BE ADULTS IN YOUR THINKING

Passage: 1 Corinthians 14:13-25

Key verse: 20b

NIV

13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.(A) 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,(B) but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,(C) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing(D) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,[a] say “Amen”(E) to your thanksgiving,(F) since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.(G)

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.(H)

20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.(I) In regard to evil be infants,(J) but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law(K) it is written:

“With other tongues
    and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
    but even then they will not listen to me,(L)
says the Lord.”[b]

22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,(M) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?(N) 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets(O) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”(P)

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 14:16 The Greek word for inquirer is a technical term for someone not fully initiated into a religion; also in verses 23 and 24.
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:21 Isaiah 28:11,12
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; (A)I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will (B)sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider[a] say (C)“Amen” to (D)your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brothers, (E)do not be children in your thinking. (F)Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be (G)mature. 21 (H)In the Law it is written, (I)“By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign[b] not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, (J)will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 (K)the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, (L)falling on his face, he will worship God and (M)declare that God is really among you.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Or of him that is without gifts
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:22 Greek lacks a sign
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Five intelligible words to instruct others (13-19)

Paul says to pray in a tongue in a church gathering when they are interpreted. It is to edify the church. If we pray or sing in a tongue, people are not able to understand and respond to God through our message. In order to edify others in the church Paul would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in tongues.

2. Stop thinking like children (2

-25)

If we insist on speaking in tongues in our worship service, instead of our own personal devotion, unbelievers will be put off by it. Paul says, 'Stop thinking like children.' However, if we all speak the words of prophecy, reveal the truth of the gospel clearly, it can convict unbelievers of their sins, help them to repent, and worship God and acknowledge that God is truly among us. When we outgrow our self-centered way of thinking and speak to strengthen, encourage, embrace, and comfort others around us, we can be a blessing and build up the church. That's why Paul urges us to desire the gift of prophecy more than the gift of tongues.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gifts of the Spirit given to edify the church. Help me to use my spiritual gifts to edify the church and to share the gospel of Jesus with others.

One Word: Five intelligible words rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.