Deu 28:49-50 NKJV) "The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, {50} "a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young.
The first application of these verses: Israel was carried into captivity because of its disobedience, but still refused to acknowledge God.
Back to I Corinthians 14:
(1 Cor 14:22) Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
What is the connection? What did the “tongues” of foreign captors have to do with the “tongues” of the first century? There is one point in common: They were for the unbelievers.
For the unbelieving children of Israel, it was the unknown tongue of their captors.
For the unbelieving of the first century, it was to get the attention of the unbelievers so that they might believe. [That is when they were used in the way they were intended to be used, and not just for showmanship.]
(1 Cor 14:22b) “but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.”
“prophesying.” or teaching was a tremendous blessing for the believer. Teaching is how we come to know the Lord and obey Him.
(1 Cor 14:23) Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, [and there is no interpreter] and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? [because they have no idea what is being said.]
Paul, in effect, supposes there ultimate dream:
“the whole church . . and all speak with tongues,”
How could it get better than that?
But notice what Paul says: “Will they not say that you are out of your mind?”
Is that what they really want?
(I Cor 14:24) But if all prophesy [teach], and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. {25} And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
“And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed;”
This is the effect of the word of God.
(Heb 4:12-13 NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. {13} And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Paul is trying to get them to see how much more important good teaching is rather than tongues.
So what should the meeting consist of?
(1 Cor 14:26 NASB) What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
“Psalms, teaching, and revelation [such as other scripture]” Are all different forms of prophesying, so now what’s wrong?
Be sure there is a good reason for what you are doing: “Let all things be done for edification.”
Back to tongues and their proper use in the church—the rules if you will:
(1 Cor 14:27) If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. {28} But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
Paul is placing a very severe limitation on the use of tongues in the church. He has already given the reasons for that, so there is no need to repeat them here.
{29} Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. {30} But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. {31} For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. {32} And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
I see this as very similar to our class situation where we normally have one teacher, and if something is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. We do this in our classes.
(1 Cor 14:33) For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.” This is a very important point, and one that sometimes gets lost it seems in the way some “worship services” are conducted.
(1 Cor 14:34) Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.
This is a very clear statement. I don’t think it needs much commentary. The question is where does “the law” address this issue?
(1 Tim 2:12-14 NKJV) And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. {13} For Adam was formed first, then Eve. {14} And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
1 Cor 14:35) And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
Someone has wisely pointed out that this places an obligation on the husband to be the spiritual head of the home, and to be able to answer her questions.
(1 Cor 14:36) Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?
This is rebuke! It is sarcasm. It is said because they acted as if it were true.
(1 Cor 14:37) If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. {38} But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Compare: (1 Cor 14:38 NIV) If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
Both of these verses are addressing the problem of those in Corinth who had taken too much authority to themselves. Paul first says, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. Then, “If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.”
Now for the Wrap Up of Spiritual gifts, and tongues in particular.
(1 Cor 14:39) Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
Put things in their proper order: “desire earnestly to prophesy,”
This is the teaching and preaching of the church. It is a very serious and important work.
Then: “do not forbid to speak with tongues.” When it was real, as it was in the first century,
it had a place.
(1 Cor 14:40) Let all things be done decently and in order.
The first meaning here is for the church.
It is important, and sometimes gets ignored by those who stress the “emotional” aspects of worship.
It’s good advice for our lives in general.