12 For, even as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the one body, being many, are one body, so also 'is' the Christ, 13 for also in one Spirit we all to one body were baptized, whether Jews or Greeks, whether servants or freemen, and all into one Spirit were made to drink, 14 for also the body is not one member, but many; 15 if the foot may say, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body;' it is not, because of this, not of the body; 16 and if the ear may say, 'Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body;' it is not, because of this, not of the body? 17 If the whole body 'were' an eye, where the hearing? if the whole hearing, where the smelling? 18 and now, God did set the members each one of them in the body, according as He willed, 19 and if all were one member, where the body? 20 and now, indeed, 'are' many members, and one body; 21 and an eye is not able to say to the hand, 'I have no need of thee;' nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' 22 But much more the members of the body which seem to be more infirm are necessary, 23 and those that we think to be less honourable of the body, around these we put more abundant honour, and our unseemly things have seemliness more abundant, 24 and our seemly things have no need; but God did temper the body together, to the lacking part having given more abundant honour, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same anxiety for one another, 26 and whether one member doth suffer, suffer with 'it' do all the members, or one member is glorified, rejoice with 'it' do all the members;
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:12-26
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:12-26
(Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26)
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Titus 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with Christ at the Lord's supper, we are strengthened, not by drinking the wine, but by drinking into one Spirit. Each member has its form, place, and use. The meanest makes a part of the body. There must be a distinction of members in the body. So Christ's members have different powers and different places. We should do the duties of our own place, and not murmur, or quarrel with others. All the members of the body are useful and necessary to each other. Nor is there a member of the body of Christ, but may and ought to be useful to fellow-members. As in the natural body of man, the members should be closely united by the strongest bonds of love; the good of the whole should be the object of all. All Christians are dependent one upon another; each is to expect and receive help from the rest. Let us then have more of the spirit of union in our religion.