1 Corinthians 2:9-16

9: but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
10: For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
11: For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
12: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
13: which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

14: But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
15: But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
16: For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

*** 

After pointing out the superiority of God’s wisdom, Paul referenced Isaiah 64:4 to explain that no one had known all that God had planned for His people. Man could not even conceive of it. Isaiah was speaking to those who had not yet experienced the coming of the Messiah, but Paul was speaking after Jesus had already come, died, ascended, and sent the Holy Spirit to those who believed. Now there was a way for them to know and understand God’s thoughts.

God reveals His thoughts and plans to those who have His Spirit. Just like knowing the spirit of a man is how you get to know his true thoughts and character, in the same way we come to know God’s inner thoughts and heart through His Spirit. The Spirit of God has been given to us who believe in Jesus, who love God, so we may know Him and the things He’s freely given us. How beautiful that one can experience this intimate, relational knowledge of the Father directly.

Not only do we know and understand God this way, by His Spirit, but Paul said we also speak of these things. Paul and the others of his day spoke--preached, discussed, and wrote—about these spiritual things to give understanding to others. Yet, some didn’t understand the message. The natural man, or the one who does not have the Spirit of God rejuvenating his spirit and therefore only has the lower soulish instinct to judge things by, will not understand spiritual things. They will seem foolish to him. The unspiritual don’t even properly understand a spiritual person, let alone the thoughts of God. However, one who is spiritual discerns, properly judges, and understands spiritual things.

Paul ended this thought by quoting Isaiah 40:13, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him?’ The answer is that no one can judge the Lord or try to change or “correct” His thinking to align with what they think is “right.” Yet we, as spiritual, have the mind of Christ. Those who have His Spirit properly understand, discern, and judge all things.



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