1 Corinthians 13:2

And if. have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if. have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love,. am nothing.

'know all mysteries and all knowledge' -'no secret hidden from me, no knowledge too deep for me.' (Knox) 'Prophecy in its widest range.' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 897)

'mysteries'. truth, yet revealed. (Ephesians 3:3) If. could even know the unrevealed things of God. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

Point to Note:

1. Unlimited knowledge cannot justify or excuse the absence of love in one's life.

2. Man tends to make certain concessions and allowances for the super-smart. Arrogance isn't seen as. sin or flaw in the professor, scholar or philosopher. Our society allows the scientist on the "cutting-edge" of discovery to act like. jerk or heel, because after all, 'he/she is getting things done..they are involved in such important work..their intellect excuses the lovelessness and lack of social skills which they demonstrate..' God disagrees! No matter who you are, or what you know, or how far beyond others in "understanding" you happen to be, you are never excused to become prideful and arrogant!

'The permanent danger of intellectual eminence is intellectual snobbery. The man who is learned runs the grave danger of developing the spirit of contempt.' (Barclay p. 131)

'all faith, so as to remove mountains' -faith connected with miracle working.

Such remarkable wonder-working, that the Rocky Mountains would get up and rumble away at my request to God! Even if God would allow. Christian to work. miracle like that, it would be no substitution for loving God and loving others. (Matthew 22:37)

Note: Even "faith" can be loveless. At times we are guilty of such. We tell people they need to trust God more, 'trust God like. do', but then we conveniently forget about helping them.

'There are times when faith can be. cruel thing. There was. man who visited his doctor and who was informed that his heart was tired and he must rest. He telephoned his employer, who was. notable Christian figure, and told him the news, only to receive the answer, "I have an inward strength which enables me to carry on." These are the words of...faith which knew no love.' (Barclay p. 132)

'I am nothing' -in the sight of God. In the sight of men, such people would be "really something." But God isn't impressed with people who have done "great things", but lack character! Character matters to God! (1 Samuel 2:7)