1 Corinthians 4:5

‘Wherefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make openly clear the counsels of the heart. And then shall each man have his praise from God.'

‘Until the Lord comes.' Not the change in terminology. Jesus is ‘the Lord'. He is not just a superior Teacher. There is one Lord, Jesus Christ. As the Son He is Lord over God's household. All are to live in the light of Him and His expected return, for then He will pass true judgment and men will have to give full account of all they have done. Compare the many parables of Jesus which describe exactly this (e.g. Luke 12:35)

‘Judge nothing before the time.' He is here thinking primarily of teachers such as Apollos, Peter and himself, and all their fellow teachers (1 Corinthians 3:22). But it also refers to all who would teach faithfully and are accountable to their Lord. He does not mean that the Corinthians should not judge the rightness of doctrine, or wrongdoing, or immoral behaviour. He later shows that to be their responsibility. He is saying only that they should concentrate on Jesus Christ, consider what is given to them, and not pass judgment on the adequacy or otherwise of His assistants and their motives. It is the quality and spiritual effectiveness of men's service that should not be judged. That is the Lord's responsibility. When He comes what is unknown will be brought to light and men's motives and aims, hidden within their hearts, will be made clear. Then will God praise each one according to what he deserves. Much of what they have done, which men admired and praised, will be burned up, revealed as dross, but other will stand the examination and will come through as pure, refined gold and silver and costly jewellery (1 Corinthians 3:13).

However what is said here also applies to all Christians. In the end we have to account to Him for all we do and say. Then judgment will not be on appearance but on what is true. What we have kept hidden within ourselves will be laid bare. And for all His own there will be some praise from God, for any who are unworthy of any praise have thereby proved that they were not truly His.

‘The hidden things of darkness.' These are the things that men do not want to have brought to the light. All have had such things in their lives, wrong aims, wrong motives, lack of spiritual application. And sadly many such things have gone on in church affairs. Much is done that is done for wrong motives and for self-gain. And we can be sure that they will all come out. But these are things that only God can judge. For only He can pierce into the darkness.

‘The counsels of the heart.' What men think deep within. What lies behind their smooth words, or their faithful and often misunderstood service. All will be made openly clear.

‘And then shall each man have his praise from God.' Then the reward will be given. Then will He say, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.' Compare Matthew 25:21. Each will receive of the gracious giving of a solicitous Lord.