Wednesday, February 24, 2021

1 CORINTHIANS 13 SERIES - Verse 4

 Commentary of Charles Spurgeon, Adam Clarke & Matthew Henry
 
Charity suffereth long, 
and is kind; 
charity envieth not; 
charity vaunteth not itself, 
is not puffed up,...
Vs.4 
 
I. It is long sufferingmakrothymei. It makes the mind firm, 
--gives it power over the angry passions, 
--and furnishes it with a persevering patience, that shall rather wait and wish for the reformation of a brother than fly out in resentment of his conduct.
 
II. It is kindchreµsteuetai. It is is courteous and obliging. .... her heart is large, and her hand open. .... 
--and not only seizes on opportunities of doing good, 
--but searches for them. 
This is her general character. 

III. Charity suppresses envy: It envieth not; it is not grieved at the good of others...
If we love our neighbor we shall 
--be so far from envying his welfare, 
--or being displeased with it, that we shall share in it and rejoice at it.

IV. Charity subdues pride and vain-glory; It vaunteth not itself,.... is not bloated with self-conceit, .... It is not insolent, apt to despise others, or trample on them, or treat them with contempt and scorn....
 
Is not puffed up - Ου φυσιουται·--
--Is not inflated with a sense of its own importance; 
--for it knows it has nothing but what it has received; 
--and that it deserves nothing that it has got. Every man, whose heart is full of the love of God, is full of humility;
 
Charity calms the angry passions, instead of raising them.