1 Corinthians 12:14-26

14: For the body is not one member, but many.
15: If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
16: And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
17: If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18: But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
19: If they were all one member, where would the body be?
20: But now there are many members, but one body.
21: And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22: On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;
23: and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable,
24: whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,
25: so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
26: And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

*** 

Paul went into detail regarding the fact that all believers in Christ are part of one body, each one placed in his/her position as God desires. Just as a foot can’t say that since he’s not a hand he’s not a part of the body, neither should anyone think they are not a part of the body of Christ just because they don’t have the same place and function as someone else.

If each body part were a hand, then where would the rest of the body be? The body wouldn’t be able to function. In fact, it wouldn’t be a body at all. So those parts of the body which seem to be weaker, less honorable, or less presentable, are necessary. In fact, often more so than the ones we give more honor to.

A foot may not be looked on as an honorable part of the body, yet the head can’t say that it doesn’t need it. Some parts of the body are hidden—the heart and lungs for example—yet they are a vital part of the body and are treated well because of it.

Paul said God had composed the body in such a way to give more abundant honor to the parts which lack so there would be no division in the body; so we would all have the same care for one another. If you stub your toe, the whole body feels it, and if you are honored the whole body rejoices.



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