Sermon Tone Analysis

*1 Corinthians 14:20-22a…* Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be babes, but in your thinking be mature.

21 In the Law it is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord.

22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers…

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*Commentary*

            In verse 20 Paul seems to pause for a moment, and with a great sigh he says, “Brothers, it’s time to grow up…” The only reason that he cares enough to tell them this is due to the fact that they are his “brothers” in Christ, and they are witnesses for the sake of Christ.

When he tells them not to be “children in your thinking” he’s condemning their immature behavior in reference to the issue of tongues-speaking.

The whole context is a condemnation against their misuse.

They thought and acted like little children, yet they were adults who not only knew Christ but possessed all the spiritual gifts.

He tells them “in evil be babes.”

Just a child is innocent in his~/her ignorance of the evil ways of the world, Paul wanted them as adults to be ignorant to the evils of the world.

A rough paraphrase might say, “Your misuse of the wonderful spiritual gift of tongues-speaking is reprehensible.

Stop acting like selfish children, and grow up!

You should be ignorant of the wicked ways of the world and privy to the things of God.”

            Verse 21 is a quote from Isaiah 28:11-12.

The context of Isaiah 28, in relation to the problem of tongues in 1 Corinthians, has to do with the ancient Assyrians who were the dominating world power in the 8th century BC.

Isaiah the prophet had warned the Jews that their disobedience would bring God’s judgment, and he was reminding them of the captivity their brothers had endured at the hands of the Assyrians in 722 BC because of their disobedience.

The Assyrians were the “men of strange tongues” who had oppressed them.

Because of their unbelief God sent that pagan nation against them as the rod of His discipline.

Moses prophesied the same thing in Deut.

28:49 as did Jeremiah in 5:15.

All of these prophecies of strange tongues coming from foreign nations were prophecies against the Jews because of disobedience.

God sent pagan nations, who spoke in languages they did not understand, to judge them.

The Isaiah quote then means that the gift of tongues was given to the Church as a sign of God’s judgment on Israel’s disobedience, specifically for their rejection of the Messiah – Jesus Christ.

So, per verse 22, the message of the tongues was given to show Israel that God had judged them.

They were a “sign.”

In the same way that the barbaric Assyrians spoke to Israel in foreign tongues as they took them into captivity – then later the Babylonians, so now, the Gentiles would speak to the Jews using the spiritual gift of tongues as a sign of God’s judgment against them for rejecting Christ.

God had used the prophets to speak to His people in their own language, and they refused to repent.

Now it was judgment time, and this appears to be the primary biblical reason for the gift of tongues.

*Food for Thought*

            Note that Paul referred to the Corinthians in v. 20 as “brethren.”

It is evident that the Corinthians were immoral, confused, and unorthodox in many areas of their lives, but Paul still addresses them as “brothers.”

The mere fact that he wrote to them as he did means that he believed they were saved and that he loved them.

But since their actions did not reflect Christ it was his responsibility to correct them.

As professed believers in Christ they had put themselves under the authority of Christ and were accountable to other Christians.

Paul’s tone is strong, but it’s strong because his brothers were defaming the name of Christ.

Let it be your quest to lovingly correct false doctrine and all behavior unbecoming a Christian.

But start with yourself.

*The Purpose of the Gift of Tongues and Prophecy…* “So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers, but to those who believe” (1 Corinthians 14:22).

The gift of tongues had a threefold purpose.

First, they were given as a sign of judgment towards Israel for their rejection of Jesus Christ.

The prophet Isaiah had warned the Jews in the 8th century BC that God was going to send judgment their way in the form of a nation in whose language they would not understand (28:11-12).

Moses prophesied the same thing in Deut.

28:49, as did Jeremiah in 5:15.

All three prophets spoke of God’s judgment coming through men of strange tongues.

All those prophesies were fulfilled when the Assyrians and the Babylonians carried Israel into captivity, speaking to them in strange tongues.

God had used the prophets to speak to His people in their own language, and they refused to repent.

So God sent pagan nations with strange speech to judge Israel.

Even Jesus spoke in parables so as to confuse the Jews and keep them from understanding his message (Matt.

13).

Now, the Gentiles would speak to the Jews using the spiritual gift of tongues as a sign of God’s judgment against them for rejecting Christ.

It’s no accident that each time tongues are used in the Book of Acts Jews were present.

Second, tongues were used as a show of God’s blessing.

Tongues served as a sign that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was for all nations where many different languages were spoken.

Paul says as much in Galatians 3:28… “There is neither Jew nor Greek… slave or freeman… male or female… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

The transgression of the Jews in their rejection of their Messiah actually brought about salvation for the Gentiles (Rom.

11:11-12; 25-26).

And the sign of tongues as a blessing is seen in Acts 10:44ff.

as Gentiles were included in the church.

Third, the gift of tongues was also a sign of power that validated the message of the apostles and prophets (cf. 2 Cor.

12:12; Rom.

15:9).

After the apostles and prophets pointed the way to the Messiah and had their message validated with the gift of tongues and miracles, the gift no longer had a reason to exist.

This is why Paul said they would cease (1 Cor.

13:8).

It would be like following directions to someone’s home.

You pass the first landmark, the second, then the third – all are signs pointing you to the house.

But when you arrive at your destination you no longer need any landmarks.

You’re there!

So it was with the gift of tongues as a sign of power.

They pointed to Jesus Christ by validating the ministries of the apostles and prophets.

Once accomplished through their ministries, they were no longer needed.

The message was written down by eyewitnesses.

We take it on faith or reject it based upon ignorance.

There isn’t a single word in scripture where tongues are spoken /and/ interpreted.

All references of their use are general, not specific.

And the general message of tongues were never new revelations from God but simply about God’s mighty deeds (Acts 2:11).

The purpose of tongues was never to teach but to point to Jesus Christ and the mighty works of God.

Prophecy, on the other hand, was never given for unbelievers as tongues was.

Prophecy was given for believers.

Though the English version above says that prophecy is given as a “sign” to believers, in the Greek text “sign” is not there.

Prophecy is never called a “sign” in the Bible because it doesn’t point to anything.

It isn’t given to point to anything, but it is given for edification – for the building of the church, Christ’s body.

The gift of prophecy (proclaiming God’s Word) concerns inspired speaking in normal human language.

It is given not as a sign but as edification for believers.

Tongues was inspired speech spoken in a language unlearned by the speaker, needing interpretation, and given as a sign to unbelievers.

Paul’s whole admonition was to strive after prophecy because it edifies the church.

The Corinthians, however, were only concerned with themselves as evidenced by their tongues-speaking.

*1 Corinthians 14:23-24…* If therefore the whole church should assemble together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?

24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.

*Commentary*

            When the church gathers for worship, if all begin to speak in tongues, those who enter who either do not possess the gift (the “ungifted”) or aren’t saved, they would believe the tongues-speakers to be lunatics.

Since all do not possess the gift, they consequently cannot be edified by the gift.

In Acts 2:11 it is noteworthy that those Jews who came to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost plainly understood what was spoken by Peter and the apostles who received the gift of tongues that day.

Tongues were given to be understood, not to bring confusion.

If, on the other hand, in v. 24, a group of believers gather to worship God and to prophesy (preach & teach God’s Word) – if an unbeliever or another “ungifted” Christian should enter, then at least five things are said to occur.

First, he is “convicted” by all.

This word means “to show fault; to expose.”

Upon just hearing God’s Word people are convicted.

His Word truly is a double-edged sword (Heb.

4:12).

The power of God’s Word is made manifest in the preaching of His Word.

Preaching God’s Word is of utmost importance in corporate worship.

Without it, there is no conviction, and without conviction from the mouth of God’s prophets we all die in our sins.

The second thing that transpires as a result of prophecy is that the convicted one is “called into account by all.”

With their sins exposed and their lives full of humility before God, they stand to “account” for their sins.