16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen " at your giving of thanks , since he does not know what you are saying ? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough , but the other person is not edified . 18 I thank God , I speak in tongues more than you all ; 19 however , in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also , rather than ten thousand words in a tongue . 20 Brethren , do not be children in your thinking ; yet in evil be infants , but in your thinking be mature .
21 In the Law it is written , " BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE , AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME," says the Lord . 22 So then tongues are for a sign , not to those who believe but to unbelievers ; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe . 23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together e e and all speak in tongues , and ungifted men or unbelievers enter , will they not say that you are mad ? 24 But if all prophesy , and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters , he is convicted by all , he is called to account by all ; 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed ; and so he will fall on his face and worship God , declaring that God is certainly among you.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:16-25
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:15-25
(Read 1 Corinthians 14:15-25)
There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A truly Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men's souls, than to get the greatest applause to himself. This is proving himself the servant of Christ. Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like them. Christians should be like children, void of guile and malice; yet they should not be unskilful as to the word of righteousness, but only as to the arts of mischief. It is a proof that a people are forsaken of God, when he gives them up to the rule of those who teach them to worship in another language. They can never be benefitted by such teaching. Yet thus the preachers did who delivered their instructions in an unknown tongue. Would it not make Christianity ridiculous to a heathen, to hear the ministers pray or preach in a language which neither he nor the assembly understood? But if those who minister, plainly interpret Scripture, or preach the great truths and rules of the gospel, a heathen or unlearned person might become a convert to Christianity. His conscience might be touched, the secrets of his heart might be revealed to him, and so he might be brought to confess his guilt, and to own that God was present in the assembly. Scripture truth, plainly and duly taught, has a wonderful power to awaken the conscience and touch the heart.