2 Corinthians 10:12-18 (KJV)
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
Who hasn’t heard the statement that goes something like this, “We shouldn’t compare ourselves to others.”?
There is some wisdom in that.
Comparing ourselves to others can lead to:
· jealousy
· envy
· covetousness
· greed and
· bitterness
But there is a bigger MESSAGE in this passage than that one.
I am going to try to give you that message in three parts:
First there is,
*I. A MESSAGE OF SEPARATION
2 Corinthians 10:12a (KJV)
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, …
Remember that this entire book is all about contrasting his ministry with that of those who opposed him.
In a sense, this whole book is a comparison, between their supposed ministry and his own.
Before he ever gets into the subject of “comparing themselves among themselves” he proclaims, “We dare not make ourselves of the number…”
In other words, we must not be included in this group.
A. Notice the phrase “Dare not”
That’s pretty powerful!
· It’s more than “We should not.”
· It’s more than “We recommend not.”
It really is equal, “We must not.”
There was a “number” in the church there, a group of people, who had set themselves apart from the rest in opposing the Apostle’s authority and message.
The Apostle wrote to the church, “We dare not be included in that number.”
B. Who is “we”?
This group had certainly excluded him, and he was certain he could not attempt to be included with them.
It is generally accepted that the bulk of the church had repented and corrected the errors that were addressed in the first letter to the Corinthians.
We must include them as well.
As I believe, all of the Bible does. We must rightly divide the Word of Truth, but as we do that, we must also keep intact the principle that all of the Word of God is profitable for us.[1]
That means that we dare not make ourselves of the number that cause divisions in the local church either.
There is next,
*II. A MESSAGE OF SUPERVISION
2 Corinthians 10:13-16 (KJV)
But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
What I want you to see in this passage is the word, “measure.”
It’s found:
· Three times in verse 13
· Once in verse 14
· Once in verse 15
The word means a “portion.”
It would be similar, I think, to a salesperson’s district or region. That person has authorization to work within the boundaries of the region.
Notice then the words:
· Measure
· Rule
· Distributed
· Reach
· Region
There are three things in this passage Paul references with these terms:
A. There is an authority from God
A call (Paul uses the word rule here.)
They don’t have it.
B. There is a ministry over the Corinthians
Paul uses the word measure. They ought to listen to him. This is his ministry.
The other number doesn’t have that.
C. There are other areas that still need the gospel
Paul used the word region.
Paul had no desire to trample over the ministries of others.
He only wanted to labor where God had called him.
This other number would have been more than welcome to ask God for their own region.
What has always been the case with groups like this is that they do best at stealing another people’s labor.
Finally, there is,
III. A MESSAGE OF SELECTION
2 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV)
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (KJV)
But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
Now I want to point out the word “commend.”
It goes back to, 2 Corinthians 3:1 (KJV)
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
This “number” of people who disagreed with the corrections of the first challenged the Apostle’s authority.
They wanted him to produce letters proving he had been “licensed” to preach the message he preached.
So when the Apostle says, 2 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV)
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
What he means is that they were not wise in licensing each other as ministers.
· They were teaching themselves
· They were grading themselves and then
· They were approving themselves
as fit for the ministry.
They were bragging about each other.
They sought the approval and the commendations of each other.
And they were not wise doing that.
With that as a foundation, don’t these verses make sense?
2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (KJV)
But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
It doesn’t matter what anyone else says about you and me.
· We want only to glory in the Lord
· We want only the commendation and approval of the Lord
[1] 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
