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1 Follow after charitie, and desire spirituall giftes, but rather that yee may prophesie.
2 For he that speaketh in an vnknowen tongue, speaketh not vnto men, but vnto God: for no man vnderstandeth him: howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth, speaketh vnto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an vnknowen tongue, edifieth himselfe: but hee that prophesieth, edifieth the Church.
5 I would that yee all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is hee that prophesieth, then hee that speaketh with tongues, except hee interprete, that the Church may receiue edifying.
6 Now brethren, if I come vnto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speake to you either by reuelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7 And euen things without life giuing sound, whether pipe or harpe, except they giue a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be knowen what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet giue an vncertaine sound, who shall prepare himselfe to the battell?
9 So likewise you, except ye vtter by the tongue words easie to be vnderstood, how shall it be knowen what is spoken? for ye shall speake into the aire.
10 There are, it may bee, so many kindes of voices in the world, and none of them are without signification.
11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voyce, I shall bee vnto him that speaketh, a Barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a Barbarian vnto mee.
12 Euen so ye, forasmuch as yee are zealous of spirituall gifts, seeke that yee may excell to the edifying of the Church.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an vnknowen tongue, pray that he may interprete.
14 For if I pray in an vnknowen tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my vnderstanding is vnfruitfull.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and wil pray with vnderstanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the vnderstanding also.
16 Else, when thou shalt blesse with the spirit, how shall hee that occupieth the roome of the vnlearned, say Amen at thy giuing of thankes, seeing he vnderstandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily giuest thankes well: but the other is not edified.
18 I thanke my God, I speake with tongues more then you all.
19 Yet in the Church I had rather speake fiue words with my vnderstanding, that by my voyce I might teach others also, then ten thousand words in an vnknowen tongue.
20 Brethren, bee not children in vnderstanding: how be it, in malice be yee children, but in vnderstanding be men.
21 In the Law it is written, With men of other tongues, and other lippes will I speake vnto this people: and yet for all that will they not heare me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherfore tongues are for a signe, not to them that beleeue, but to them that beleeue not: But prophesying serueth not for them that beleeue not, but for them which beleeue.
23 If therefore the whole Church be come together into some place, and all speake with tongues, & there come in those that are vnlearned, or vnbeleeuers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesie, and there come in one that beleeueth not, or one vnlearned: he is conuinced of all, he is iudged of all.
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest, and so falling downe on his face, hee will worship God, and report that God is in you of a trueth.
26 How is it then brethren? when ye come together, euery one of you hath a Psalme, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a reuelatiō, hath an interpretatiō: Let all things be done vnto edifying.
27 If any man speake in an vnknowen tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course, and let one interprete.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keepe silence in the Church, and let him speake to himselfe, and to God.
29 Let the Prophets speake two or three, and let the other iudge.
30 If any thing be reueiled to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For yee may all prophesie one by one, that all may learne, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the Prophets are subiect to the Prophets.
33 For God is not the authour of confusion, but of peace, as in all Churches of the Saints.
34 Let your women keepe silence in the Churches, for it is not permitted vnto them to speake; but they are commanded to bee vnder obedience: as also saith the Law.
35 And if they will learne any thing, let them aske their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speake in the Church.
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it vnto you onely?
37 If any man thinke himselfe to be a Prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge, that the things that I write vnto you, are the commandements of the Lord.
38 But if any man bee ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore brethren, couet to prophesie, and forbid not to speake with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently, and in order.
Prophecy preferred to the gift of tongues. (1-5) The unprofitableness of speaking in unknown languages. (6-14) Exhortations to worship that can be understood. (15-25) Disorders from vain display of gifts; (26-33) and from women speaking in the church. (34-40)1-5 Prophesying, that is, explaining Scripture, is compared with speaking with tongues. This drew attention, more than the plain interpretation of Scripture; it gratified pride more, but promoted the purposes of Christian charity less; it would not equally do good to the souls of men. What cannot be understood, never can edify. No advantage can be reaped from the most excellent discourses, if delivered in language such as the hearers cannot speak or understand. Every ability or possession is valuable in proportion to its usefulness. Even fervent, spiritual affection must be governed by the exercise of the understanding, else men will disgrace the truths they profess to promote.
6-14 Even an apostle could not edify, unless he spoke so as to be understood by his hearers. To speak words that have no meaning to those who hear them, is but speaking into the air. That cannot answer the end of speaking, which has no meaning; in this case, speaker and hearers are barbarians to each other. All religious services should be so performed in Christian assemblies, that all may join in, and profit by them. Language plain and easy to be understood, is the most proper for public worship, and other religious exercises. Every true follower of Christ will rather desire to do good to others, than to get a name for learning or fine speaking.
15-25 There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A truly Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men's souls, than to get the greatest applause to himself. This is proving himself the servant of Christ. Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like them. Christians should be like children, void of guile and malice; yet they should not be unskilful as to the word of righteousness, but only as to the arts of mischief. It is a proof that a people are forsaken of God, when he gives them up to the rule of those who teach them to worship in another language. They can never be benefitted by such teaching. Yet thus the preachers did who delivered their instructions in an unknown tongue. Would it not make Christianity ridiculous to a heathen, to hear the ministers pray or preach in a language which neither he nor the assembly understood? But if those who minister, plainly interpret Scripture, or preach the great truths and rules of the gospel, a heathen or unlearned person might become a convert to Christianity. His conscience might be touched, the secrets of his heart might be revealed to him, and so he might be brought to confess his guilt, and to own that God was present in the assembly. Scripture truth, plainly and duly taught, has a wonderful power to awaken the conscience and touch the heart.
26-33 Religious exercises in public assemblies should have this view; Let all be done to edifying. As to the speaking in an unknown tongue, if another were present who could interpret, two miraculous gifts might be exercised at once, and thereby the church be edified, and the faith of the hearers confirmed at the same time. As to prophesying, two or three only should speak at one meeting, and this one after the other, not all at once. The man who is inspired by the Spirit of God will observe order and decency in delivering his revelations. God never teaches men to neglect their duties, or to act in any way unbecoming their age or station.
34-40 When the apostle exhorts Christian women to seek information on religious subjects from their husbands at home, it shows that believing families ought to assemble for promoting spiritual knowledge. The Spirit of Christ can never contradict itself; and if their revelations are against those of the apostle, they do not come from the same Spirit. The way to keep peace, truth, and order in the church, is to seek that which is good for it, to bear with that which is not hurtful to its welfare, and to keep up good behaviour, order, and decency.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.