1 Corinthians 13:4 - Meaning and Application

In these verses, the apostle describes the qualities and effects of charity, that is, Christian love. He does this to commend it, so we may know whether we have this grace. If we do not, we should still learn to desire what is so lovely, and not rest until we gain it. This is a noble grace, and it has many beautiful marks.

First, charity is patient. It can bear harm, injury, and provocation without becoming bitter, angry, or revengeful. It gives the mind firmness and control over angry feelings, and it supplies steady patience. Instead of rushing to retaliate, it waits and hopes for a brother’s improvement. It can endure many slights and neglects from the one it loves, and keep waiting to see the good that patience may produce.

Charity is also kind. It is gentle, generous, courteous, and helpful. “The law of kindness” is on its lips, and its heart and hand are both open. It is ready to show favor and do good. It looks for ways to be useful, and not only takes chances to help, but goes looking for them. That is its normal way. It is patient under wrongs, and eager to do every good service within its power. These two traits, patience and kindness, sum up much of the rest.

Charity does not envy. It is not upset when others do well, whether in gifts, good character, honor, or possessions. If we love our neighbor, we will not resent his welfare. We will share in it and rejoice in it. His happiness and growth in holiness will add to our own joy, not reduce it. Envy comes from ill will, but kindness and goodwill cannot produce that. A heart set on doing good to all cannot wish harm to anyone.

Charity also puts pride and boasting down. It does not brag, and it does not swell with self-importance. It does not become arrogant because of what it has gained, and it does not claim honor, power, or respect that does not belong to it. It is not rude, contemptuous, or eager to look down on others. Those who truly love their brothers and sisters will give others honor, as (Romans 12:10) says. They will act with humility, as (Philippians 2:3) teaches, counting others better than themselves. True love raises our respect for our fellow believers, and that keeps self-conceit and pride in check.

The word translated “vaunteth not itself” has more than one possible sense, and the exact meaning is not fully settled. Still, in every sense, true charity stands against it. Some understood it to mean that love does not stir up tumults or disturbances. Charity calms angry feelings instead of inflaming them. Others took it to mean that love does not act in a sly or tricky way, trying to trap people or wear them down with needless pressure. It is not stubborn, cross, or hard to deal with. Some understood it as false show and flattery, putting on a pleasant face and saying fine words without truth or good intent. Charity hates that kind of deceit, because it is often harmful and always against true goodwill.

Charity also keeps its behavior decent. It does nothing shameful, base, or out of place. It acts in a way that fits the time, the place, and the people involved. It shows respect to those above us, kindness and gentleness to those below us, and courtesy toward all. It is not meant to destroy order or erase the distinctions God has made among people. Instead, it helps us act properly in our own place, mind our own business, and avoid judging, correcting, or despising others. Charity does nothing that is beneath it.

Charity is also the enemy of selfishness. It does not endlessly seek its own praise, honor, profit, or comfort. Some degree of self-love is natural, and Jesus himself uses a proper love for self as the measure for loving others, when he says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” So the apostle does not mean that charity wipes out all care for ourselves. He does not mean that a loving person should never claim what belongs to him, or should ignore all personal needs. But charity never puts its own interests ahead of others in a harmful way. Often it gives up its own advantage for the good of others. It prefers their welfare, peace, and benefit over personal gain, and it always places the good of the whole, whether civil or church life, above private advantage. It will not lift itself up, grow rich, or satisfy itself at the public’s expense.

Charity also steadies and softens the passions. The word means it is not easily provoked. Love cools a sharp temper and mellows the mind, so anger does not rise quickly or last long. Where love is strong, anger has less room to grow. Charity will not be angry without cause, and it tries to keep feelings within proper bounds, both in strength and in how long they last. Anger cannot rest easily where love rules. It is hard to stay angry with those we love, and much easier to lay aside resentment and make peace.

Charity thinks no evil. It does not nurse malice or give way to revenge, as some explain it. It is not quick to anger, and it is never inclined to do harm in return. It does not jump to bad conclusions about others. The phrase can also mean that it does not “reason out” evil, building a case against someone by hints and assumptions when no clear evidence is present. True love is not naturally suspicious or jealous. It is more inclined to cover faults that are seen than to search out faults that are hidden. It will not feed suspicion without proof. Instead, it leans toward believing the best, and away from accepting charges against the one it loves.

It is slow to think badly of another, and it does so with regret when the facts cannot be denied. It is never quick to suspect evil, or to build a bad opinion on appearances alone. It does not put the worst possible meaning on things. Instead, it tries to explain doubtful matters in the kindest fair way it honestly can.

The joy of love, or Christian charity, is seen here in two ways. First, it does not rejoice in wrongdoing. It takes no pleasure in hurting anyone, and it does not enjoy the sins or failures of others. It does not gloat over them to feel proud or to feed a spiteful spirit. The sins of others should grieve a charitable heart, not entertain it. There is no worse cruelty than taking pleasure in another person’s misery, and falling into sin is one of the greatest disasters that can happen to a person.

Second, love rejoices in the truth. In the New Testament, “the truth” often means the gospel, the good news of Christ. Love is glad when the gospel succeeds and when people are shaped by it into good, honest lives. It is pleased to see truth and justice spread among people, wrongs made right, trust restored, and true godliness grow. It delights in what is upright and good.

Love also bears all things and endures all things. Some read the first phrase as “covers all things,” which fits the original sense. Love hides the faults of others as far as duty allows, as 1 Peter 4:8 says, “love covers a multitude of sins.” It does not rush to expose a brother’s failings or spread them abroad. Only necessity should force that from a loving heart. A charitable person may speak privately to a brother about his faults, but he is very unwilling to make them public.

Love also puts up with injuries without feeding anger or revenge. It stays patient under provocation and keeps firm when treated badly. It can bear curses, insults, slander, prison, exile, chains, pain, and even death itself, for the good of others. Love keeps going in this steadfastness. What strength and courage fervent love gives the mind. For the sake of the beloved, a loving person can endure much, overlook many slights, and face many dangers and hardships.

Love believes all things and hopes all things. This does not mean charity throws prudence aside and believes every story, as Proverbs 14:15 warns against simple-minded trust. Wisdom can live with love, and love can be careful. But love is ready to think well of people when there is no clear reason against it. Even when there are some dark signs, it still hesitates to believe evil unless the evidence is plain.

Charity is full of fairness. It tries to make the best of everything and give matters the kindest possible reading. It leans toward a good opinion as far as reason allows, and it goes into a bad opinion only with great reluctance. When it cannot honestly believe well of someone, it still hopes well as long as there is any ground for hope. It does not quickly give up on a case. It wishes for the change of even the worst people, and it is naturally inclined to hope for what it desires.

How gracious and attractive Christian charity is. How lovely is the mind that is filled with this goodness and spreads it through every part of life. Happy is the person whose heart is full of this heavenly fire, whose words carry it out, and whose whole manner warms everyone around him. Christianity would look much more beautiful to the world if its followers were ruled more by this divine spirit. Jesus gave this command as a chief mark of his people, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples” (John 13:35). How sad that so few of Christ’s professed disciples are known by this mark.