WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12
1 Corinthians 14:20-25
Isaiah 28:11-12

“Tongues are for a sign …
to them that believe not.”

THE PURPOSE OF TONGUES

In 1 Corinthians 14:22, Paul taught that tongues were meant to be a sign for those who did not believe. This principle is drawn from Isaiah 28:11-12: “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.” Because of the unbelief of the children of Israel, God caused them to be evicted out of their land by the Assyrians. After their eviction, they had to learn the Word of God in the foreign Assyrian tongue. Everything had to be learnt “precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isa 28:13). The speaking of tongues was thus a sign of judgment for the unbelieving Israelites.

The sign of tongues was also used in Acts 10. The Jews in those days did not believe that God would extend His salvation to the Gentiles. When God sent Peter to minister to the Gentile Cornelius, Peter was initially hesitant because the Jews in those days did not want to have anything to do with a Gentile. Nevertheless, Peter went in obedience to minister to Cornelius. After Peter preached to Cornelius, the Gentile believers spoke in tongues and magnified God (Acts 10:44-46). This was later used by Peter to vindicate his ministry towards the Gentiles when he was asked to testify before the council in Jerusalem (Acts 11:15). The sign of tongues was thus given to the unbelieving Jews to confirm that the Holy Spirit did indeed indwell the Gentle believers, and that the gospel door was open to them.

In closing, Paul once again warned against the uncontrolled and indiscriminate use of tongues. If everyone was to speak in tongues, would not the church be full of chaos and confusion? On the other hand, prophesying would lead the unbelievers to glorify God. Therefore, everything was to be done decently and in order (1 Cor 14:40).

THOUGHT: The sign of tongues is for the unbelieving.
PRAYER: Father, grant me good discernment to know what is right.