Temple Baptist Church - 5-20-2026
1 Corinthians 14
Introduction:
A. I would like to finish spiritual gifts and, especially tongues, tonight. First, I would like to answer an obvious question that no one has asked. Why, out of all the sign gifts that were passing, did the Bible only mention three in chapter 13? Because these three, prophecies-tongues-knowledge, are the only ones that can be faked!
1. You cannot fake miracles by walking on the water, parting the Red Sea, stopping and restarting the water cycles, etc. Only God can do that.
2. You cannot fake healings, though many have tried. I tell these fake healers to go to St. Jude, where these precious children are dying of cancer, and empty the beds.
3. You cannot fake prophecies or see into the future. Tell me what is going to happen in my future or the future of our nation. No man or woman can do this. Seers, sages, prognosticators, dreams, and visions are gone. Even the weatherman or woman, with all their tools, cannot predict the weather next with complete accuracy.
B. The three passing gifts mentioned that ceased when the complete revelation of God that we call the Bible was done. Today, there are no prophecies, extrabiblical knowledge, and no tongues!
C. I am not going to try to convince the Charismatic Movement, Pentecostals, Assemblies of God, etc., because they have a Bible, and if they have the Author of the Scriptures living inside, they are ignorant at best of what it says (though accountable because they have a Bible to read and study), or they are willfully ignorant because they will not hear the Word of God.
D. Though vanishing at the time, the Holy Spirit set parameters or regulations to guide the believer. Paul stated their irrelevance within the local church. There are no instances in the Bible where they were ever spoken in local churches, but Paul regulated them because, at times, there were unbelieving Jews who assembled with them.
1. Paul gave their irrelevance in preaching or testifying.
1 Corinthians 14:8-11 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? (9) So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. (10) There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. (11) Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
1 Corinthians 14:19-20 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. (20) Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
2. Paul gave their irrelevance in prayers.
1 Corinthians 14:14-15 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. (15) What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
E. The word unknown is mentioned six times in six verses. All six are italicized, indicating they were inserted by the translators, not by God. There is no such thing as an unknown tongue in the bible.
F. Let’s look at the regulations quickly.
1. Rule #1. 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. (22) Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
Biblical tongues were meant to be spoken in the presence of unbelieving Jews, both indigenous and proselytes. I wonder how many tongue-speaking churches have ever heard that. No doubt many have read it, but apply that to the time it was written. They are right in that respect, but wrong in thinking they have the gift without any regulations.
Isaiah 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
2. Rule #2. 1 Corinthians 14:27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
“If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three”
I wonder how many tongue-speaking churches have ever heard that. No doubt many have read it, but apply that to the time it was written. They are right in that respect, but wrong in thinking they have the gift without any regulations.
3. Rule #3. 1 Corinthians 14:27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
“and that by course;”
Tongues were to be used in an orderly fashion, one at a time. Today’s tongue-speaking is done with as many as will speak anytime they feel like it.
I wonder how many tongue-speaking churches have ever heard that. They are wrong in thinking they have the gift without any regulations.
4. Rule #4. 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. (28) But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
“and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church.”
All Biblical tongues were to have immediate interpretation. No interpreter, no tongues!
I wonder how many tongue-speaking churches have ever read or heard that. They want these passing gifts with no biblical regulations.
5. Rule #5. 1 Corinthians 14:32-33 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. (33) For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Biblical tongues were to be controlled by the speaker. These out-of-control speakers cause confusion.
“And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
I wonder how many tongue-speaking churches have ever heard that. They want these passing gifts with no biblical regulations.
6. Rule #6. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. (35) And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
Biblical tongues were to be spoken by men only!
1 Timothy 2:11-14 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. (12) But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. (13) For Adam was first formed, then Eve. (14) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
“Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.”
These verses in 1 Timothy and 1 Corinthians are in perfect agreement.
I wonder how many tongue-speaking churches have ever heard or been taught that. Pentecostal Movements are women-driven ones. The vast majority of tongue-speakers are women, and this is clearly stated and forbidden by the Bible.
Conclusion: 1 Corinthians 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
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