| ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ( D ) GIFT OF TONGUES : WHAT DID IT MEAN ? To begin understanding the message that God was sending to the unbelieveing Jews via His gift of tongues, let us first go back to the stated purpose of the gift in 1 Corinthians; 20. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 21. 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. - 1 Corinthians 14:20-22 Paul the apostle, teaching with regard to the gift of tongues, makes a direct reference to a Word of God spoken by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. The words of Isaiah which Paul quotes are found here; 11. For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. - Isaiah 28:11-12 In section A of this study I commented that the sole purpose of the gift of tongues was to be a sign to the unbelieving Jew. One of the ways in which the gift was to be a sign is that of judgement ( http://www.bereanbiblechurch.org/transcripts/icorinthians/12_10.htm / http://www.bereanworkman.com/charismatic/speaking.htm / http://www.the-highway.com/tongues_Arnaud.html ). Thus, with respect to the use and purpose of the gift of tongues, God is dealing with a rebellious people. A people who have, since the time that God rescued them from Egypt, been stiff-necked and hard-hearted towards Gods� holy instruction and laws. Take note in both passages of scripture in 1st Corinthians and Isaiah. The scripture describes Gods� people as being people who will not hear. This small phrase is indicative of various other scripture passages which reveal that Gods� chosen people, in the time of the Old Testament writings, were a people who constantly refused Gods� righteous instruction and righteous ways of holy conduct. Gods� chosen people in Old Testament times were a rebellious people who simply wanted to live their lives on their own desires and on their own terms. For example, hear the words of Moses in the book of Deuteronomy; 26. Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. 27. For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death? 28. Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. 29. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. - Deuteronomy 31:26-29 Moreover, take note of these words as God describes His chosen people in the book of the prophet Isaiah; 2. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 3. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 4. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 5. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. - Isaiah 1:2-5 There are numerous scriptural examples in the Old Testament which clearly show Gods� chosen people to be a rebellious nation. The books of 1st and 2nd Kings provide a good example of this situation. Suffice it all to say that with regard to the gift of speaking in tongues in the New Testament writings, God is dealing with His rebellious yet chosen people in a new manner. God is now sending a new message to the Jews. That message is that the Jews are now no longer Gods� only chosen people. God is declaring to the rebellious Jews via the gift of tongues, that now, all people of the world can come to Him and be part of His family. In what manner do the scriptures show this ? Let us first examine how God interacts and speaks with the apostle Peter and the Jews of Jerusalem in chapters 10 and 11 of the book of Acts; 9. On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10. And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11. And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12. Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. - Acts 10:9-16 While in prayer, in a trance, Peter is being put in a position to learn of Gods� plan of salvation for the Gentile people of the world. Peter is starting on a path in which God will cause him to understand that the children of Israel are no longer Gods� only chosen people. What God is doing with Peter is that He is starting to change a thinking pattern in Peter. A mindset that is centuries old and began with the Hebrew people whom God rescued from the Egyptians as recorded back in the book of Exodus. At that time, as God began revealing His righteous ways and His laws to the Hebrews, His chosen people, God was giving instruction between those things which were clean and those things which were unclean. In those Old Testament times, God provided various instruction between clean animals and unclean animals. The clean animals were an acceptable food for Gods� people while the unclean animals were forbidden by God and thus the nation of Israel were not allowed to eat those for food. The unclean animals were to be rejected ( Leviticus 11 ). It was this manner of animals of the earth, both clean and unclean, which was also to be a mindset with which Israel was to consider itself and thus separate itself from the rest of the nations of the world. God expressly forbade a mingling of His chosen people with the other nations of the world because as Gods� chosen people, the nation of Israel were a clean people, a holy and righteous nation. The other Gentile nations were the unclean. For example, notice these words of holy instruction and command that God gives His chosen people; 1. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the Lord your God. 3. After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. 4. Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God. - Leviticus 18:1-4 24. Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: - Lev. 18:24 30. Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the Lord your God. � Lev. 18:30 In the book of Leviticus, God is setting up commands and instruction for His people in order that they do not conduct themselves in the laws and customs of other nations. God is trying to develop a mindset of separation in His chosen people. They are to be a righteous and holy people who are not like the other nations of the world. They are the clean while the other nations of people are the unclean. Again, take note of Gods� instruction of separation between His people and other nations; 1. When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; 2. And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: 3. Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 4. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. - Deuteronomy 7:1-4 1. Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2. Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. - Jeremiah 10:1-3 God wanted His people separated for Himself. God wanted a sanctified people for Himself. God wanted to protect His clean, holy people from other unclean, wicked nations of earth. The wicked nations with their wicked manners and customs would defile Gods� clean, chosen people and cause them to worship and serve other gods while rejecting God Himself. Thus angering God against His people and putting Him in a position to destroy them. Take note of Ezras� mournful and heartbreaking response to the nation of Israels� rejection of Gods� instruction to remain separate from other unclean nations, ( see Ezra 9:1-6 ). Moreover, New Testament scripture records the separation which once took place between the nation of Israel and the other Gentile nations; 11. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12. That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. - Eph. 2:11-13 Suffice it to say, in the days of the apostle Peter, this mindset of unclean people and nations and the clean people of the nation of Israel was a train of thought that the Jews of Peters� day had in their thinking. The Jews had an inherent mindset whereby they always saw themselves had Gods� only chosen people ( Exodus 19:5-6 / Deut. 14:2 ). They were Gods� holy nation while the rest of the Gentile nations were unholy, they were the unclean peoples of earth. Therefore, the sign of the gift of speaking in tongues was the sign whereby God was going to change that mindset as well as being a sign of Gods� judgement towards His rebellious people, the Jews and the nation of Israel. And as we see during Peters� trance, God is working on Peters� thinking to help foster that change. Let us go back to Peters� trance; 14. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. - Acts 10:9-16 Notice that Peter says he has never eaten any common or unclean thing. Peter is mentally operating on a holy command which God instituted back in the days of Moses ( Exodus 19:5-6 / Deut. 7:1-4, 14:2 / Leviticus 18 ). A command of holy separation between that which is clean and that which is unclean. So it is not that Peters� thinking is wrong. Remember, Peter is simply working on a mindset which God Himself established for all of the nation of Israel back in the days of Moses. Rather, because of Jesus Christ in His sacrifice for sins and resurrection from the dead, God has changed the terms and conditions of the relationship in which Israel and the Jews are to have with the rest of the Gentile nations of the world. Because of the all encompassing salvation in Jesus Christ ( Ephesians 2:13 ), the Jews and the nation of Israel are now no longer the sole clean and holy nation of earth as they had been by Gods� command back in Old Testament days ( Deut. 14:2 ). As God instructs Peter in the trance by stating, � What God has cleansed, that call not thou common. � . God is teaching that the nations of the world can now have a part in the salvation of God. The Gentile people of the nations of the world, not just the Jews and Israel, can now be cleansed and made righteous and holy. The realization of this truthful instruction is made evident to Peter when He visits the house of the Gentile man, Cornelius; 28. And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? - Acts 10:28-29 34. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35. But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. - Acts 10:34-35 Notice Peters� words as he visits with Cornelius by explaining why he came to his house. Peters� thinking is changed. In the trance which Peter had while in prayer to God, Peter began to understand that the old law and custom of separation - which though given by God - were now being changed by God. There was now no longer to be a barrier or separation between Gods� people and the other nations of people in the world due to faith in the person of Jesus Christ ( Acts 11:17 ). But what does all of this have to do with the gift of speaking in tongues ? How was that gift a sign to the unbelieveing Jew that God was no longer calling the nations of the world, unclean ? To understand the answer, let us read these verses from Acts chapter 10; 44. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47. Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? - Acts 10:44-47 Notice the direct connection which is made with the pouring out of the gift of the Holy Ghost and the speaking with tongues whereby the Gentiles magnify and praise God. Does this account ring any bells ? It should, for the same activity occurred previously on the day of Pentecost as recorded in the 2nd chapter of Acts. The Holy Spirit was poured out on the Jewish believers, they speak with other tongues as the Holy Spirit gave them the words to speak, and those words which were spoken in the various tongues of the Gentile nations listed in chapter 2 ( Acts 2:4-11 ) were words which magnified God by proclaiming His wonderful works. Therefore, the events of Holy Spirit outpouring with the corresponding utterances in other tongues by which God is magnified as recorded in Acts chapter 10, directly mirrors the exact events as recorded in Acts chapter 2. Consequently, in Acts chapter 11, it is this crucial link of events which Peter testifies to the other Jews back in Jerusalem. And as the scriptures in chapter 11 show, it is this crucial link which changes the thinking of the Jews in Jerusalem; 15. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 17. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? 18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. - Acts 11:15-18 Notice the reasoning which Peter uses to convince the Jews of Jerusalem that God no longer made a distinction between them and the uncircumcised Gentile people. Peter explained that as he shared Gods� salvation with Cornelius� household then consequently the Holy Ghost gave Cornelius� household the gift of speaking in tongues. Keep in mind that the Jews in Jerusalem, to whom Peter is testifying, were in the same Old Testament mindset of separation of the nation of Israel � ( circumcised, clean ) - and Gentile nations � ( uncircumcised, unclean ) - as was Peter; 2. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 3. Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. - Acts 11:2-3 Thus, Peter reasoned that since God gave the Gentile household the Holy Spirit then he, Peter, could not anymore conclude and judge that the Gentiles were an unclean and common people. Peter could no longer consider himself, a circumcised Jew, separate from uncircumcised Gentiles. The salvation which God first spoke and gave to the circumcised nation of Israel ( Acts 10:36 ) was now being freely given to uncircumcised Gentile nations ( Acts 11:18 ). Thus, Peters� witness regarding the gift of tongues helped confirm for other Jews that now the Gentile people and Gentile nations were no longer to be separated from the nation of Israel. Gods� salvation was made available to all peoples and nations. With these things in mind we can now understand that Paul was referring to the unbelieving Jew in 1 Corinthians 14 verse 22. The gift of speaking in tongues was a gift prophesied in the 28th chapter of the Old Testament book of Isaiah. The apostle Paul quotes from that chapter and consequently states the purpose of that gift was to be a sign specifically for the unbeliever, not the believer ( 1 Corinthians 14:20-22 ). When this gift is first used in Acts chapter 2, the tongues, the languages being spoken were not the languages of heaven nor angels but the languages of men both Jewish and Gentile. Finally, it is Peters� trance and his involvement with the uncircumcised Gentile house of Cornelius in which the gift of speaking in tongues is used by God as a sign, to demonstrate and signify to Peter and other Jews that the Gentile people - especially those Gentiles who believed on Jesus Christ - were no longer unclean. The Gentile people were no longer separate from circumcised Jews, but now both had access to Gods� salvation. This is why there was a Holy Spirit gift called speaking in tongues. This was the purpose and use of that gift. And it is why the unbeliever mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:22 is referring to the unbelieving Jew, even though Paul does not use the word Jew in verse 22. Thus, the gift of tongues had its� role and purpose directed specifically to unbelieving Jews in the beginning and formative years of the Christian church. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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