Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 14:1

"Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy." — 1 Corinthians 14:1 (ASV)

Follow after charity.—Better, Follow after love. The preceding chapter is parenthetical, and the Apostle here returns to the subject with which he had been immediately occupied before he branched off into that great Psalm of Love. He has spoken enthusiastically in praise of the superiority of love as the greatest among graces, and of all graces as superior to all gifts; however, though we are to “do this,” we are not to leave the other undone. Spiritual gifts are to be “earnestly striven for.” As there was a priority in graces, so there is in gifts. To prophesy is the greatest gift; this is so, as we will see later, because it makes us useful to our fellow believers; therefore, it is to be striven for more than any other gift.