The Wicked Vinedressers

 

Mark 12:1-40

What is a “vinedresser?”

Vinedressers are farmers who take care of grapevines. Their job requires constant, daily attention to the vines. They must ensure that the grape plants receive enough water and are protected from pests, and do not develop disease. In Mark 12, Jesus speaks of vinedressers, and the profession continues to be practiced to this present day. Without careful, attentive vinedressers, the world would not enjoy a supply of grapes, grape juice, and, of course, wine.

One critical task of the vinedresser is pruning. Pruning is where the name “vinedresser” comes from. As the vinedresser cuts away dead or unnecessary branches, and excess, diseased or stunted fruit, he or she makes room for new growth and a healthier, more abundant harvest.

In Mark 12:1-12, Jesus tells a story about a man who planted a vineyard. The man put a lot of time and money into making the vineyard just right. He built a wall, a wine press, a lookout tower and then leased the vineyard to some tenant farmers. 

Lease agreements for farmland and fields are common even today. I am not knowledgeable about various lease arrangements. Still, I know that one type of lease agreement is for the landowner to receive a percentage of the harvest. This is an oversimplification of leases. There are divisions of expenses, production costs, and many other details to be considered.

In Jesus’ story, the vinedressers are wicked and chase away, beat, and even kill those sent to collect the owner’s share. This owner sent many servants, and they were all treated the same way. Finally, the owner sent his son, and they killed him too. 

Jesus was telling this story in the temple to the religious leaders who had just asked Him by what authority He had cleansed the temple. These leaders were tenants who were entrusted with tending God’s vineyard, the nation of Israel. The nation was God’s chosen people. Through the nation of Israel, God prepared for and sent His Son, the Savior of the world.

In our day, the Church is made up of God’s chosen people. As Jesus approached the final week of His tenure on earth, He was rejected and persecuted by the tenants whom God had chosen to care for His people, His vine. In our day, as we approach the final week, the seven-year tribulation promised in the book of Daniel, we also see rejection and opposition to the truth.

As we look at Mark chapter 12, we will see three types of error that tend to mislead the people of God. This is not a complete list of possibilities, but it is a list of what Jesus confronted. We must trust the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to guide us and to guard us. 

First, let’s consider the three different groups of religious leaders present when Jesus was in the temple. These were: The Pharisees, The Sadducees, and The Scribes. 

In His story about the vinedressers, Jesus foretells His death. And the religious leaders understand that they are the wicked vinedressers of the story. Mark 12:12 tells us:

Mark 12:12 (NKJV) And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

Although this passage says they went away, the next verse says they sent some people to trap Jesus in His words. In other words, they went out to plot their answering strategy. By telling this story, Jesus is once again giving them a chance to repent as He tries to help them see their error. He reminds them that their position of power and authority was not of their own making but was an assignment from God.

However, instead of listening to what He says, they are angered by it and seek to trick Jesus into saying something for which they could arrest Him.

In verses 13 through 40 of Mark chapter 12, the three different groups of leaders (The Pharisees, The Sadducees, and The Scribes) each send delegations to try to trick Jesus. In verses 12 through 17, the Pharisees try; in verses 18 through 27, the Sadducees take a shot at Him, and finally, in verses 28 through 34, the Scribes have their go at it.

As we consider the confrontation between these groups and Jesus, we need to understand what each group represented. 

First, the Pharisees were the religious conservatives of the day. They believed in the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures, the resurrection of the dead, the spiritual world (including the devil), the afterlife, heaven, and hell.

Second, the Sadducees were the religious liberals of the day. They were Hellenists. In other words, they were Jews who had adopted Greek culture, philosophy, and beliefs. They did not believe the Scriptures were literal. Instead, they interpreted the Scriptures allegorically. They did not believe in a seven-day creation, the devil, hell, or the resurrection. 

Third, the Scribes were experts in religious law. They were the lawyers of Mosaic law. They understood the commandments and principles of God’s word. Because of this understanding, they held places of honor among the nation.

These three groups, with all their teachings, beliefs, and practices, were the ones who Jesus represented as the wicked vinedressers. They had been entrusted with the safety and education of God’s people. Still, when God sent prophets such as John the Baptist, they would not listen but persecuted and opposed God’s messengers. Now they were challenging the Son of God and His right to the Kingdom.

The Pharisees were the first to bring their challenge. Naturally, when the Pharisees asked their question, they led with an unsolvable dilemma for the religious Jew. How could one devoted to the God of Israel give money to the evil Roman Empire? However, publicly teaching that one should not pay taxes would get one in trouble with the Roman government.

The text tells us:

Mark 12:14 (NKJV) When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 

Consider carefully what these men are saying because they condemn themselves with their words. They say, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth.”

If they knew that He was true, why didn’t they listen to Him? Again, their words hold the truth. While they recognized that Jesus did not regard the person of men, they themselves did. At a different time, Jesus told them:

John 5:44 (NKJV) How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

Their unbelief and was because they sought honor and recognition from men rather than God. They abused their position and did not properly care for the vine as vinedressers because they sought recognition from men rather than God. We should take warning and always seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. This problem of seeking honor from men rather than God is in the Church today. Whenever we find ourselves doing this, we must repent and pray for God to deliver us from this terrible trap.

The Pharisees failed to trick Jesus as Jesus easily escaped. So, the Sadducees tried. We find their attempt in Mark 12:18-27.

The Sadducees claimed to be religious, but they believed according to the Greek way of thinking. They took the writings of Moses to be symbolic and allegorical and not literal. They taught that hell and the devil were stories for teaching and not real. Mark 12:18 tells us that they said there is no resurrection. 

Their kind is alive and well in the Church today. Some pastors and denominations do not believe the Bible to be the literal Word of God. They deny foundational truths of our faith, saying things like, “There are other ways to heaven than Jesus Christ.”

Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees should be a warning to us all. He says:

Mark 12:24 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?

The Sadducees were mistaken because they did not know the Scriptures or the power of God. The problem with their knowledge of Scripture was that their reading of Scripture was not united with faith. We must heed the warning of Hebrews 4.

Hebrews 4:1–2 (NKJV) ¹Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. ²For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

The Bible can be tested. Historically it is accurate. Its prophecies have been and are being fulfilled. It has proven reliable in every way. When we come upon things that we find hard to understand, do we trust the philosophies of men, or do we trust the Word of God? The world takes offense at claims that Jesus is the ONLY way to God. So, do we change that truth to satisfy the world? That is what the Sadducees did, and it is what some do today.

Jesus summed up His words to the Sadducees by saying:

Mark 12:27 (NKJV) You are therefore greatly mistaken.

The Sadducees had no answer to this. Jesus exposed their foolishness in His response. (Although we have not recited the whole thing here, read His answer carefully.) Seeing that the Pharisees and Sadducees failed, one of the Scribes had his go.

Being the lawyer, the Scribe asked a question about the law. “Which commandment is the greatest?” (Mark 12:28) Surprisingly, after a brief interaction with the Scribe, Jesus said:

Mark 12:34 (NKJV) You are not far from the kingdom of God. 

The Scribe answered Jesus wisely. Jesus and the Scribe agreed on the interpretation of the Scriptures. However, Jesus did not say, “You got it! You will be saved.” “Not far from” also means “not.” The Scribe was not in the kingdom of God. He was close, but not quite. Just a note here: When I hunt, I find that if I miss by a little or miss by a lot, the result is the same.

Mark 12:34 says that after the Scribe, no one dared to question Jesus further. However, Jesus was not through with the Scribes. While they were close, they still missed the mark. Jesus points to two ways in which they erred.

The first error that kept the Scribes from recognizing Jesus as Messiah was their limited understanding of Scripture. Jesus asks a question. How is it that the Christ is both the Son of David and David’s Lord? The Scribes said the Christ was to be the Son of David, which is revealed in the Old Testament. However, they did not grasp the truth that David recognized the Christ as being his Lord.

Thinking they understood the Scripture, the Scribes made the mistake of not continuing to seek the Scriptures for answers. Two people stand out as having recognized Jesus as the Christ from the day He went into the temple as a baby. The Bible tells us that both Simeon and Anna were devout, devoted to fasting and prayer, and waiting for the revelation of the Christ. The difference was in their heart attitude. They practiced loving God with all their heart. The difference in the Scribes that caused their limited understanding of Scripture was their heart. This is what Jesus pointed out as the second error of the Scribes.

In Mark 12:38-40, Jesus tells the people to watch out for the Scribes. The problem was that they loved recognition. They wore long robes and enjoyed special recognition wherever they went. They did not recognize Christ because they did not love His appearing, but instead, they loved their appearance. They understood the law, so they were not far from the kingdom, but they did not obey the law, so they missed it.

We are all vinedressers in the field that God has entrusted to us. In the workplace, home and market, we interact with people every day. 

We can divide the world by three types of people. Some people live their lives primarily motivated by their reactions. The Pharisees represent these people. They seek justice, action and righteousness. Other people are ruled more by emotions. They seek harmony, peace and acceptance. The Sadducees represent this group. Still others are ruled by their intellect. They are governed by cognitive processes. These are the Scribes. 

Every person is unique, and such generalizations that I have just made might tempt us to put everyone in a box. However, apply it to yourself. Taken in a broad manner, which group would you say you are most like? Don’t weasel out of it and say you are not like any of them. Each of us at different times can be more like one or the other of these groups.

We can be like the Pharisees and be very religious, or we can be like the Sadducees and try to fit in with the world. We can be intellectual about life like the Scribes. The problem is not in your tribe. There were Pharisees who were great men of faith. The Apostle Paul was a Pharisee. No matter which group we might be in, the question each of us must answer is, “Am I building my own kingdom or am I building God’s kingdom? Whose vineyard is my life? We must never forget that we are but tenants. God created us, gave us life and has leased His vineyard to us. When we meet Him, He will ask us for His share of the harvest. Will we be prepared? We are also nearing the final week. Are we pruning away the bad, keeping the good, and being good vinedressers?

The Day of Visitation

Mark 11, 

(Behold the Lord shall come suddenly into His temple. Malachi 3:1)

We are living in unprecedented, difficult times. Riots, unrest, and divisions plague our nation and our world like never before. Each generation has said pretty much the same thing, and each generation has been right, in a sense. With each generation, the end draws closer and closer. In 1 Timothy 4:1 and following, the Holy Spirit warns us that there will be an increasing turning from the truth in the Church as the end draws near. And 2 Timothy 3:1 and following tells us that evil will increase in the world.

We need to be aware of the times we live in and how they relate to God’s plan for the world. The people of Jesus’ day were misled and thus missed the day of their visitation. Jesus and the Apostles tell us to watch and be sober. (Parable of the virgins and 1 Thessalonians 4) There are two things that must concern us. One concern is that we are prepared for His return, and the other is that we are engaged in what the Father has given us to do.

In the Scriptures,  God’s coming or visitation can mean either blessing or punishment. In our context today, it can mean either. For those who are ready, it will meaning blessing, but for the unprepared, it will mean suffering. Jesus warned the people of His day about missing their day of visitation (God’s coming to them). For example, in Luke 19:43-44, He says:

Luke 19:43–44 (NKJV) ⁴³For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, ⁴⁴and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

In our study of Mark 11, we will see that Israel was neither prepared nor engaged in the Father’s business. Therefore, they missed the day of their visitation.

 

First, in Mark 11:1-11, we see the promised King entering Jerusalem.

There are two sides to this picture. The first side of the image is Jesus preparing to enter Jerusalem. The second side of the image is the people welcoming Jesus.

In preparation for entering Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of His disciples ahead of Him to bring back a donkey’s colt. He told His disciples what would happen, and it happened just as Jesus said. In this action, Jesus showed His sovereignty and foreknowledge. He even knew the words that would be spoken before the disciples went.

This action should have instilled confidence in the disciples and increased their faith, and it probably did. However, by the end of the week, they all deserted Jesus and fled during the time of trial. We are no different. This is why the New Testament tells us repeatedly to stand firm and persevere. I will give one text as an example.

Matthew 24:12–13 (NKJV) ¹²And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Lawlessness is abounding more and more, but we must never forget that Jesus told us this would happen. Everything is under His control.

In choosing to enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey, Jesus also showed that He was King. His actions proclaimed that He knew who and what He was. All Israel knew to expect their King to come to them riding on a donkey. The prophet Zechariah said:

Zechariah 9:9 (NKJV) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your King is coming to you;

He is just and having salvation,

Lowly and riding on a donkey,

A colt, the foal of a donkey.

By His actions, Jesus announced that He was the expected King. As He entered the city, the people demonstrated that they understood.

As Jesus and His disciples enter Jerusalem, the second picture comes into focus as a crowd gathers and welcomes the King into the city. As the people shout and sing Hosanna, their song of praise shows they know He is the King. For example, Mark 11:10 says,

Mark 11:10 (NKJV) Blessed is the kingdom of our father David, That comes in the name of the Lord!

These are the words of the people celebrating the coming of their King.

Having established who He was, Jesus waited until the next day to confront Jerusalem. We see this confrontation in Mark 11:12-24.

At this point, the Holy Spirit inserts a vital illustration. On the way to town, Jesus and those accompanying Him come upon a fig tree. But when Jesus found it had no fruit, He cursed the tree. Mark 11:20 tells us that in the morning, the disciples observed that the fig tree was dried up. When questioned about it, Jesus used it as an opportunity to tell His disciples they must have faith. However, in the bigger picture of the context, the fig tree symbolizes the nation of Israel. In the Old Testament, God sometimes uses a fig tree to represent Israel. For example, in Joel 2:21-25, healthy fig trees represent a restored nation.

In contrast to this, withered fig trees represent God’s judgment. Faith enters into this discussion because the lack of faith in the nation was what was bringing judgment. Unbelief is what Jesus was confronting. Israel as a nation was about to be judged and would wither. Jesus even warned of this when He told them:

Mark 13:2 (NLT) Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!

Jesus illustrated what was about to happen to the nation. This was the day of visitation by the King, and they were missing it. The consequences would be the shriveling and dying of the nation.

Jesus had cursed the fig tree on His way into Jerusalem. On this second day, Jesus went straight to the temple and chased the banking interests and the livestock marketers out of the temple. While doing this, He said:

Mark 11:17 (NKJV) Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”

Treating the house of prayer as a market shouts unbelief. They had no faith in prayer or that there even was a God who listened to their prayers. Their temple was filled with what they worshiped - MONEY. Their minds were set on earthly things, so they missed the day of their visitation and actively opposed the King.

Jesus confronted the problem of their unbelief by challenging what they were doing in the temple. However, this did not bring about their repentance. Instead, they hardened their hearts, and as verse 18 tells us, they sought to destroy Him. Those that sought to kill Jesus were the leaders. The people had recognized Jesus as the promised King. However, the leaders were more interested in their own position and authority. These leaders misled the people.

Our day is no different. Underlying the unbelief of the world is the worship of money. Jesus taught that a person cannot serve God and money at the same time. Our day of visitation is drawing near, but few are prepared and doing the King’s business.

After confronting Jerusalem in the temple, Jesus went out of the city for the night. Let’s review. On day one, Jesus entered the city as King. On day two, He confronted the unbelief of the nation. Then, on day three, Jesus answered Jerusalem. His answer is found in Mark 11:27-33.

Jesus’ answer starts with the leaders of the nation asking Him a question. They asked by what authority He was doing these things, referring to Him chasing all the money and livestock people out of the temple. Power over the temple belonged to them, and they controlled the temple police. So, what business did Jesus have to be playing God in their temple! Jesus recognized their unbelief and commitment to themselves, their position, and their money. For this reason, Jesus asked a question of His own.

Mark 11:29–30 (NKJV) ²⁹But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: ³⁰The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”

This is a straightforward question. The men Jesus was talking to were the shepherds of Israel. Knowing what was and was not from God was their job.

The discussion between these men that followed is enlightening.

Mark 11:31–33 (NKJV) ³¹And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, 'From heaven' He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him? ³²But if we say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. ³³So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.”

As we look at this discussion, we notice that they are not asking what the truth is. The leaders are looking at how to protect themselves. Their consideration is only political in nature. 

Such reasoning is a symptom of their unbelief. For Jesus to tell them that He was God and this was His temple, would have been a waste of breath. After learning that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, these were the same people who did not believe but considered how they could kill both Lazarus and Jesus to silence the truth.

Therefore, Jesus simply said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” 

On several occasions, Jesus pointed to the evidence that is available for faith. Jesus told a parable about a rich man who did not believe and was in hell after he died. Suffering much, this man asked for water, and when he could not have water, he asked that his brothers be warned. In response, he was told:

Luke 16:31 (NKJV) But he said to him, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.”

This was proved true when Jesus rose from the dead. When the Jews asked for a sign so that they could believe, Jesus said:

Matthew 16:4 (NKJV) A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”

This reference to the sign of Jonah points to the three days and three nights that Jesus spent in the grave.

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus are sufficient evidence for our faith. However, there is much more. Let’s read the rest of the context of Matthew 16:4.

Matthew 16:2–4 (NKJV) ²He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; ³and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. ⁴A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.

 

Before telling them of the evidence of His resurrection, Jesus told them that they had all the evidence they needed. The signs of the times refer to the Old Testament’s prophecies being fulfilled in their day. The Scriptures speak for themselves. No other book tells us what is going to happen with 100% accuracy.

Our day is no different. People that ask for a sign only get the answer, “Consider the evidence.”

We are living in unprecedented times, and Jesus will be returning soon. He will come as King, riding on a horse as a conquering King. However, a few things must happen first. The day of God’s wrath, the Great Tribulation, must first occur, but the Church is not destined for God’s wrath, so we must first be taken out of the way. The Church being removed will be a huge sign, and many will believe. However, most will continue in their unbelief. 

Since we do not know the day or the hour, it is essential for us to always be ready and to always be about the Father’s business. One of the signs of the times is the leaves appearing on the fig tree. A few decades after Jesus ascended to the Father, the nation of Israel ceased to function as a nation. In an effort to erase the memory of the nation, the land was given the name “Palestine.” However, in 1947, Israel was reborn. Consider the prophecy of Matthew 14.

Matthew 24:32–34 (NLT) ³²“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. ³³In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. ³⁴I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.

The generation that will not pass away is the generation that sees the branches bud and leaves begin to sprout. If the nation of Israel is the fig tree, then our day of visitation is very near. Are we ready? Are we about the Master’s business?

Love

 

Love

1 Corinthians 13

Valentine’s Day is not an official holiday in any nation, yet it is celebrated worldwide. Valentine’s Day is recognized for its celebration of love and affection. Mass-produced cards saying “Be My Valentine” are passed around in our schools, and we see hearts and cupids during this time as symbols of romantic love. 

Courtship and marriage are where we experience romantic love. The Bible book “Song of Solomon” is dedicated to the passions of romance. Interpreted in the context of the relationship between a man and a woman, Song of Solomon can be rather explicit. Romance of this kind is exciting and causes our hearts to race. 

Some of the tamer expressions of the Song of Solomon are as follows:

Song of Solomon 2:2–3 (NKJV) [man speaking] ²Like a lily among thorns,

So is my love among the daughters.

[woman speaking] ³Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods,

So is my beloved among the sons.

I sat down in his shade with great delight,

And his fruit was sweet to my taste. 

Song of Solomon 4:1–2 (NKJV) [man speaking] ¹Behold, you are fair, my love!

Behold, you are fair!

You have dove’s eyes behind your veil.

Your hair is like a flock of goats,

Going down from Mount Gilead.

²Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep

Which have come up from the washing,

Song of Solomon 5:14–15 (NKJV): [woman speaking] ¹⁴His hands are rods of gold

Set with beryl.

His body is carved ivory

Inlaid with sapphires.

¹⁵His legs are pillars of marble

Set on bases of fine gold.

These passages are some of the milder parts of the romance, and they have some expressions that we no longer use, but I am sure they were very romantic at the time. Truthfully though, I have never told my wife that her teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep. 

This Biblical romance is included in the Scriptures, and following this example, we must continue to woo and pursue our spouses throughout our relationship. However, I want to speak today about another type of love. The love that Song of Solomon shows us is erotic love, from the Greek word “eros.” “Eros” is what brings couples together, and it is more exciting than alcohol or drugs. Because of this excitement factor, the world focuses on “eros.” Much of our entertainment centers around “eros.” Pornography flourishes and is a multibillion-dollar industry because we are hard-wired to respond to the physical stimulants of “eros.” 

However, “eros” is not enough. Don’t misunderstand me! “Eros” is one of several Greek words for “love,” and is vital to the marriage relationship. In the context of marriage, it is not sinful in the least. In fact, in marriage, it is a duty. 

The problem is that over time the excitement wears off. The legs that were pillars become more like bald toothpicks, and the teeth that were like shorn sheep have to be removed by the dentist.

We all know this, but we are so inundated with the Hollywood version of love that we fall into the trap of mistaking feelings for true love. 

We know better! 

We know that another kind of love is required to maintain our relationships. The Greek word for this other kind of love is “agape.” We all long for “agape,” and many mistakenly try to find it in “eros.” But it does not work. “Eros” and “Agape” are not the same. 

The Bible defines “agape” for us in 1 Corinthians 13, and Jesus demonstrated “agape” for us through His life and sacrifice on our behalf. Let’s take a brief look at how love is defined for us in 1 Corinthians 13.

First, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 tells us the importance of love. Essentially, it tells us that nothing is more important than love. As we read this passage of Scripture together, think about the essential nature of love.

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (NKJV) ¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Just before this chapter, Corinthians teaches about the use and place of spiritual gifts in the Church. Spiritual gifts are the power of God at work through human instruments to build the Body of Christ. Tongues, or languages, are necessary to reach the lost, encourage each other, and teach the truth. Our tongues set us apart from the beasts of the field. We communicate by means of our tongues. Speach is a powerful tool especially when empowered by the Holy Spirit. But according to verse 1, without love, tongues are useless. 

The end of chapter 12 proclaims prophecy to be a greater gift than tongues. Prophecy is the proclamation of the word of God and has the power to transform the world. However, according to verse 2, without love, even prophecy means nothing.

Without faith is is impossible to please God, but Jesus taught that if we have even faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Faith is powerful because of its object. Faith in an infinite God is infinitely powerful. And, even such faith is said to be worthless without love.

Finally, giving one’s life for others is the ultimate expression of love, but self-sacrifice for selfish motives is possible. The terrorist that flew planes into the world trade center towers sacrificed themselves, but they are not examples of love. Without love, no amount of sacrifice or service is of any use. According to 1 Corinthians 13 sacrifice is said to profit nothing if it is without love.

Love is just as important for couples. In our marriages, nothing can take the place of love. Providing a lovely house, expensive cars, and fabulous vacations are all meaningless without love. Loveless marriages are common, but these are not happy marriages. An often-quoted statistic is that over half of all marriages end in divorce. These divorces happen for myriads of reasons, but the root cause is the absence of love. We can assume that most of these marriages started out with hot, passionate romantic love. However, without “Agape,” they could not be sustained.

So, what makes “Agape” love so special? 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 answers this question when it tells us how love behaves. These verses tell us what love does. The actions and attitudes of love make it  critical to life and marriage, more necessary than “eros.”

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (NKJV) ⁴Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Most of us will admit that we are not perfect. In our imperfection, we hurt the ones closest to us. Living near another, we must often ask forgiveness and acknowledge that we have failed. Somethings we need to be forgiven over and over as we repeatedly stumble and fall. Consider the selfless nature of love described here in these verses from 1 Corinthians. I, personally, am most moved by the thought that love does not seek its own because I see how much I hurt my family and my spouse when I am selfish.

Jesus is our example. He was despised and rejected by men, and yet He gave His life for them. Putting up with another human being is discouraging at times, so we are encouraged to think about Jesus’ example.

Hebrews 12:3 (NKJV) For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

This verse from Hebrews speaks of the hostility Jesus endured. Some marriages break down to the point where open hostility is expressed, but this should not be the case. Love does not seek its own, is not provoked, and does not behave rudely. When we act rudely, selfishly, and angrily, saying “I love you” is meaningless. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us how love behaves, and we should use it as a measuring stick to see how we are doing, but not as a club to beat our spouses in submission. Love suffers long and is kind. It is not provoked. 

Marriage requires love. Looking at the standard of love here in 1 Corinthians, it is evident that we all fail. So, we are confronted with the choice of forgiving or not. Ephesians 4:32 says:

Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV) And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Love is kind, compassionate, and forgiving. While this does not sound romantic, romance cannot continue without this kind of love. But the question may arise, “How can we maintain such an attitude?”

After telling us of the importance of love and how love behaves, 1 Corinthians 13 tells us something more about love — it lasts forever.

1 Corinthians 13:8 (NKJV) Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

“Love never fails!” How is it that so many marriages end because they just don’t love each other anymore? It seems that our world accepts the premise that love does not last forever and that happily ever after is for fairy tales. In contrast to this, 1 Corinthians proclaims that love never fails.

The answer we see in our culture is “true love!” However, consistent with the world’s focus on “eros,” true love is portrayed as some version of fiery romance. But, is love a feeling? Feelings do not last forever.

We can understand this more when we recall that God requires love. He demands that we love Him with all our mind, soul, and strength. He also commands that we love our neighbor as ourselves. If love were a feeling, these commands would be impossible to obey. We cannot turn our emotions on and off, as feelings come and go. In contrast to this, the behaviors of love described in 1 Corinthians are things that we can choose to do.

We can choose whether or not we are rude, provoked, envious, or proud. We can choose to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things.

We always have a choice. We will not be perfect until heaven, but a time is coming when we will be conformed to the image of Jesus. 1 John 3 tells us:

1 John 3:2 (NKJV) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 

As God’s children, we are being conformed to the image of Christ. The Body of Christ, other people, and our spouses are God’s gift to us in the transformation process. We hear, “Iron sharpens iron,” and we realize that this sharpening happens through friction and grinding. Sometimes the friction is enough to produce sparks. True love grows in such circumstances. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us about the goal of the process that God is taking us through.

1 Corinthians 13:9–12 (NKJV) ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

¹¹When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹²For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.