Sermon – 1st Corinthians 13

  • This passage is titled:
  • The Way of Love (ESV)
  • Love: The Superior Way (HCSB)
  • The Excellence of Love (NASB)
  • The Greatest Gift (NKJV)
  • Love is the Greatest (NLT) … do you have something else?

  • The love described in this passage is “agape,” which is an active love that God has for His people; and that we should have for God and our fellow man.  This love doesn’t just talk a good game; it walks the walk.  It is based out of faith and commitment; and is far beyond simple sentiment.  It is different than brotherly love (“philia”) and physical/romantic love (“eros”).

  • A summary of the first three verses tells us that Paul thought he was nothing, would gain nothing, and would just be annoying if he could do amazing things and know everything, but didn’t love.

  • There are many places in Scripture that mention speaking in tongues – (and needing a translator) – but Paul says if he could speak in all languages – whether through intense studying or a spiritual gift – and if he doesn’t love, then he is just making noise … not beautiful music.  How many people like just the sound of a gong or cymbal; not accompanying anything else; or over and over and over?

  • Paul says that if he could prophesy, know all of God’s plans, had all knowledge; and had the faith that could move mountains … he would still be nothing if he didn’t love … that is saying a lot … If Paul knew everything – except how to love – he would be nothing.

  • Paul, who gave his life for the Gospel, could have boasted … he traveled, preached, prayed, was imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked, ridiculed, etc. … but he didn’t boast about what he did – he only gave credit to Jesus … even so, if Paul did all that, but didn’t love, he wouldn’t gain anything.

  • Verses 4-7 is the heart of this passage … we can put our name there and see how we are doing … many people have been told to put their bf/gf there and see if they are worth marrying … it has been used in countless weddings … and we can surely say God is those things.

  • Most English translations say the first thing love is patience or long suffering … The Greek word used (makrothumeo / makrothumei) means: to be slow towards … be long-enduring (or suffering) … to exercise patience (or to be patient) …. to forbear … to exhibit internal and external control, which could exhibit itself by delaying an action
    • James 5:7 (NLT) … Be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return.
    • 2nd Peter 3:9 (NLT) … The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think.  No, He is being patient for your sake.  He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

    • The next thing love is, is kind; and that is the consensus among English translations … The Greek word (chresteuomai / chresteuetai) means to be kind or gentle; and God is just that.
    • We are told that love is not envious or jealous in most English translations.  The Greek word (zeloo) means jealous … envious … spiteful … ill will … covet … negative attitude towards or lust and desire for another’s possessions … negative strong devotion or desire

    • Even though Exodus 20:5 tells us that God is “jealous,” it doesn’t mean the same.  God wants what is due Him – worship, service, praise, honor – and if we give that to someone or something else, then we are actually stealing from God; and we become idolaters.  God must be #1 in our lives.

    • We are told that love doesn’t brag or boast or vaunt one’s self; and that is what the Greek means (perpereuomai / perpereuetai).  If we are loving, we are not going to point to ourselves or what we have done … the Corinthian church bragged about many things – which apostle they sided with … allowing immoral things to happen in the church … sued each other … (we are not to do that).  If I boast, I am focusing on ME; and not those who I am supposed to love or serve.

    • We are also told that love isn’t arrogant, conceited, or proud.  The Greek (physioo / physioutai) means to puff up … inflate … to be proud … to be arrogant … vanity; and this goes hand-in-hand with our previous topic.  Don’t most arrogant people toot their own horn?  We shouldn’t allow what we do to give us the big head or seek man’s applause.  Pride is sinful (1st John 2:16)

    • Are arrogant, boastful people every satisfied?  No, those people always want more applause, more praise, more power, more money, etc. … humility leads to the Cross and salvation … pride to a fall.

    • We are told that love is not rude or acts in an ill manner; which is a good rendering of the Greek (aschemoneo / aschemonei) … to act improperly, dishonorably, indecently, rudely … to behave in an unbecoming manner or indecorously … to behave in a manner open to censure.  If we are believers, then we need to have manners, respect, and not seek to cause problems.  How many think society is more rude now, than ever before? (media/sports/politics/ even church or believers)

    • We are told that love isn’t selfish.  The Greek (zeteo / zetai) means to look for … seek out … to try to obtain … desire to possess … strive for … to search after … to pursue … endeavor to obtain … to require or demand … and even, to seek to kill.  This isn’t to say that we can’t take care of our own needs; but we must look after our fellow man; have God as #1 – it isn’t our way or the highway.

    • We are told that love isn’t provoked, angered, irritable; and many versions add “easily” or “quickly” to the passage.  The Greek (paroxyno / paroxynetai) means to be greatly distressed … to be angered or irritated … to incite … to stir up … to provoke.  Remember, love is patient, so we should not have a short fuse or fly off the handle.  It isn’t wrong or sinful to get angry; but we shouldn’t act or respond to whatever made us angry in sin, especially at every little thing.

    • We are told that love does not keep a record of wrongs.  The Greek (kakos / kakon) … evil … wicked … wrong … bad … a perversion of what pertains to goodness … an evil thing, such as a crime, harm, or moral wrong … worthless … corrupt … destructive … mischievous.  God has forgiven us of many things, and they are far as the east/west and are in the depths of forgetfulness … when someone wrongs us, do we want to bring everything else they have done back up? … true love forgives and forgets; but we shouldn’t allow anyone to repeatedly hurt or abuse us … we should work toward reconciliation, not revenge … (and anyway, vengeance and justice belong to the Lord)
    • We are told that love gets no joy or pleasure in wrongdoing; and the Greek (adikia) means wickedness … evil … wrongdoing … injustice … iniquity … falsehood … deceitfulness. 

    • This joins the next phrase; but love rejoices and sympathizes with the truth; and the Greek (aletheia) means truth / reality / sincerity / divine truth / practice in accordance with the Gospel.

    • We can’t do or be involved with both.  If a person “loves” what is evil, then they will “hate” what is good.  Believers need to focus on and work toward being good and bringing forth more good in this world.  We should not cover up sin or find ways to get away with it or let it go in others or in society.  We shouldn’t be happy when others are caught in sin, but should help them escape it.

    • This section closes by telling us that love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. 

  • Greek – stego / stegei … to put up with … stand … endure … to protect … cover … to hold off … to hold in … to hold out against … to endure patiently … to contain one’s self. 
    • We are to protect and watch over others, just as God protects and watches over us. 

  • Greek – pisteuo / pisteuei … to believe … put one’s faith in …. Trust, with an implication that actions based on that trust may follow … give credit to … commit to the charge or power of. 
    • We are to believe in one another – in love – not for what we can get out of it, but just because the other person is who they are.  What good does suspicion and mistrust get us? 

  • Greek – elpizo / elpizei… to hope … hope for … put hope in … expect … an attitude of confidently looking forward to what is good and beneficial … trust … confide. 
    • Jesus is our hope and we know He is coming back; and since we know that, we need to hope others can and will be saved as well.  We have to do our part in sharing the Gospel and strengthening the faith of others.  Love looks to the future and in hope to what can be (with fallen man changing and repenting) and to what will be (an eternity with God).  We need to lift people up; and help them change. 

  • Greek –  hypomeno / hypomenei … to stay behind … to stand firm … endure … persevere … to bear up under … endure … suffer patiently … to continue firmly … hold out … remain constant … to remain or stay behind when others have departed. 
    • Because of the above-mentioned things; our love should never quit; and should even go above traditional wedding vows.  If someone only loves during the good times, then they are not truly loving … love sticks around for everything.

  • After Paul tells us what love is, or does, or doesn’t do, he talks about the end of time and about growing up.  Earlier in the passage, Paul spoke on prophecy, languages, and knowledge; and that if he had them, but didn’t love, then he would be nothing.  Now, he says that those things will become useless or empty or meaningless or come to an end or be set aside.

  • One day it won’t matter what we knew or owned; but it will matter if we loved, who we loved, what we loved, and how we expressed that love.  That is what those we leave behind will remember; and throughout eternity, love is what will last.  God is Love; and it is because of His Love that have the opportunity to spend eternity with Him.
  • Paul says that when he was a child, he spoke, thought, and reasoned like one; but when he grew up, those things were put away. 

  • In 1st Corinthians 3:2 (NLT), Paul said, “I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger.  And you still aren’t ready.

  • Something similar is said in Hebrews 5:11-14 (NLT); and that passage is titled “A Call to Spiritual Growth” … (11) There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.  (12) You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others.  Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.  You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.  (13) For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.  (14) Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

  • We must grow and be ready for solid food.  We have to learn to love, love more, love better, and love sincerely.  We have to train, not only ourselves, but others, to love … this is included in discipleship.  We can’t expect a baby to know and do what an older kid/teen/adult does … and the same in the faith … mature believers should be doing more than the immature … which are you?
  • What are some standard answers children give when you ask them biblical questions? … why do they give those answers? … When we grow, both in age and understanding in the faith, we learn, and we know more and should be able to explain the faith to those who need to be saved; and once we grow enough we should be able to teach and strengthen the faith of those who are already saved.  Remember, we need to be ready in season and out to defend our faith.

  • Paul does speak of the end … while we are in this life – in this flesh – we don’t see everything clearly, we don’t know all the details – all the steps that God has planned, not only for us, but our families, our church, our nation, and the world.

  • We are winding down our Revelation study; and while we know the grand scheme of the End Times, we are not told each and every detail.  We are told enough to be prepared and to warn others of what is to come, but it isn’t a day-to-day outline of what will happen. 

  • When the end does come; and when everything is said and done, we will see things clearly.  We will understand what happened; and everything we are to know, we will know. 

  • Paul closes out this chapter by telling us that three things will last forever – faith, hope, love – and that love is the greatest.

  • For those who make it to Heaven … we will never stop having faith in Jesus; our hope will have arrived; and we will be with God, who is Love, for all of eternity.  On the flip side, those who end up in Hell will never be able to have faith in Jesus, will have no hope, and there will be nothing to love.

  • Exercise your faith and believe in Jesus … (and if you believe share the faith) … Hope that things will turn out good (and know that Jesus will return) … Love God and others, always, through everything.