1 Corinthians 14:22 Commentary and Bible Study

Tongues were given by God as a sign, but the sign ministries are past. However, even in the days when the sign gifts were in operation, there was a further reason why the emphasis of the Corinthians on the gift of tongues speaking was inappropriate. The quotation from Isaiah shows that the gift of tongues was intended to be a sign not to those who believe, but to those who do not believe. It was given to convince doubting Jews, who were clinging to Moses’ apron strings, as it were, that they could let go of the ceremonial law and all the Old Testament temple worship. It had been given to jolt them into understanding that the Messiah had come, and the old wine was no longer to be used in preference to the new. The fact that it was intended for those who believe not is confirmed by Paul also continuing the quotation to include the words above: ‘yet for all that will they not hear me.’ This great miracle was to impress upon cynical Jews that God was powerfully with the new Jewish-Gentile Church of Jesus Christ; that his Spirit and his power was with them; and that Scripture was being revealed to them.Isaiah 28: 11 says, ‘For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.’ It is mainly going to act as a reproof, although many Jews may be deeply impressed by it and come to trust in the new message of Christ. ‘To whom he said [this is the word these tongues speakers would preach], This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.’ So, tongues speaking was to impress upon cynical Jewish people that the Messiah had come, and that this was a message of salvation through Christ, through the one who could bring rest. Of course on the day of Pentecost, when the tongues were first brought in and the Spirit moved, and many people were preaching to the crowds in Jerusalem, all the different languages were represented. Jews from all over the Roman empire had come up to Jerusalem, ‘We can understand. They are speaking in our language. These are Galileans, yet they are speaking our language. They are speaking about Messiah, and that he is come, and that if we trust in him we will be forgiven.’ So the tongues speaking was for Jews.