1 Corinthians 13:8-10 Charity never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease… Either of the two explanations of this word "faileth," viz., "falls down," or is "hissed off the stage," conveys the same impression concerning love, namely, that it is permanent, it will never "fall down" from inanition, nor be "hissed off" because superseded. All the beauties of love, unlike those of face or landscape, are permanent. The imperishableness of love — I. IS INDICATED BY ITS CAPACITY OF MEETING ALL DEMANDS MADE UPON IT. 1. This is the conclusion from the previous assertions of this passage. 2. This is the result of our observation of every-day life. True levels equal to any exigency. It survives all else. II. IS A STRIKING CONTRAST TO ALMOST ALL ELSE IN HUMAN EXPERIENCE. 1. This is the declaration of the passage following our text. All else "ceases," "vanishes," is "done away." 2. This is confirmed by human experience. Love is the great protest of our immortality. III. IS EXPLAINED BY ITS BEING DIVINE NOT ONLY IN ITS ORIGIN AND SUSTENANCE, BUT IN ITS NATURE. Love is of God, and God's love never faileth, "His mercy endureth for ever." Ours is not an imitation of His, but an inspiration from it. His love is the life of ours. Hence ours is deathless. (U. R. Thomas.) Parallel Verses KJV: Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. |
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