Verse 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.
Tongues refers to both the physical tongue and to languages. So to speak with the tongues of men can be to speak in a language of another country, one that is foreign to the Christian believer who is speaking so that the believer does not know what is being said as the LORD has taken control of the believer’s tongue and speech. On the day of Pentecost when 120 disciples were present in the upper room as recorded in the book of Acts, they all began to speak in languages they did not know and these languages were understood by pilgrims in Jerusalem who were from other countries. The pilgrims heard the disciples praising God in their own language and not just in Hebrew or Greek. In the previous chapter the tongues of angels was discussed. And to speak with the tongues of angels means that the Christian believer is speaking in a Heavenly language that angels use and not in a language that is common in various countries. And it may be that this language used by God’s angels is one that Satan cannot understand. Just a thought.
The word “charity” is agape love or love that is unconditional. The Apostle Paul is saying that if a believer has the gift of tongues and yet does not operate within the context of love, then this gift is just noise.
Verse 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.
And if a believer can bring forth the Word of God and expound upon spiritual mysteries, has faith and knowledge and can perform miracles, if these gifts are not used in the context of love, they have no value or proper impact on the lives of others. All the gifts of the Spirit need to be seasoned with the fruit of the Spirit which is a result of love.
Application: What are the fruits of the Spirit? Those attributes that should encompass the Christian believer. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” Ephesians 5:9 When walking in the Spirit, these characteristics are reflected by the Christian believer, and as a result, Satan cannot use those who have these fruits. There is no room for malice, envy, greed, cruelty, lying, stealing, sexual sin and so forth. All the gifts of the Spirit are regulated by the fruits of the Spirit. This is God’s design for His people.
Verse 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.
To make his point even more emphatic, the Apostle Paul states that all the personal sacrifices done by believers are done in vain when done without love being the basis for the sacrifices. The greatest doctrine in the Bible is the doctrine of love. It was because of love that Jesus Christ came to Earth and died on the cross. It was love that was the basis of His ministry while on Earth. It is His love that calls sinners to repentance every day and that withholds divine judgement from an extremely wicked and evil world.
Verses 4-5 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;
Charity or love puts up with difficult people and difficult circumstances when the flesh’s response is to be angry, be verbally rude, and to walk away. Believers do not envy other people’s good fortune or possessions but rejoice with them. Believers do not brag about themselves or behave arrogantly. They behave properly with a desire to please the LORD in their appearance, their speech, and behavior. They do not seek after or focus on that which is only good for them, but are always thinking of others and putting others first. Believers don’t “fly off the handle” at every little irritation and they keep their temper if they have one under control. It should take a lot to anger a true Christian believer. Finally, they just do not think about or see evil around every corner. Their minds do not have room for evil thoughts. So it is easy to see that devils cannot use true Christian believers who are filled with the fruits of the Spirit.
Verse 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
True Christian believers do not enjoy other people’s misfortune. When filled with the fruits of the Spirit, believers are saddened by iniquity (acts of unrighteousness). Watching mainstream news is upsetting when man’s mistreatment of others is reported. But believers are happy when truth is being presented. The only truth in this world is that contained in Scripture, the Word of God.
Verse 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
When filled with the love of Jesus Christ, believers can put up with all the things this world, Satan, or others bring into their lives. They believe the Word, have hope in God’s promises, and pass through the difficulties of this life with victory. It was love that made Stephen ask the LORD to forgive those Jews who were killing him through hurling rocks at his head and body. It was love that Jesus displayed when He was dying a tortuous death on the cross and prayed for forgiveness for His murderers.
Verse 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.
Love always wins. Love will never cease both in time and in eternity. Heaven is full of love from God and from the saints that have gone to be with Him. But things on this Earth are winding down and time is going to cease when Jesus Christ returns to judge the living and the dead. When time is no more and eternity is in place, there will be no need for prophecies or tongues. And all of mankind will have knowledge, both those in Hell and those in Heaven, and so that gift will no longer be necessary. Only love or charity remains.
Application: The verse above is a favorite for those who wish to claim that the gifts of the Spirit are no longer in practice and that they were only for the apostolic Church. They focus on “whether there be tongues, they shall cease.” But this is ridiculous as the verse also states that knowledge will cease along with tongues. That cannot be the case as Christian believers gain knowledge from the LORD every time they read His Word or enter into prayer and worship. The very presence of the Holy Ghost/Spirit in each believer’s life who guides their walk on this Earth is knowledge being given by a divine God. It is also ridiculous to think that a loving God would leave His children helpless without the gifts of the Spirit which are the tools for living in a sinful world. God still gives wisdom and knowledge and faith. He still heals. People are still raised from the dead and miracles still happen. God still has prophets. God still wants His children to be able to discern evil spirits so they can engage in spiritual warfare and win. And He still takes control of His children’s tongues when they are in the depth of prayer so that they can speak in a language that no man understands, a heavenly language like the angels, a very private conversation between the LORD and His children. And He still controls His children’s tongues so that they can bring forth a Word from Him when in a public setting.
Verses 9-10 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.
The Apostle Paul states that because of living in the flesh believers can only have limited knowledge of all that God’s kingdom encompasses. His people only know that which has been revealed in His Word and through the Holy Ghost/Spirit in their individual lives.
Who or what is “that which is perfect”? Some Bible scholars believe and declare that it is the completed Bible or Scripture. Therefore, they conclude, once the Bible was completed and compiled, the gifts of the Spirit are no longer. Yes, the Word of God is perfect, but the Apostle Paul is referring to the LORD Jesus Christ returning to Earth at the end of time. How is this true? Because Jesus Christ is the Word and He is perfect. No one and nothing else is perfect. But the verse above says “that” instead of “he”. When was Jesus Christ referred to as a that? Luke 1:35 calls Jesus a “that” and a “thing”. “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” When Jesus Christ returns and gathers His people unto Himself, the gifts of the Spirit will cease because they will no longer be needed. His children will then know fully all things.
Verses 11-13 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. (1 Corinthians 13)
The Apostle Paul likens childhood to that of being a child of God here on Earth living in bodies of flesh with limited understanding. Likewise, he likens adulthood to Christian maturity which can only be fully gained when in the spiritual Kingdom of God living in heavenly bodies. While on Earth, Christian believers are limited in their knowledge and understanding by the flesh as if they were looking into a mirror or through a window that is darkened so that the picture is not clear. But when in Heaven at the end of time believers will see clearly and will see the LORD Jesus Christ face to face instead of seeing Him through faith in His Word.
Application: One of the questions believers often ask is, “When I get to Heaven, will people know me and will I know others?” The Apostle Paul answers this question in verse 12 above by stating that while in the flesh, people know him in a limited fashion, but when in eternity he shall know even as he is known. So yes, when each believer gets to Heaven, they will be known by the saints already there and they will know the saints. But the best part is that they will recognize Jesus and will be recongnized by Him as they are ushered into His presence.
The Apostle Paul ends this part of his letter with the encouraging words that, for the Christian believer, faith in the Gospel message, hope for the promise of eternity with Jesus, and charity or love both from the LORD towards His people and from His people towards others continues. And the greatest doctrine of the entire Bible is that of love. Jesus said people would know His children by their love for one another. And it was His love that provided a way for salvation from sin, death and Hell.