Study 6: Tongues are a sign to Unbelievers (14:20-25)
a.
In the last paragraph, apostle Paul lays great emphasis on the mind and
understanding. They are absolutely necessary for true edification - building up
in the most holy faith. Therefore, tongues must be interpreted so that the hearers can understand and be edified.
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The Corinthian believers are ignorant of this most basic principle in spiritual
things. So also are many misled charismatics today. The basic nature of tongues and
their purpose are not understood, therefore abused.
b.
The new section begins with a gentle rebuke accompanied by an earnest
exhortation to grow up:
-
"do not be children in understanding": They were childish in their
understanding. Despite the fact that they pride themselves in spiritual gifts,
they were still childish in their handling of these gifts. They had displayed
childishness in estimating the spectacular gifts as more useful than prophecy.
-
"in understanding be mature (teleioi)": compare with Eph 4:11ff. In
understanding, the Corinthian believers were very deficient - they have yet to understand the basic truth concerning the nature and the purpose of spiritual
gifts in general, and the gift of tongues in particular.
-
"... however, in malice (kakia) be babes": if you have to be babes, then
be babes in your malice, a comprehensive word for evil dispositions. In malice,
let us be like the innocent and unscheming babes, in contrast to adults who are
crafty, vain, and deceitful.
**
See the rebuke upon those who are childish, who are not growing in
understanding of God's revealed word!
**
See the exhortation to grow up, to be mature in our grasp of sound doctrines
and apply them in our lives.
1.
Tongues are a Sign for Unbelievers
a.
What is a sign? In the NT Greek, sign
(sémeion) means an act or object conveying a recognizable message, and as a token of divine authority or power,
or attestation of God's presence among His people.
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Signs (sémeia) are supernatural manifestations of God's activity. The gift of
tongues is a sign, divinely bestowed upon certain believers to accomplish the certain definite purpose of God. The word nearly always occurs together with the words 'miracles' and 'wonders'. Check
concordance for yourself.
-
A biblical sign is always intended to convey a clear message. It has meaning.
It can be understood. It always points the hearers to God and His redemptive
work in and through Christ.
-
Biblical tongues are a sign pointing people to the Saviour. They affirm what
God has accomplished in the atoning sacrifice of Christ. cp Acts 2:11. A
meaningless sign is a monstrosity. It ceased to be a sign. Whatever the
charismatics want to claim for their meaningless gibberish, it can never be a
sign.
b.
"Tongues are for a sign to unbelievers": not that those who speak in
tongues are unbelievers! It does not say, "Tongues are a sign of
unbelievers." Nor tongues were exclusively for the benefit of unbelievers.
cp 14:5
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Note that a sign is a manifestation of God's power or presence, the sense here
is that tongues are a manifestation of God's power or presence, having reference,
not to believers, but to unbelievers, those who have not believed yet.
-
Prophecy (making known the revealed word of God) is a similar manifestation of
God's presence or power, but having reference, not to unbelievers, but to
believers (not exclusively, but relatively).
-
A sign is really a divine miracle. Imagine the impact upon a foreigner hearing
the gospel truth proclaimed to him in his own language by a believer who had
never learned the language before. See Acts 2:7. What explained the amazement and
astonishment of the hearers! They witnessed a mighty sign - the miraculous
manner in which the gospel truth was communicated to them - through tongues
which they could understand, but foreign to the speaker.
-
It was a spiritual gift to meet the peculiar situation of the early church. The
gospel needed to be proclaimed by the Jewish believers to the unbelieving
Gentiles of diverse tongues. That peculiar situation made the gift of tongues
very necessary in order to spread the gospel to Gentiles of other tongues.
-
It was also a sign to 'unbelieving' Jewish believers. For a long while, the
Jewish believers were very slow to understand that the gospel is for the whole
world, and not just exclusively for the Jews. They did not comprehend the
universal significance of Joel's prophecy that was fulfilled on the day of
Pentecost.
:
on the day of Pentecost the OT church has reached its maturity, its universal
dimension!
:
the sign of tongues was the most compelling evidence that God is bringing
salvation to the Gentiles too! Through this sign, the gospel truth is also
revealed to the Gentiles in their very own tongues. Acts 2!
c.
"prophesying ... is a sign for those who believe":
-
Prophecy is making known the whole revealed truth of God to edify (build up in
spiritual maturity - doctrines and practice), to exhort (reproof and
correction, and training in righteousness) and to comfort (by reminders of the
hope and promises in Christ) believers. cp 2Tim 3:16-17. God speaks to His
children in a plain and direct manner. cp Isa 6:9-11; Mk 4:11-12.
-
Prophecy is far wider in scope for it declares the whole counsel of God.
Tongues, as a sign, is limited and narrow in their scope. They convey primarily
the gospel message - 'speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God', ie. the wonderful works of salvation
in Jesus Christ.
-
But when tongues are interpreted, the gospel message will also edify the
believers. cp 14:5.
##
When the Word of God is not preached faithfully and plainly, be sure that it is
a sin of God's judgment. The famine of the word is a curse and judgment from
the Lord.
##
Every prosperous period of the Christian church has been marked supremely by
the faithful and vigorous preaching of the revealed word of God. God sent His
preachers to declare His Word.
2.
Unknown Tongues is a Sign of Judgment
a.
Their ignorance: This is a solemn truth that the Corinthian believers (who
were babes in understanding) did not understand. It never occurred to them that
the implications of their thoughtless and childish abuse of the gift of tongues were so serious.
Apostle Paul, therefore, quotes a historical case to prove this solemn point.
-
Apostle referred to a momentous event in the history of Israel from which they
might learn a useful and sobering lesson. The stiff-necked Israelites had
refused to hear the prophets of God who spoke to them in their own language.
God threatened to bring upon them a people whose language they did not
understand as a divine judgment on them.
-
When the Israelites were rebellious, God sent foreigners among them as a
judgment upon them. When they were obedient, God sent prophets among them, for
their edification, exhortation and comfort, cp 14:3.
-
Apostle Paul is saying that from the concrete evidence of history, tongues are
a sign of judgment upon the unbelieving; prophecy (God's revealed word
communicated in plain languages) is for the believing.
b.
The purpose of the illustration: It is to show that just as the sending of the
Assyrians among the Israelites was a mark of God's displeasure and judgment
upon them, so also the speaking of unknown tongues (without interpretation)
would be a curse and not a blessing. Real languages were spoken in both
situations, but unintelligible to the hearers).
-
The Corinthian believers needed to learn that it was certainly no indication of
God's favour upon them to have in their midst those who speak in tongues which
they could not understand. It is not only a sign of divine judgment, but it is also
a cause of much evil. Prophecy alone - declaring the word of God faithfully and
intelligibly - is the source of edification, exhortation, and comfort. cp 2Tim
3:16-17.
-
The gift of tongues was designed to facilitate the propagation of the gospel,
by enabling believers to address unbelievers of various nations and tongues
in their own language. When the gift of tongues is used in light of this divine
purpose, it brings blessings; but when abused for display and paraded before
those who do not understand the language spoken was to turn it a judgment.
**
Spiritual ignorance and selfishness can turn a blessing into a judgment!
**
Believers do have a divine right to hear a faithful and plain exposition of God's
word, a task required of and expected from a messenger of God. cp 1Cor
4:1-2; Col 1:24-29; Eph 4:11ff.
**
Unbelief may deprive even professing believers of the spiritual ability to
understand the plainest message.
**
Unintelligible and unfaithful teachers are a judgment from God. Avoid them like
a plague.
**
'Babbling' and 'gibberish' among the charismatics are fearful signs of God's
judgment upon them.
c. Standing example to prove the point :
- "Supposing the whole church comes
together in one place, and all speak with tongues" : (an exaggerated situation - with
absolutely the maximum number of tongues speakers in one place, how very grand!
- an exaggeration which will most certainly gratify the boastful
and childish Corinthian believers, and similarly the charismatics
churches as well!).
- "and there come in those who are
uninformed or unbelievers": a situation all very possible and natural in
a place like the city of
Corinth. What is the outcome?
- Both the uninformed (those who do not
know the tongues spoken) and the unbelievers will say that such a group
of tongue speakers are 'insane' - mad and out of their minds, like the prophets
of Baal. 1Kg 18
- Supposing in the same situation, but
now 'all prophesy'. What is the outcome? Ah, see the happy result.
: any uninformed or unbelieving
person in the meeting 'is convinced by all' and 'is convicted by all'.
- 'is convinced by all': elegchõ means to be examined searched into, exposed,
reproved.
- 'is convicted by all': anakrinõ means
judged, called to account, summoned to answer.
These can only be accomplished
when the word of God is made known faithfully and intelligibly. cp Heb 4:12.- It is the word of God prophesied which
searches the secrets of an unbeliever's heart and exposes them, bringing him to repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ. His real character and
moral state and divine judgment upon him are
made known to him.
**
Prophecy (faithfully expounding the revealed word of God) is all-sufficient to
save sinners and build up saints. See 1Cor 1:21ff. cp Lk 16:29-31.
**
Many resort to gimmicks because they have no more faith in the means ordained
by God. cp 2Tim 3:16-17.
