1 Corinthians 13 New International Version
1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
a. 1 Corinthians 13:1 Or languages
b. 1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts body to the flames
The One Thing That Matters Most
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
This chapter is known as the love chapter. We often hear this passage given at wedding ceremonies, anniversaries and other events that celebrate love. Paul puts much emphasis on love. In fact, he says that love is the most important aspect of following Jesus.
In the previous chapter, Paul lists the different spiritual gifts and their importance but ends chapter 12 with saying that there is something greater than these gifts. That, of course, is love.
Paul tells us the gifts may be powerful and do great things, but without love, he is nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-2 ESV
[1] If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
Paul is not saying the gifts are not important, but he is telling us that without love our actions and results become meaningless. It does matter if the work was successful and achieved its purpose but, was it done in love?. Did we do this with right attitude of love? The qualities of love will allow us to do the good works of God.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV
[4] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [6] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love is patient. It can be very hard to be patient with people or situations. Yet real love allows us to be patient with others. When we are selfish or arrogant, we compare ourselves with others to maintain our ego. Love does not need to protect its ego. We don't want to give or sacrifice because our ego tells us to keep everything for ourselves. Love allows us to be generous. Love allows us to celebrate the good in others and mourn when evil is inflicted on others.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 ESV
[8] Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. [9] For we know in part and we prophesy in part, [10] but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
We are nothing and the work we do can be worthless if we do not do these things in love. The actions and work we do will eventually be undone; however, love will transcend time. Our spiritual gifts are precious. We are to use these tools for God's kingdom.
The spiritual gifts are like scaffolding around a building. Once the building is complete, the scaffolding is removed because it has done its purpose. Love will not pass away. It is part of God's kingdom that remains. God is love.
1 Corinthians 13:11-12 ESV
[11] When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. [12] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
Maturity is shown in a person who is able to love. The Corinthian Christians had many gifts and thought highly of themselves. They compared themselves to others and judged. People who are full of love don't do this. Paul knew that the Corinthian Church needed love to be fully mature and do the work of God.
In this passage, Paul does not ask us what we do in church or what gifts we have. He does not ask us what missions we have done or what knowledge we possess. He asks us if we have love -and whether do we do our good work with love.
At the cross, we see what love truly is. Love is practice. It sacrifices to a point of pain. The church cannot mature without love. The love of Christ will mature us. The Lord wants mature followers who do not look down on the weak or on sinners.
Love will remain. Your possessions, family, friends, efforts, and accomplishments will all pass away. But Love will not pass away.
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