The heart of Paul recoiled at the thought of boasting. He considered it a folly. However, there was an occasion in Corinth for him to vindicate himself from wicked slanders of scheming men. It would all together have created a wrong impression were he to remain silent under such accusations.
As he appeals to plain and visible testimonies of God’s blessing upon his labours, Paul asks the Corinthians to bear with him in his folly since he does not do it for his own sakes but for theirs.
Paul was driven to those act for the wellbeing of the church because of his feelings for them. In verse 2, he explains his actions by saying: For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. These words set before us:
I. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE MINISTER
The Lord Jesus Christ is the HUSBAND of the Church. Isa 54:5, 62:5, John 3:29, Rom 7:4, Eph 5:32, Rev 19:7. Let us contemplate for a moment what a glorious relationship exists between the saint and their God. Except it were revealed in the Holy Scriptures we dare not entertain such a thought. That sinners, so guilty and polluted should be admitted to such an endearing and loving relationship to God is glorious indeed. Yet it is so and every believer shares in this honour and is those related to the God of Heaven.
1. We are brought into this relationship by the ministry of God’s Word. The preacher is somewhat like Abraham’s servant who went to seek a wife for his son, Isaac. He has received a commission to make known to the children of men the glories of Christ the Son of God. They are those won by the power of God’s Word to love the Saviour and united to Him, bring forth fruit unto God.
2. It is a relationship requiring the utmost surrender. As Hosea said to the woman he was commanded to marry, so the Lord would command us. And thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee, Hosea 3:3. How faithful are you??
II. THE FEAR OF THE MINISTER
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ, verse 3.
1. It was a fear and alarm that was great. The word Paul uses is a strong word., Matt 14:27, 17:6. There was a very real cause for Paul’s fear. Danger surrounds the people of God.
2. It is a fear of the Devil’s attack. Paul remembers the success of the devil in the Garden/Eden. As he had not allowed Adam and Eve to remain in quiet possession of Paradise, so he will not allow us to enjoy God’s mercy in peace. He will not rest but will ever seek to rob our blessings from us.
3. See what it is he especially targets. Your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. The word simplicity means absence of hypocrisy. The devil would be happy to make us hypocrites, pretending holiness and obedience when our hearts are far from God. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; so shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him, Psalm 45:10-11. We must be wholly the Lord’s and no one else’s. From this simplicity of mind the devil is ever seeking to divert us, verse 4. God’s standards are attacked and a lesser gospel preached, just as it was in the Garden.
III. THE PASSION OF THE MINISTER
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy, verse 2.
1. Winning a soul to Christ is only the beginning of a minister’s duty. It is his duty to watch of the purity of the flock. He must constantly be concerned for the spiritual wellbeing of the flock. James 1:27, Psalm 119:1. He must share His Master’s desire, Isaiah 1:16, 1 Peter 1:15-16.
2. Jealousy is what a good minister manifests. The word is derived from that which means to boil with heat. A man so exercised will not wink at sin or ignore transgressions.
3. Such jealousy is the highest expression of love. It filled the heart of Elijah, I Kings 19:10. More importantly, it fills the heart of Jehovah, Ex 20:5.