1 Corinthians 13:6 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Corinthians 13:6

Comments

It never plans wrong or evil. It doesn't gossip; it doesn't take pleasure in the falls of other people and speak against them. Some people do that. ‘Have you heard what has happened to so and so, the outrageous thing that so and so did.’ It's a way of boosting ourselves really: to take pleasure – and it is an ugly and a horrible thing – in the fall or misbehaviour or misfortune of somebody else, because we like discussing that. What a state to be in! That is a sure sign of no affection, no respect, no love. If there is love, you want to put a veil over it. The word translated iniquity is the same word that is elsewhere translated injustice; and that is strictly the meaning. Love rejoices not in iniquity in the form of injustice. What is that? Well, firstly it is gossip.

Application

Love cannot listen to gossip. We love each other; we are fellow believers. If somebody gossips about us, the other person will not listen to it, because there is too much respect and affection. ‘I am not listening to unjust, unsubstantiated gossip, because my regard is too high. You are a gossiper? It is because you are a backslidden person, and there is no love in you. If you are a listener to gossip, your love must be pretty low, to listen to things which are evidently unfair and out of order and untrue. Love won’t suffer it, can’t rejoice in it. Some people, they love gossip. In the world people love hearing bad things about other people. But Christian people, who have a high regard for each other, cannot listen to bad things and unjust things, and lightweight gossip. On the other hand, the things we like to listen to are honest and true statements that are edifying and good.

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1 Corinthians 13:6 Commentary and Bible Study