Sunday School Lesson
Lesson: I Corinthians-26 14:13 Golden Text: “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue” (I Corinthians 14:19).
INTRODUCTION. Since its beginning, the church has had to deal with controversial issues that can easily get it off course. In the Corinthian church, one of the biggest issues was speaking in tongues. It’s still controversial in churches today. When resolving church issues, Paul always took under consideration how his actions would affect others in their walk with God. In this week’s lesson, Paul applied this principle to the gift of speaking in tongues.
BACKGROUND FOR THE LESSON. In chapter 12 Paul gave evidence that the Corinthians showed a lack of love when using their spiritual gifts. In chapter 13 he defines real or godly love. Note: Love is more important than all the spiritual gifts exercised in the church body. Great faith, acts of dedication or sacrifice, and miracle-working power mean very little without love. Love makes our actions and gifts useful. Although people have different gifts, love is available to everyone. Now in chapter 14 Paul shows how love works on behalf of others. The principle that we should use when using our spiritual gifts is basically this: Anyone who is eager to have, or demonstrate spiritual gifts should more than anything else, desire those gifts that edify or build up the whole church. The issue in our lesson deals with the use of tongues in the assembly of believers. The use of this gift was out of control. Therefore Paul addressed this issue in chapter 14 from which our lesson comes. In order to get a clearer understanding of Paul’s position, let me summarize verses 1-12. The apostle begins by exhorting his readers to let love be their main goal; but they should still ask also for the special gifts, or abilities the Holy Spirit gives, and especially the gift of prophecy, which is being able to preach and teach the messages of God. But if anyone had the gift of being able to “speak in tongues,” that is, to speak in known languages they hadn’t learned, they would be talking to God and not to others, since only God would be able to understand what’s being said. But anyone who prophesies, which means preaching the messages of God is helping others grow in the Lord, encouraging, and comforting them. So a person “speaking in tongues” may help himself grow spiritually, but one who prophesies, or preaches messages from God, helps the entire church grow in holiness and happiness. Then Paul said that he wished they all had the gift of “speaking in tongues,” but even more he wished they were all able to prophesy, preaching God’s messages, for that’s a greater and more useful power than to speak in unknown languages—unless of course, they could interpret and tell everyone afterwards what they were saying so they could get some good out of it too. As an example of this, the apostle supposed that if he came to them talking in some language they didn’t understand, how would that help them? But if he spoke plainly what God had revealed to him and the great truths of God’s Word, that would be what they needed, and that’s what would help them grow. To illustrate further what he meant, Paul used the flute and the harp as examples of the need for speaking in an understandable language rather than in unknown languages. For no one recognizes the tune the flute is playing unless each note is played clearly. In addition, if the army bugler doesn’t play the right notes, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle? In the same way, if the Corinthian believers spoke to a person in some language he or she didn’t understand, how would they know what was meant? The person speaking in an unrecognizable language might as well be talking to an empty room. Paul then stated that there may be hundreds of different languages in the world, and they are all excellent for those who understand them, but to him they meant nothing. A person talking to him in one of these languages would be a stranger to him and he would be a stranger to them. Then in verse 12, Paul concluded that since many Corinthian believers were so anxious to have special spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit, they should ask Him for the very best gifts, those that will be of real help to the whole church causing it to mature. This is where our lesson begins.
III. TONGUES AND BELIEVERS (I Corinthians 14:13-19)
A. A fruitful understanding (I Corinthians 14:13-14).
1. (vs. 13). After telling the Corinthian believers to seek only the gifts that edify or build up the church in verse 12, here Paul said “Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.” The word “Wherefore” connects this verse to verse 12. Paul was saying that if anyone had the gift of speaking in an “unknown tongue” or language, he should also pray for the gift of interpretation so he can tell others what he had said. This way the whole church would be edified by this gift. It’s understood that the King James Bible translators added the term “unknown” to tongue to show that this was a different type of language, meaning one that was unknown to the speaker. It does not mean a tongue that was not a known language. The translators wanted the reader to see that this was the supernatural gift of speaking a known, unlearned (unknown to the speaker) language, and it was, according to Acts 2:1-11. The added word “unknown” does not mean it was ecstatic or unintelligible speech like we hear in churches today.
2. (vs. 14). In this verse Paul continues to say “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.” Using himself as an example, Paul said that if he prayed in an “unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth.” This means that if he prayed in a language that he didn’t even know or understand, only his spirit would be involved. The word “spirit” here is not capitalized indicating that the apostle is referring to his own spirit and not the Holy Spirit. Even though his spirit would be involved in his prayer, Paul said “my understanding is unfruitful.” In other words, praying in a language that was unknown to him would not be understood by his mind and would be “unfruitful” or not beneficial. It may give him some sort of pleasure to be praying in an unknown tongue, but his mind or understanding wouldn’t be involved. As a result, neither he nor anyone else would be edified or benefitted. As noted in the previous verse, an interpreter would be needed in order for his mind to be edified. Paul would rather have a fruitful understanding instead of a possible fruitful experience. Note: In all the Bible's instructions on how to pray, praying in tongues is never mentioned. If tongues is a special prayer language between a believer and God, then why isn’t it mentioned and emphasized? When asked by His disciples how to pray Jesus gave them the model prayer in Matthew 6:9-15. The model prayer shows that the one praying is to do it intelligently and with specific content. Every prayer recorded in the Bible is shown as a person speaking with his full understanding and presenting his praise, supplications, and requests before the Lord. A good question for the person who “prays” in ecstatic or unintelligible speech to ask themselves is this: “How do I know if God answered my prayer when I don’t know what I prayed for?” Using tongues as prayer language clearly violates I Corinthians 14:22 and this condemns the tongues movement of today as being false, because it teaches in error that it’s a special prayer language. Tongues speakers often falsely use Romans 8:26 as proof for tongues as a prayer language. But notice what that verse really says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” In this verse tongues is not mentioned or even implied. It says that the intercession of the Holy Spirit is NOT audible(or spoken), but “with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Modern praying in tongues is verbal and audible. This verse says that the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer is something that CANNOT be uttered. If something is not uttered it means it is not spoken. The word “spirit” is not capitalized in I Corinthians 14:14 which means that this is not praying in the Holy Spirit, but praying in a person's human spirit. Paul says “my spirit prayeth.” In other words, those that practice tongues as a prayer language are not doing so through the Holy Spirit, but by their human spirit. To use I Corinthians 14:14 as an example of “praying in tongues” is a gross error. Praying in the spirit, as practiced by today’s modern tongues movement, is promoted as being something highly desired, yet God, speaking through the Apostle Paul, condemns it. Today, what people refer to as tongues speaking is presented as a special spiritual communication with God, but the truth is that the Bible does not teach this anywhere! In I Corinthians 14:9, Paul says that speaking in tongues that cannot be understood was like “speaking into the air.”
B. An expressive understanding (I Corinthians 14:15). Here Paul went on to say “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” The words “What is it then?” can be translated as “So what shall I do?” It’s a question that refers back to verse 14. What Paul is asking is if praying in an unknown tongue is unfruitful or barren as a tree that bears not fruit, what will he do? His decision is to “pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also.” He would pray in his spirit, but with language that he understood. In addition he said “I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” He would also sing in his spirit, but with language he understood. If he understood what he was praying and singing, he would be edified. Thinking like this would cause Paul to be edified and he would also be a source of edification to others. That’s what the use of all the spiritual gifts are all about---edifying or building up others. Note: There’s a proper place for the mind in Christianity. When praying and singing, both the mind and the spirit should be fully engaged. When we sing, we should think about the meaning of the words. Too often our singing is done without thinking about the words causing us to miss out on the truths and blessings included in the songs (see Ephesians 5:19). Likewise, when we pour out our hearts to God in prayer we should be thinking about what we’re saying. Yes, there are times when Christians are so troubled that they find it difficult to pray as they would like. In those cases, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with divine intensity or “groanings which cannot be uttered” (see Romans 8:26) which express our needs perfectly to God. However, this is not done through tongues. We must always be aware of what we want God to do in our prayers. If a person prays in an unknown language they have no idea what they are asking, nor if their prayers have been answered.
C. An edifying understanding (I Corinthians 14:16-17).
1. (vs. 16). In this verse the apostle says “Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?” Paul is pointing out that if you are blessing or giving thanks to the Lord among those who are “unlearned” or don’t understand what you are saying, they can’t say “Amen” (which means “so be it”) and join you in the worship of the Lord in blessing and thanks. The person who doesn’t understand your language may get caught up in the excitement of the one speaking in tongues, but he or she won’t be able to respond with understanding. Have you ever heard a preacher say something even in English that you weren’t sure of and then commanded you to say amen? Of course, we all have, and that’s the same thing as saying amen when someone is giving thanks in tongues. You have no idea what they are saying. Thus the Lord gets no glory from your “Amen.” We would do well to always remember I Corinthians 10:31: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
2. (vs. 17). Paul continued to say “For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.” In other words, the apostle is saying that the person giving thanks in tongues may be doing a good thing, but the other person is not “edified” or benefitted. While the speaker may be filled with thanks to God, those listening don’t understand and receive no spiritual edification. They are merely spectators.
D. A teaching understanding (I Corinthians 14:18-19).
1. (vs. 18). Now Paul says in this verse “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all.” This statement indicated that Paul was not against tongues because he thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than any of the Corinthian believers. Of course Paul was referring to speaking in other known languages during his private worship. He wasn’t condemning the gift of tongues; he was condemning the misuse of this gift particularly as a prayer language (see vss. 14-15). Nowhere in Scripture is speaking in tongues considered to be anything other than speaking in a known language that you were not taught in order to share the gospel with those who spoke that language (see Acts 2:4-11). Paul’s primary desire was to be the most effective preacher and teacher he could be. Note: Since Paul visited many foreign cities on His missionary journeys, God gave him the gift of “other tongues” (see I Corinthians 12:10) so that he would be able to communicate the gospel in the language of those to whom he preached (see Acts 2:1-11). There’s no doubt that Paul spoke Hebrew, since he was a Hebrew scholar (see Acts 22:1-3), as well as Aramaic which was the language of the common Jews around him. He also spoke Greek and wrote in Greek as he did in this and all his other epistles. He may also have spoken Latin which was the language of the Romans. It’s also likely that Paul spoke in languages that were unknown to those he preached to; but if he did, he most certainly interpreted the language so all could understand and receive instruction and edification.
2. (vs. 19). The apostle continues to say here “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” Since Paul’s speaking in tongues was in his private worship, he said that in public preaching or “in the church” instead of speaking “ten thousand words in an unknown tongue” or language, he would rather speak “five words” or a few words that he understood so that others could be taught. This was Paul’s way of emphasizing the importance of edifying others. Paul is clearly saying that there is no benefit in a person saying something they or others who hear them don’t understand. Note: In I Corinthians 14: 6, he says, “Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?” In other words, speaking in tongues does not benefit the listener, only the speaker, and therefore should only be practiced in private. But what does benefit the listener and causes him or her to mature spiritually is prophesying or preaching, and doctrine which is teaching (see I Corinthians 14:3-5).
IV. TONGUES AND UNBELIEVERS (I Corinthians 14:20-25)
A. Malice and maturity (I Corinthians 14:20-21).
1. (vs. 20). In this verse Paul says “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” The apostle had earlier addressed the immaturity of these believers when he dealt with divisions in the church. They were acting like children or babies. Here in this verse he again refers to their childish or selfish behavior when it came to speaking in tongues. They only cared about expressing their gift whether it benefited anyone else or not. So Paul commanded the Corinthian believers that they “be not children in understanding.” This means that they needed to demonstrate “understanding” or spiritual maturity when it came to any spiritual gift, especially speaking in tongues. The mature believer understands that all spiritual gifts are given to help the body of Christ grow or mature. Note: This is why Paul exhorted these believers to desire spiritual gifts but also to pursue love (see I Corinthians 14:1). Spiritual gifts are only good when they are ministered in love (see I Corinthians 13:1-2). Christian love causes us to use our gifts only for the benefit of others. Love is not selfish (see I Corinthians 13:4-5)! Paul also said “howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” The Corinthian believers were to only act like children or babies when it came to “malice” or evil. Babies don’t express malice or evil which is evidence of being spiritually corrupt. Simply put, the Corinthian believers needed to act like babies where evil was concerned, but they should think like adults.
2. (vs. 21). Just in case his readers were stubborn and refused to accept his teachings, Paul turned to the Scriptures and said “In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.” Paul quoted from Isaiah 28:11-12 to show that the people in Isaiah’s day were stubborn about responding to God’s Word. So He warned them that He would carry them to a place (Assyria) where they would hear other languages, but they still wouldn’t listen. Paul was advising the Corinthians not to have this same stubborn attitude. Note: Isaiah’s prophesy (see Isaiah 28:11-12) that God would speak to His people with “other tongues and other lips” was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, when Jewish men from all over the known world came to Jerusalem and heard the gospel message. They heard the gospel in their own birth languages, even though they knew that the men speaking were not from their countries, but were from Galilee (see Acts 2:7-12).
B. Tongues and prophesying (I Corinthians 14:22-23).
1. (vs. 22). In this verse Paul says “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.” Apparently the believers in Corinth like those today, were not using tongues to build up believers. Paul said that the gift of “tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not.” In other words the ability to speak in other languages was not supposed to be a sign to those who already believed, but was a sign to those who didn’t believe. Again, proof of this is seen on the Day of Pentecost when the disciples received the gift of “other tongues” (see Acts 2:1-4). This sign gift was intended to allow unbelieving Jews returning to Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost to hear and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ in the language of the land they were from. Paul went on to say that where tongues were meant for unbelievers, on the other hand “prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.” The word “prophesying” as used in the New Testament refers to “forth telling” or teaching God’s Word, whereas Old Testament prophesying refers to “foretelling” or presenting future events. The gift of “prophesying” is meant for “them which believe” or those who are already Christians. Today, “prophesying” is the same thing as preaching and teaching the Bible. Hearing God’s Word preached or taught benefits those who already believe and are seeking to grow more spiritually. 2. (vs. 23). To defend his point Paul says “If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? Here the apostle was giving an example of what would happen if tongues were improperly used in the church. If the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some “are unlearned” (don’t understand), or some unbelievers come in, won’t they say that you are “mad” (crazy)? The point is that everyone would be demonstrating the sign (speaking in tongues), but no one would be teaching (prophesying) which is more important (see I Corinthians 14:1-3).
C. Conviction and worship (I Corinthians 14:24-25).
1. (vs. 24). Here Paul says “But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all.” Having stated that unbelievers who were present in the congregation would think those speaking in tongues were crazy, now Paul says if the same thing happened and “all (everyone) prophesy” the unbeliever or one who doesn’t understand tongues is “convinced of all, he is judged of all.” The word “all” used twice in this last phrase refers to God’s Word being presented by everyone with understanding. In other words, if an unbeliever or someone who doesn’t understand comes in while everybody is prophesying or teaching God’s Word, he will be convinced by God’s Word that he is a sinner and will be judged by God’s Word. As a result of hearing and understanding God’s Word the unbeliever might accept the gift of salvation.
2. (vs. 25). Paul continued to say “And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.” After the unbeliever hears the gospel through prophecy or understandable teaching, Paul said “thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest.” In other words, the unbeliever hears God’s Word preached or taught, and whatever is in his heart is revealed, and he is convicted, feeling judged by God and His Word. At that point, the unbeliever “falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.” After being convicted by God’s Word delivered in an understandable way (by prophecy not in tongues), this person falls prostrate on his face to worship God and declares that God is truly among the Corinthian believers.
V. THE CONCLUSION: EDIFY OTHERS (I Corinthians 14:26). In our final verse, Paul comes to a conclusion and asks “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.” The question “How is it then, brethren?” can be translated as “What then shall we say brothers and sisters?” or “What is the conclusion of all this?” The apostle then says that when the church came together everyone had something to contribute. Some had a “psalm” or hymn; some had “a doctrine” or word of instruction (teaching); some had “a tongue” while others “hath an interpretation” of the tongue. Lastly Paul said some “hath a revelation” or a new truth from God. All of these gifts when used properly should “be done unto edifying” or for the building of the body of Christ---the church. Nothing should ever be done that is detrimental to the church or causes division. Note: Everything done in worship services must be beneficial to the worshippers and done “decently and in order” (see I Corinthians 14:40). This principle includes every aspect of worship---singing, preaching, and the exercise of spiritual gifts. Everyone who contributes to the service must be motivated by love or they will just be making noise (see I Corinthians 13:1-2). Our goal should be to speak useful words or participate in a way that will strengthen the faith of other believers.
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