Posted on 08/05/2017 5:16:12 PM PDT by metmom
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal" (1 Cor. 13:1).
Love distinguishes true communication from useless chatter and meaningless noises.
Paul begins his discourse on love by stating the futility of languages without love. The Corinthians were enamored with the showy spiritual gifts, apparently to the neglect of those they deemed less spectacular (see 1 Cor. 12:12-31). One of the gifts they prized most highly was tongues, which was the Spirit-given ability to declare God's truth in a language unknown to the speaker but known to others who heard.
Tongues were a sign to provoke unbelieving Jewish people to consider the gospel (1 Cor. 14:21-22). Its first occurrence was on the Day of Pentecost when the Spirit enabled those assembled in the upper room to proclaim the mighty deeds of God in the native languages of the Jews gathered in Jerusalem at the time (Acts 2:4-11).
The "tongues of angels" Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 13:1 isn't the gift of tongues, as some suppose. He was simply using an exaggeration to emphasize his point, saying in effect, "If I had the ability to communicate with angels, it wouldn't do any good without love."
In Paul's day, the worship of Cybele and Dionysus, two pagan gods, incorporated speaking in ecstatic languages accompanied by blaring trumpets, smashing gongs, and clanging cymbals. I believe Paul was drawing from that well-known practice to say that whenever Christians attempt to minister apart from the Spirit and His love, it's no different than a pagan rite. It may look and sound like the real thing, but it's meaningless and useless for any spiritual benefit.
You should take advantage of every opportunity to minister your spiritual gifts to others. But as you do, be sure it's with love, in the energy of the Spirit, and in accordance with God's Word. Then you'll have a maximum impact as Christ uses your efforts for His glory.
Suggestions for Prayer
Ask God to convict you whenever you attempt to exercise your spiritual gifts without love.
For Further Study
Read Romans 12:1-21.
What does Paul say about spiritual gifts? How are Christians to express brotherly love to one another?
Studying God’s Word ping
Very good comments.
Sounds a lot like the current Pentecostal movement and what they fail to note it that the Corinthians church was NOT known for it’s spiritual maturity.
Anyone can mistake emotional experiences for a real relationship of love with God and your neighbor. At the other end of the spectrum from extremes of Pentecostalism is strict ritualism with a heavy emphasis on a church experience provided by professionals in circumstances that cost a ton a money. And anyone can tend forget about loving his neighbor!
I just thought of an analogy: anyone can mistake emotional and physical excitement for real love of another person. Then they get married and ... oops. Either they work into genuine love or things go badly.
I like a lot of MacArthur’s stuff, but sometimes he - like all of us - is just off.
He makes this statement: “The Corinthians were enamored with the showy spiritual gifts...”
I know of no place in I or II Corin. or anywhere in the NT that gives him evidence to make this statement. As a serious student and teacher of the Word of God for 50 years, it seems to me he is speaking not from anything written in scripture, but from his own personal prejudice.
Bookmark
So true.
Might I suggest you read I Corinthians 14 again. I think it is where MacArthur gets his evidence.
I know that chapter well - please help me with the verse that implies they were enamored with the showy gifts.....
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