THE EFFECTS OF TONGUES AND PROPHECY
20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
The Corinthians needed to accept what Paul was teaching. He knew how they loved the free expression of the Spirit. He anticipated that some would already be closing their minds to what he was writing. Some might be finding fault, becoming angry, or feeling ill will. The person who is mature is willing to give up the lesser for the greater, to turn from that which seems good in order to have something better.
Children do not develop deep-seated malice or habitual faultfinding, however. So as far as “evil,” or malice, is concerned we should remain like infants. But in our thinking and understanding we need to be mature adults. It takes mature thinking to receive teaching on spiritual gifts, especially with regard to ministering them in love. But Paul expected it of the Corinthian church—and God expects it of us all.
21 In the Law it is written: “Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me,” says the Lord. 22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
Lest the Corinthians jump to the conclusion that there was no place for speaking in tongues in the public worship, Paul quickly draws their attention to Isaiah 28:11–12. In the context of Isaiah’s prophecy, proud Israelites were saying that Isaiah was treating them like spiritual babies and they resented it. Isaiah then made it clear that because of their unbelief, the message meant for blessing would bring judgment. God would send foreign conquerors whose language they would not understand, but whose actions would make it clear that these Israelites were separated from God, cut off from His blessing and under His judgment. Paul applies this to speaking in tongues (languages) they did not understand. So speaking in tongues is necessary as a judgment sign to unbelievers, making them realize that they are separated from God and cannot understand His message.
Tongues can also be a sign to unbelievers in that it draws their attention and lets them know something supernatural is present. This was apparently the case on the Day of Pentecost when the sound of tongues brought a crowd together (Acts 2:6).
Prophecy, however, is not a sign (something obviously miraculous) to unbelievers, for it is in the language they understand, and they do not recognize it as supernatural. On the other hand, believers who are in tune with the Holy Spirit recognize the gift of prophecy as supernatural, full of the Spirit’s power.
23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
On the other hand, if the whole church keeps on speaking in tongues, all at the same time, the initial effect of it will pass and unbelievers or those who are not instructed in spiritual things will say all the people speaking in tongues are out of their mind. These outsiders are the important people, the people the church must reach.
This was exactly the case on the Day of Pentecost. The crowd initially was amazed because they heard the 120 speaking in languages of the countries they came from. Eventually, however, as the 120 kept speaking in tongues, the crowd said they had had too much wine, which was just another way of saying they were out of their minds (Acts 2:13). Clearly the tongues did not lead the hearers to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Then the 120 stopped and Peter stood up to speak.
Prophecy, in contrast to tongues, speaks to the mind and heart of those who are unbelievers or spiritually ignorant. It brings them conviction, and by it the Holy Spirit is able to do His work of convicting and convincing the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). He makes sinners realize they are sinners and that sin is sin. He also calls them to account as the gift of prophecy brings a message that spotlights the secrets of their inner hearts and reveals their guilt. They see themselves in a true light and recognize that the message comes from God. This makes them fall down to worship and honor God. Instead of saying that the tongues speakers are out of their mind, these unbelievers will recognize that God is speaking. “To fall down and worship” means they are converted. This also is a sign to the believers that God is truly among them.
This too was exactly the situation on the Day of Pentecost. When Peter stood up to speak in the language they all understood, he did not give his own reasoning. The phrase in Acts 2:14 “addressed the crowd” is, literally, “spoke forth to them.” Peter spoke as the Spirit gave utterance, but this time in prophecy instead of in tongues. This word spoke to their hearts (Acts 2:37, 41) and brought the truth about Jesus Christ “into the very situation of the hearers.”79 This was followed by the gift of exhortation, of Peter’s warning and pleading with the people (Acts 2:40). The result was such that three thousand were saved.
The gift of prophecy will always apply the truth to the situation where the people are, where they actually live. Note, too, that Paul expects that all can speak in tongues and that all can prophesy. They all had been baptized in the Holy Spirit and He distributes the gifts as He wills. He does not limit them to people who have an office.
Horton, S. M. (1999). I & II Corinthians: A Logion Press Commentary (pp. 137–139). Springfield, MO: Logion Press.
