1 Go after love; still desiring to have the things which the Spirit gives, but most of all that you may have the prophet's power.
So then, my brothers, let it be your chief desire to be prophets; but let no one be stopped from using tongues.
But about the things of the spirit, my brothers, it is not right for you to be without teaching.
Let your desire be for peace with all men, and to be made holy, without which no man may see the Lord;
But the word of the prophet gives men knowledge and comfort and strength. He who makes use of tongues may do good to himself; but he who gives the prophet's word does good to the church. Now though it is my desire for you all to have the power of tongues, it would give me more pleasure to be hearing the prophet's word from you; for this is a greater thing than using tongues, if the sense is not given at the same time, for the good of the church.
But you, O man of God, keep yourself from these things, and go after righteousness, religion, faith, love, a quiet mind, gentle behaviour.
And if witness is given of her good works; if she has had the care of children, if she has been kind to travellers, washing the feet of the saints, helping those who are in trouble, giving herself to good works.
Do not make little of the words of the prophets;
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us every blessing of the Spirit in the heavens in Christ:
But if all are teaching as prophets, and a man without faith or knowledge comes in, he is tested by all, he is judged by all; The secrets of his heart are made clear; and he will go down on his face and give worship to God, saying that God is truly among you.
But now we still have faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
My loved one, do not be copying what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God: he who does evil has not seen God.
And love of the brothers to fear of God, and to love of the brothers, love itself.
And let him be turned from evil and do good; searching for peace and going after it with all his heart. For the eyes of the Lord are on the upright, and his ears are open to their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Who will do you any damage if you keep your minds fixed on what is good?
Give ear to me, you who are searching for righteousness, who are looking for the Lord: see the rock from which you were cut out, and the hole out of which you were taken.
He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.
Then the Lord came down in the cloud and had talk with him, and put on the seventy men some of the spirit which was on him: now when the spirit came to rest on them, they were like prophets, but only at that time. But two men were still in the tent-circle one of them named Eldad and the other Medad: and the spirit came to rest on them; they were among those who had been sent for, but they had not gone out to the Tent: and the prophet's power came on them in the tent-circle. And a young man went running to Moses and said, Eldad and Medad are acting as prophets in the tent-circle. Then Joshua, the son of Nun, who had been Moses' servant from the time when he was a child, said, My lord Moses, let them be stopped. And Moses said to him, Are you moved by envy on my account? If only all the Lord's people were prophets, and the Lord might put his spirit on them!
What then may we say? That the nations who did not go after righteousness have got righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:
So then, let us go after the things which make peace, and the things by which we may be a help to one another.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 14
In this chapter the apostle directs them about the use of their spiritual gifts, preferring those that are best and fitted to do the greatest good.
1Cr 14:1-5
The apostle, in the foregoing chapter, had himself preferred, and advised the Corinthians to prefer, Christian charity to all spiritual gifts. Here he teaches them, among spiritual gifts, which they should prefer, and by what rules they should make comparison. He begins the chapter,
1Cr 14:6-14
In this paragraph he goes on to show how vain a thing the ostentation of speaking unknown and unintelligible language must be. It was altogether unedifying and unprofitable (v. 6): If I come to you speaking with tongues, what will it profit you, unless I speak to you by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? It would signify nothing to utter any of these in an unknown tongue. An apostle, with all his furniture, could not edify, unless he spoke to the capacity of his hearers. New revelations, the most clear explications of old ones, the most instructive discourses in themselves, would be unprofitable in a language not understood. Nay, interpretations of scripture made in an unknown tongue would need to be interpreted over again, before they could be of any use.
1Cr 14:15-20
The apostle here sums up the argument hitherto, and,
1Cr 14:21-25
In this passage the apostle pursues the argument, and reasons from other topics; as,
1Cr 14:26-33
In this passage the apostle reproves them for their disorder, and endeavours to correct and regulate their conduct for the future.
1Cr 14:34-35
Here the apostle,
1Cr 14:36-40
In these verses the apostle closes his argument,