I am interrupting the studies of Matthew to bring you
this special study on love.
The word is charity. The Greek word in the original text means love but the meaning goes beyond that simple word. As you read the chapter replace the word charity with the word love.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. Without love a voice of an angel would be just be a noise.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. Having special gifts, knowledge and faith without love means nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. This chapter separates normal love from the love this chapter is trying to describe. Some call this Agape love.
The first sentence describes charity, as we know it today, giving to the poor. Bear with me now as I attempt to convey the entire meaning of love as it is used here. I am sure my words will not be sufficient for this task.
The love that Paul writes about goes beyond the simple thought of love. This love is a verb, it denotes action, it tells of giving of yourself freely from the heart. Charity (love) does not dwell in the heart, it does not stand still, it goes outside the body, it touches others and it grows as it moves from one person to another.
This is the love of God that many cannot actually fathom. God’s love does not stay with Him to never move, He sends it to us without demanding we send it back to Him.
This love is one a person has that allows us to give without any thought of receiving a reward or honor or praise. This love is an out bursting of compassion. This love almost has a life of it’s own. It grows as it is given and returns to the giver.
This love is a blend of charity, grace, forgiveness, trust, honesty and joy. This love does not accuse and is not jealous. This love does not boast about what it does for others. This love does not point to itself and declare how great it is. This love brings out the desire in others to send out love. This love ignores wrongs and envelops those doing wrong in the hopes of leading others to the joy and forgiveness it feels. When used correctly this love spreads like a virus, it is contagious.
This is how Christians should love because this is how God loves. I don’t believe humans will be up to the task but we should try. The rest of the chapter is included and most of it is self-explanatory. I will do a more in depth study of this chapter at a later date.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
