Matthew
Henry's
Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians
13
Chapter 13
Ř
The necessity and advantage of the
grace of love. (1-3)
Ř
Its
excellency represented by its properties and effects; (4-7)
Ř
and
by its abiding, and its superiority. (8-13)
Verses 1 - 3
If I speak in the tongues of men
and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or
a clanging cymbal. 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 have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I
possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but
have not love, I gain nothing.
Ř
“The excellent way had in
view in the close of the former chapter, is not what is meant by
charity in our common use of the word, almsgiving, but love in
its fullest meaning; true love to God and man. Without this, the
most glorious gifts are of no account to us, of no esteem in the
sight of God. A clear head and a deep understanding are of no
value without a benevolent and charitable heart. There may be an
open and lavish hand, where there is not a liberal and
charitable heart. Doing good to others will do none to us, if it
be not done from love to God, and good-will to men. If we give
away all we have, while we withhold the heart from God, it will
not profit. Nor even the most painful sufferings. How are those
deluded who look for acceptance and reward for their good works,
which are as scanty and defective as they are corrupt and
selfish!”
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not
envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is
not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record
of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always
perseveres.
Ř
“Some of the effects of
charity are stated, that we may know whether we have this grace;
and that if we have not, we may not rest till we have it. This
love is a clear proof of regeneration, and is a touchstone of
our professed faith in Christ. In this beautiful description of
the nature and effects of love, it is meant to show the
Corinthians that their conduct had, in many respects, been a
contrast to it. Charity is an utter enemy to selfishness; it
does not desire or seek its own praise, or honor, or profit, or
pleasure. Not that charity destroys all regard to ourselves, or
that the charitable man should neglect himself and all his
interests. But charity never seeks its own to the hurt of
others, or to neglect others. It ever prefers the welfare of
others to its private advantage. How good-natured and amiable is
Christian charity! How excellent would Christianity appear to
the world, if those who profess it were more under this Divine
principle, and paid due regard to the command on which its
blessed Author laid the chief stress! Let us ask whether this
Divine love dwells in our hearts. Has this principle guided us
into becoming behavior to all men? Are we willing to lay aside
selfish objects and aims? Here is a call to watchfulness,
diligence, and prayer.”
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. For we know in part and we
prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect
disappears. 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 childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor 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.
And now
these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of
these is love.
Ř
“Charity is much to be preferred to
the gifts on which the Corinthians prided themselves. From its
longer continuance. It is a grace, lasting as eternity. The
present state is a state of childhood, the future that of
manhood. Such is the difference between earth and heaven. What
narrow views, what confused notions of things, have children
when compared with grown men! Thus shall we think of our most
valued gifts of this world, when we come to heaven. All things
are dark and confused now, compared with what they will be
hereafter. They can only be seen as by the reflection in a
mirror, or in the description of a riddle; but hereafter our
knowledge will be free from all obscurity and error. It is the
light of heaven only that will remove all clouds and darkness
that hide the face of God from us. To sum up the excellences of
charity, it is preferred not only to gifts, but to other graces,
to faith and hope. Faith fixes on the Divine revelation and
assents thereto, relying on the Divine Redeemer. Hope fastens on
future happiness, and waits for that; but in heaven, faith will
be swallowed up in actual sight, and hope in enjoyment. There is
no room to believe and hope, when we see and enjoy. But there,
love will be made perfect. There we shall perfectly love God.
And there we shall perfectly love one another. Blessed state!
How much surpassing 1
John seen as he is, and face to face, there charity
is in its greatest height; there only will it be perfected.”
Points of Fact
v
“The excellence of Christian love
is a blessing. It is a blessing indeed and beyond compare to see
the saving and sanctifying work of love going on in your soul.
This is the core of Christianity. It is a great privilege, the
greatest privilege and gift beyond all the extraordinary gifts.
They are not saving. But the work of love in your heart by the
love of God is a saving gift.”
v
“God’s love is the root of a tree
that bears delicious fruit. Love must therefore be a principle
implanted in the heart by Love from above. Consequently love is
something given in the gracious action of God’s redeeming love.
We love Him because He first loved us. His love is causal of our
love. It is a divinely produced love associated with saving
faith as the gift of God that is being referred to in this
chapter.”
Memory Verse
“And now
these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of
these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Study Source
Matthew
Henry, Concise Commentary
on the Bible, Logos Research Systems, Inc., Christian
Classics Ethereal Library, Grand Rapids:
MI.
Scripture reference
New
International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by
International Bible
Society
