1 Corinthians 14:20-25

As Paul brings to a conclusion his concerns with spirituals he returns, I believe, to what he said in the closing verses of chapter 13.  You will remember that in the context of various spirituals he talking about putting away childish things.  He does the same thing in today’s passage, and it is still in the context of the more excellent way of love.  As they work through the differences in this issue he does not want them to mature in their ability to have malice towards each other.  Likely this issue created some deep and strong feelings.  

But he did want them to mature in their understanding.  What he is talking about here has to do with the purpose of speaking in tongues in the early church.  In 14:21 he quotes from Isaiah 28:11-12.  The context of Isaiah 28 is helpful to note.  It fits perfectly with Paul’s use of it here.

·        Isa. 28:1-6 speaks of the demise of Ephraim, the Northern Kingdom.  In that day the Lord will be the joy of only a remnant of His people.

·        Isa. 28:7-15 goes on to say that Jerusalem also will falter.  The priests and prophets will speak lies and will err in judgment.  These rulers in Jerusalem will make a covenant with death so that they will not die.  But in fact they will die because what they trust is lies.  It is at this time, the time of their fall, that the Lord will speak to them with stammering lips and another language … yet they would not hear. 

·        Isa. 28:16-22 further says that God will lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation (v16).  This is a prophecy of Christ.  And then God will make justice the measuring line so that His judgment will sweep away what these leaders have trusted.  In a great picture the bed they thought would provide them rest is too short and the blanket they thought would keep them warm won’t wrap around them (v20).

Let us come back to 1 Cor. 14.  What we find is that the Corinthian church is in that time when God would try to speak to His people Israel through men of other tongues.  The predicted judgment which would come in 70AD had not yet materialized.  As 14:22 says, tongues are for a sign for unbelievers.  And he means, as Isaiah was pointing out, unbelieving Israel.  He doesn’t mean unbelieving Gentiles as 14:23-25.  When unbelievers come into the assembly of Christians they also need to hear preaching that he might be convicted of sin and repent; if he hears tongues he will think Christians are out of their minds.

Miraculous signs in Scripture consistently were the evidence from God that His word was true.  This happened in the time of Moses (Ex. 4:1-9) as well as in the time of Christ (John 5:36) and the time of the Apostles (Heb. 2:4).  Our need today is to preach and teach and contend for the once for all delivered faith.  May we have a proper focus on ministry that builds His body in number and maturity.