Book of Common Prayer

Paul shows that the gift of prophecy (that is, of interpreting or preaching) excels the gift of languages, and how they both ought to be used.

14 Labour for love, and covet spiritual gifts, and most chiefly to prophesy. ² For he who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to people, but to God, for no one understands him. However, in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. ³ But he who prophesies speaks to people, for edifying, for exhortation, and for comfort. ⁴ He who speaks in an unknown tongue, profits himself; he who prophesies, edifies the congregation.

⁵ I would that you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you prophesied. For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks with tongues – unless he expounds it also, so that the congregation may have edifying. ⁶ Now brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, how do I profit you, unless I speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by instruction?

⁷ Moreover, when things without life give sound, whether it be a pipe or a harp, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how can it be known what is piped or harped? ⁸ And also, if the trumpet gives an uncertain call, who will prepare himself to fight? ⁹ So also likewise, when you speak with tongues, unless you speak words that have meaning, how can it be understood what is spoken? For you will be but speaking in the air.

¹⁰ Many kinds of voices are in the world, and none of them are without signification. ¹¹ If I do not know what the voice means, I will be as a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. ¹² So then, since you covet spiritual gifts, seek to have them in plenty for the edifying of the congregation.

Christ teaches by a similitude that God is debtor to no man, and how he is always calling people to his work. He teaches his disciples to be lowly, and gives two blind men their sight.

20 For the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a householder who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. ² And he agreed with the labourers for a denarius a day, and sent them into his vineyard. ³ And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place, ⁴ and said to them, Go ye also into my vineyard, and whatever is right, I will give you. And they went their way.

⁵ Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. ⁶ And he went out about the eleventh hour and found others standing idle, and said to them, Why do you stand here idle all the day? ⁷ They said to him, Because no one has hired us. He said to them, Go ye also into my vineyard, and whatever is right, that you will receive.

⁸ When evening was come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the labourers and give them their wages, beginning at the last till you come to the first.

⁹ And those who were hired about the eleventh hour came and received every man a denarius. ¹⁰ Then came the first, supposing that they would receive more, but they likewise received every man a denarius. ¹¹ And when they had received it, they murmured against the master of the house, ¹² saying, These last have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and heat of the day.

¹³ He answered to one of them, saying, Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take that which is your due, and go your way. I want to give to the last one as much as to you. ¹⁵ Is it not lawful for me to do as I please with what belongs to me? Is your eye evil because I am good?

¹⁶ In like manner the last may be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.