Love - The Greatest of All 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

Adapted from a David Owens sermonhttp://www.sermoncentral.com/print_friendly.asp?

SermonID=124792

“Overcoming Obstacles That Obstruct Obedience”

1 Corinthians 13:1 ESV 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. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain

nothing.

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. 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. 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. 13 So now faith, hope, and

love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

One day an elderly woman and her little grandson, whose face was sprinkled with bright freckles, spent the day at the zoo.

Lots of children were waiting in line to get their face painted by an artist who was decorating

them with tiger paws.

A girl in line turned to the freckle-faced grandson and said, “You’ve got so many

freckles, there’s no place to paint!”

Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head.His grandmother knelt down next to him, and said, “I love your freckles. When I was a little

girl I always wanted freckles. Freckles are beautiful.”

The boy looked at his grandmother and said, “Really?”

“Of course,” said the grandmother. “Why just name me one thing that’s prettier than

freckles.”

The little boy thought for a moment, peered intensely into his grandma’s face, and softly

whispered, “Wrinkles.”The love between grandparents and

grandchildren is precious – as is the love between husbands and wives, and parents

and children.Love is indeed a wonderful and powerful thing.

God is love and we must become like God.

As we look to chapter 13 in our study of 1 Corinthians, we arrive at familiar and revered

territory.

Anytime we study the topic of love, we turn to verses 4 – 8, and rightly so.

Most weddings we attend include something about verses 4 – 8, and rightly so.

But what we have to keep in mind is that these verses and this chapter are a part of a larger

context and argument.

Certainly the verses of this chapter can stand alone and have powerful things to say to us, but they have even greater power when they

are applied in context.

As Paul describes the qualities of love to his Corinthian readers, he is seeking to promote

the character formation that will help them overcome the many problems they are facing

in the church.

We must keep in mind that Paul penned this letter to a church in complete disarray.

The Corinthian church was rife with public immorality, doctrinal confusion, divisions,

bickering, believers suing other believers in secular courts, pagan cults, divorce, abuses of

spiritual gifts and the abuse of the Lord’s supper.

What was needed more than anything was LOVE.

Not some kind of sweetly sentimental notions of love, but real, tough love.

A rigorous vision of love that rejoices in the truth and bears all suffering in the name of

Jesus.

This chapter nicely divides into three sections.

Let’s work our way through the development of Paul’s arguments in these sections, and then step back and apply these truths to our lives.

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. 3 If I give

away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain

nothing.

The Motive of Love

Paul’s communication in these verses can be understood in two ways.

On the one hand, he could be condemning “doing the right thing for the wrong reasons.”

Therefore, he would be calling for love as the proper motivation for religious practices.

On the other hand, he could be condemning moral inconsistency. In other words, doing some of the right things but lacking love in

other areas of one’s life.

Therefore, he would be calling for love to be lived out in all aspects of our lives.

Both readings make good sense, and there is no need to exclude either.

Notice how Paul tries to illustrate his point by exaggerating the highest religious activities

that anyone can think of.So he pictures the person who is able to speak

in tongues of both men and angels. He pictures the person who can fathom all

mysteries and all knowledge.He pictures the person who has faith that can

move mountains.

On top of all that, he pictures the person who gives all they possess to the poor and then

becomes a martyr by surrendering their body to the flames.

All of the Corinthians, and us for that matter, would look at someone who could do those things and say, “Wow! Aren’t they spiritual! God must really think they are something.”

But then Paul gives the surprise ending for each of those people.

The person who speaks in the tongues of men and angels but has not love, is only a noisy

gong or a clanging cymbal.You might be interested to know that Corinth

was famous for its production of bronze vessels and what the ESV translates “noisy gong” is literally “bronze sounding” and is

never used elsewhere to refer to a musical instrument.

Some scholars have proposed that Paul’s phrase refers to bronze acoustic vases that were used in the theater to echo and amplify

the voices of the actors.The clanging symbol was particularly

associated with the cult of Cybele.So what the Corinthians might have

understood Paul to be saying was, “Even if you can speak with the heavenly language of

angels, but have no love, your high-toned speech has become like the empty echo of an actor’s speech or the noise of frenzied pagan

worship.”

The person who knows everything and has mountain-moving faith, but has not love is

nothing.And the person who gives up everything,

including their lives and body in death, but has not love gains nothing.

So, Paul’s initial point is clear – even great religious activity is lacking if it is not motivated

by love or accompanied by love.

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.

The Definition of Love

In this next section, Paul speaks in praise of love by detailing what love does and does not

do.Even though Paul begins his catalogue with

two positive items, it is evident that the weight of Paul’s interest falls upon the eight negative

items in the list.Almost every one of these descriptions of what

love does not do correspond directly to the behavior of the Corinthians as described

elsewhere in the letter.

On the positive side of love, Paul begins, “love is patient, love is kind.”

Certainly that is an important place to begin as we understand what love is and does.

Love should be patient with others needs and problems.

It should not be impatient.Love should be kind.

It should be gentle and sensitive in all its activities.

Then turning to the negative, the first thing that Paul mentions about what love does not do is

– “Love does not envy.”Paul wrote of this first in 1 Corinthians 3:3 ESV for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?Love is the opposite of the divisive rivalry that

was going on in the Corinthian church.

The second negative item, “Love does not boast,” echoes Paul’s repeated reprimands of

the Corinthians boasting.1 Corinthians 1:28 ESV God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so

that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

1 Corinthians 3:21 ESV So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,

1 Corinthians 4:7 ESV For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you

did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

1 Corinthians 5:6 ESV Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven

leavens the whole lump?

The third negative item surely got the Corinthian’s attention – “Love is not arrogant.”Most English translations have opted for the less colorful synonyms such as “proud,” but

the Greek word means “puffed up.”“Love is not puffed up.”

This is precisely the word that Paul has already used several times in the letter to

chastise the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 4:6 ESV I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.

1 Corinthians 4:18 ESV Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.

1 Corinthians 5:1 ESV It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and

of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And

you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be

removed from among you.

Paul’s most clear parallel is probably found in 1 Corinthians 8:1 ESV Now concerning food

offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs

up, but love builds up.

The fourth negative item, “Love is not rude,” is actually a stronger term referring to shameful

behavior.In other words, love does not behave

shamefully. 1 Corinthians 7:36 ESV If anyone thinks that

he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry

—it is no sin.

Paul may have in mind the sexual misconduct that he condemned in 5:1-2, and 6:12-20, as

well as the shameful behavior of women prophesying with heads uncovered in 11:2-16,

and the humiliation of the poor during the Lord’s supper 11:22.

All of these Corinthian offenses would constitute the sort of “acting shamefully” that

Paul sees as contrary to love.

The fifth negative item, “love does not insist on its own way,” repeats precisely the language

Paul used in 10:24 in his response to the idol-meat controversy.

1 Corinthians 10:24 ESV Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

Paul used himself as an example in1 Corinthians 10:33 ESV just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they

may be saved.

By this time the Corinthians would surely have gotten the point.

Paul is implying that everything about their behavior contradicts the character of love.

The next negative items are harder to relate to specific passages in the letter, but they are probably to be seen in contrast to the rivalry

and dissensions in the Corinthian church.

Love is not irritable. Do not fly off into a rage at the slightest issue.

The word translated irritable literally means to sharpen as in sharpening a sword.

We are not to sharpen our mind, temper, or tongue to use as a weapon against another. Love is not resentful. This means to put the

worst possible face on the motives and conduct of others. So love calls us to put the

best possible face on others.

Love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs.

Whenever we are experiencing conflict, we need to keep these two things in mind.

With verse 6, Paul closes the list of negative attributes and offers a positive contrast –

“Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”

The word the ESV translated “wrongdoing,” might better be translated “injustice” and was featured prominently in chapter 6 where Paul deplored the Corinthian’s practice of taking

one another to court.

After telling us what love is not, Paul ends this unit with four strong verbs that characterize

positively the action of love – 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,

endures all things.Paul’s point is not to say that love makes us

foolish Pollyannas, but there should be no limit to love – no limit to its faith, hope and

endurance.

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. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a

child.

The Permanence of Love

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. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

The final section of chapter 13 moves the discussion in a different direction.

Paul now contrasts the permanence of love with the transitory character of spiritual gifts.

This part of the chapter most clearly shows that it was composed to deal with the specific

problem of spiritual gifts in the Corinthian church.

The opening affirmation of verse 8 establishes the point of contrast – “Love never fails.”

Others (NRSV, NET, GW, GNB, LEB) renders the verse – “Love never ends.”

In contrast to that, prophesy, tongues and knowledge will all be brought to nothing.

The fact that they will be brought to nothing doesn’t mean that they are evil or have no purpose, but just that they will no longer be

necessary at some point.

10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

What is “the perfect” that Paul was waiting for?Some have suggested & I believe it is the completed New Testament, others have

suggested that it is the return of Christ, heaven itself, or maturity.

Whatever we conclude about what Paul had in mind, his main point was to relativize the place

of these gifts in the purposes of God.

What was the role, purpose, of speaking in other languages, prophesying, working

miracles?In a word, the miracles of the New Testament,

whether wrought by our Lord or by His apostles, reveal a new source of power, in the person of our Lord, for the salvation of men.

(ISBE)They were to validate the spoken message. We now have the Bible, the inspired Word of

God, so they are no longer necessary.

The gifts have a role to play, but the time of their usefulness will pass.

However, the usefulness of love will never pass away.

Paul’s point would surely have ruffled the feathers of the Corinthians who considered themselves far advanced in their spirituality and who think of the gift of tongues as the

pinnacle of spiritual maturity.

Paul employed two analogies to try to help them see the need to mature and grow.

He used the child to adult analogy, and he used the mirror analogy as he talked of the contrast of seeing an image in a mirror or

seeing the image face to face. Depending on the quality of the mirror, there

can be a big difference between the two images.

They made beautiful mirrors in Corinth, but they hadn’t perfected the art so as to remove

distortion completely.

The reflection was not perfect, it was only partial, just as their knowledge was partial.

God is the only one who is complete, mature, and really knows all.

What lessons from chapter 13 should we walk away with and seek to apply to our lives?

I would like to offer one lesson from each of the sections.

First, we learn love requires the monitoring of our motives.

The first section of 1 Corinthian 13 should encourage us to step back and ask ourselves,

“Why do we do what we do?”

Conclusion

Even our most cherished religious activities and projects should be tested by the question:

“Why am I doing this?”

If we cannot honestly say, “I am doing this for love and in love,” then the legitimacy of the whole enterprise must come under serious

doubt.

In all honesty, we must confess that we are often motivated by a number of things,

including guilt, fear and reward.Sometimes we do what we do because we

want to be admired spiritually by others.But hopefully, we can grow up and overcome the temptations to be self-seeking even in our

practice of religion.

Hopefully, we can grow to a place where love is our primary motive; both love for God and

love for others.

When love does become a primary motive then our actions lead to the building up of the

body and are recognized and rewarded by God.

Second, we learn that love requires the formation of character. Love is not just a

matter of feelings – feelings come and go – but love endures.

Paul’s description of the attributes of love offers a picture of a habitual lifestyle and

disposition.None of us can merely decide in a day’s time

to start doing these things.

Nor can any of us master this kind of lovewithout the assistance of the divine.

This kind of love is the fruit of the Spirit – it is the product of the Spirit.

This kind of fruit is cultivated over time as we allow God’s Spirit to teach us these habits.

The church should be a school for the cultivation of the habits and practices of love.

Third, we learn that love requires humility. No matter how gifted or spiritual we become, no matter how much we grow in knowledge,

we will always be incomplete this side of heaven.

Even our greatest understandings and accomplishments in Christ pale in comparison with who God is, what God knows and what

God has done.When we keep that in mind, we are much easier to live with, and we will treat others

much more patiently and kindly.

I have no doubt that if I were to ask for a show of hands this morning, asking how many of you consider yourself a loving person, or

consider The Lindley Christian Church as a loving church, that most, if not all our hands

would go up.

But are we really as loving as we think we are?

This chapter certainly puts our love to the test.

Here is the good news – the more we resemble the kind of love seen in this chapter

the more blessed our lives will be. Every single one of our relationships will be enhanced by this kind of love – marriages, friendships, work relationships, and church

relationships.And, the more we love each other as God

would have us love each other, the more this church will grow in spirit and in number.

John 13:35 ESV By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for

one another."

Let me close by leaving this picture in your mind - the church needs to be like the

intensive care unit.

Some of us have spent a lot of time in the ICU waiting room.

Listen to this excerpt from “One Inch From the Fence” by Wes Seeliger:

“I have spent long hours in the intensive care waiting room…watching with anguished

people…listening to urgent questions: Will my husband make it? Will my child walk again? How do you live without your companion of

thirty years?

The intensive care waiting room is different from any other place in the world.

And the people who wait are different.They can’t do enough for each other.

No one is rude.The distinctions of race and class melt away.A person is a father first, a black man second.The garbage man loves his wife as much as

the university professor loves his, and everyone understands this. Each person pulls

for everyone else.

In the intensive care waiting room, the world changes. Vanity and pretense vanish. The

universe is focused on the doctor’s next report. If only it will show improvement. Everyone

knows that loving someone else is what life is all about.”

Love is the greatest of all.Love is the most excellent way.

May God show us that way, and guide us in that way.