Commentary of Charles Spurgeon, Adam Clarke & Matthew Henry
and we prophesy in part.
Vs.9
He hints that these gifts are adapted only to a state of
imperfection: We know in part, and we prophesy in part,......
For we know in part - We have here but
little knowledge even of earthly, and much less of heavenly, things.
He
that knows most knows little in comparison of what is known by angels, .... And as we know so very little,
how deficient must we be if we have not much love! Angels may wonder at
the imperfection of our knowledge;
We prophesy in part - Even the sublimest
prophets have been able to say but little of the heavenly state;
And had
we no more religious knowledge than we can derive from men and books,
and had we no farther instruction in the knowledge of God and ourselves
than we derive from preaching, our religious experience would be low
indeed. Yet it is our duty to acquire all the knowledge we possibly can;
and as preaching is the ordinary means by which God is pleased to
instruct and convert the soul, we should diligently and thankfully use
it.
Every
preacher should take care to inculcate this on the hearts of his
hearers.
When you have learned all you can from your ministers, remember
you have much to learn from God; and for this you should diligently
wait on Him
---by the reading of His word,
---and by incessant prayer.
Even the knowledge they had by inspiration was but in part.
How
little a portion of God, and the unseen world, was heard even by apostles and
inspired men!
