1 Corinthians 13:6 – “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”  (NIV)

“Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth” (KJV)

This is perhaps the most neglected phrase in 1 Corinthians 13.  When people think about the great “love chapter” from Paul’s letters, they usually think of the nice, pleasant character traits listed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5.  It is very rare to hear a sermon that talks about “love” in the sense of rejoicing in truth or recoiling from wrongdoing.

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“Love . . . keeps no record of wrongs.” – 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)

“Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil…” (KJV)

The Greek phrase Paul employed here can mean “to think about evil” or “to keep an accounting of evils or wrongs.”  That is why the KJV translates it a little differently than most modern versions.  The original text encompasses both ideas, because the main point is dwelling on the other person’s faults. A person living in love will not keep a mental record of another church member’s wrongdoings, nor will they constantly focus on evil things, contemplating how to get revenge or how they would like to lecture the other person.

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1 Corinthians 13:5 – “Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Love is “not easily angered.”  This attribute helps us understand Jesus better (because he is the embodiment of perfect, eternal love), and how we can be more like him, fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives.  Notice that it does not say that love is “never angered.” Jesus himself became angry – eventually – at religious hypocrisy, although he never “lost control” or flew into a rage.  (Mark 3:5; John 2:15; see also Hebrews 3:10-17).  “For those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” (Romans 2:8).

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John 13:5-10 – After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean.”

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1 Corinthians 13:4 – “Love is patient, love is kind…”

Love is one of God’s highest priorities for us as individuals and for our churches. This Bible passage teaches us that love is a more important characteristic of a church than any type of spiritual gifts, healing, miracles, prophecies, or revelations. Of course, God wants every church to have those things as well. Love is even more essential than revelation. Revelation is necessary (we need to know the will of God so we can obey it) but this passage says that lack of love negates the intended effect of revelation, making it pointless (1 Corinthians 13:1-2). Similarly, the Bible says “without faith no one can please God” (Hebrews 11:6), because faith is essential. Even so, love is greater than faith (1 Corinthians 13:13).

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1 Corinthians 13:4 – “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

Love wishes the best for the other person, and delights in seeing the other person succeed and prosper. Envy does the opposite. Christian love wants to see God glorified through everyone. The love described in 1 Corinthians 13 is not just a feeling or emotion. The original Greek uses a different noun here than the word for emotional or sentimental love. The love described here is a choice that we make, a character trait that we consciously cultivate in ourselves.

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1 Corinthians 13:4 – “Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.“

God is love.  The Bible teaches that love is more important than spiritual gifts, miracles, doctrinal teaching, or hope (of course, God wants every church to have those things as well).  The Bible says love is even greater than faith (1 Corinthians 13:13).  Love does not boast.  Boasting is incompatible with Jesus living in us and loving others through us.

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1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Love is not rude. As Christ’s love grows within us, and shows itself more and more to those around us, it constrains us against being rude or offensive. Christians should have a reputation for being gracious and friendly, not insulting or offensive.

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1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Love is not proud. In some ways, this subject is difficult to teach because the New Testament warns against pride in so many different contexts. Jesus forbid pride toward other church leaders or members: “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave…” (Matthew 24:25-27).

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1 Corinthians 13:5 – “Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Love is not self-seeking. More than any other aspect of love listed in 1 Corinthians 13, selflessness distinguishes this kind of love (“agape”) from all other sentiments that we call “love.” Infatuation or romantic love is inherently self-seeking; it is no different than “desire.” Friendship or familial love are good and may be sacrificial at times, but these relationships serve our own self-interest so much that even wicked, completely selfish people have friends and families (see Matthew 5:46-48). Love for our own nation, people, or tribe  is also self-interested. Nationalism merely prefers those who share our self-interests to those who do not.  Apart  from Christ’s love, all other forms of human affection, appreciation, and allegiance are arguably self-interested or self-seeking.

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