Love: The Most Excellent Quality of Life
Notes
Transcript
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.
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.
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.
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.
I. The Great Importance of Love. v.1-3
I. The Great Importance of Love. v.1-3
A. Verdict 1: Tongues without love are meaningless.
A. Verdict 1: Tongues without love are meaningless.
B. Verdict 2: Gifts without love are meaningless.
B. Verdict 2: Gifts without love are meaningless.
1. Prophecy is nothing.
1. Prophecy is nothing.
2. Understanding all mysteries and knowledge are nothing.
2. Understanding all mysteries and knowledge are nothing.
3. Faith is nothing.
3. Faith is nothing.
C. Verdict 3: Giving without love profits nothing.
C. Verdict 3: Giving without love profits nothing.
Giving out of duty.
Giving out of duty.
Giving with contempt because one is forced to.
Giving with contempt because one is forced to.
Giving with an air of superiority.
Giving with an air of superiority.
Giving with a rebuke.
Giving with a rebuke.
Giving unsacrificially.
Giving unsacrificially.
1. Giving one’s goods.
1. Giving one’s goods.
2. Giving one’s life- martyrdom.
2. Giving one’s life- martyrdom.
II. The great acts of love. v.4-7
II. The great acts of love. v.4-7
A. Love suffers long.
A. Love suffers long.
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
B. Love is kind.
B. Love is kind.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
C. Love does not envy.
C. Love does not envy.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
31 Envy thou not the oppressor, And choose none of his ways.
30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: But envy the rottenness of the bones.
17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: But be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.
D. Love is not boastful.
D. Love is not boastful.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
E. Love is not prideful.
E. Love is not prideful.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
F. Love is not unseemly (unmannerly).
F. Love is not unseemly (unmannerly).
10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
G. Love is not selfish.
G. Love is not selfish.
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
H. Love is not easily provoked.
H. Love is not easily provoked.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
I. Love does not think evil.
I. Love does not think evil.
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
J. Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing (evil).
J. Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing (evil).
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
K. Love rejoices in the truth.
K. Love rejoices in the truth.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
16 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
6 The law of truth was in his mouth, And iniquity was not found in his lips: He walked with me in peace and equity, And did turn many away from iniquity.
L. Love bears all things. (burdens)
L. Love bears all things. (burdens)
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
M. Love believes all things. (completely trusting)
M. Love believes all things. (completely trusting)
4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
N. Love hopes all things.
N. Love hopes all things.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
O. Love endureth all things.
O. Love endureth all things.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
III. The great permanence of love. v.8-12
III. The great permanence of love. v.8-12
A. It never fails, never ceases, never vanishes.
A. It never fails, never ceases, never vanishes.
B. It is perfect and complete.
B. It is perfect and complete.
C. It is mature behavior.
C. It is mature behavior.
D. It is being face to face with God - perfect consciousness and knowledge.
D. It is being face to face with God - perfect consciousness and knowledge.
IV. The Great Supremacy of love. v.13
IV. The Great Supremacy of love. v.13