1 Corinthians 14:15, commentary and pictures

To pray and to sing with the spirit and with the understanding means to worship in sincere, truthful words that are themselves understood. Speech that cannot be understood does not build up the church, for without understanding the hearer cannot join in and is not taught, so a few words spoken to teach are better than many in an unknown tongue unless it is interpreted. The same rule calls for a consecrated, cultivated voice in prayer and testimony that is clear and distinct, and for singing in clear, intelligible words with a natural, soft, musical tone, orderly and harmonious, without harshness, shrillness, display, or confusion. Such singing and praying is genuine worship and not mere form or show, requiring the heart to be in harmony with the words, with sincere interest in God's word and freedom from envy, evil thinking and speaking, and impurity. It springs from thorough conversion and deep heart-love for Christ that purifies the soul, quenches selfishness and hatred, and produces fervent, effectual prayer and joyful, restful song that angels join.

Clear Understandable Worship

Both prayer and singing in every religious service are to be done with the spirit and with the understanding also, in sincere and truthful words that are easy to be understood so that others are edified and built toward perfection. The same rule extends to missionary work, where service is to join spiritual devotion with practical understanding in opening God's Word to others in trust that God will give increased understanding. Speech that cannot be understood does not build up the church, and one who uses an unknown tongue must have it interpreted, because without understanding the hearer cannot say Amen and is not edified. Five words spoken with understanding to teach others are better than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

The principle Paul lays down about tongues applies equally to the use of the voice in prayer, testimony, and social meeting. The voice is a gift to be consecrated to God and cultivated for clear, distinct speech with correct pronunciation and intonation that strengthens hearers, honors God, and edifies His children, rather than low, indistinct speaking. No one who speaks in a low, indistinct way with defective utterance should stop offering public prayer or bearing witness to the power and love of Christ, but such a defect should be regarded as something to be overcome by earnest effort.

Singing with understanding means singing in clear, distinct, intelligible words in a natural, musical tone with gentle, well-trained, soft tones, with clear intonation, correct pronunciation, and distinct utterance that all can understand. Loudness, harshness, shrillness, and ornamental, drawn-out singing do not give song its value and offend the ear. Genuine worship means singers understand the truths in the sacred words and sing from hearts in harmony with them, rather than singing as mere form or display. Singing should be orderly, correct, and harmonious, free from jargon, confusion, and discord. Such singing glorifies God, benefits the church, and favorably affects unbelievers, while jargon and discord displease Him.

The ability to sing and vocal music itself are gifts from God to be cultivated and used to His glory in devotional service and in working together with God. Knowing the rudiments of singing alone is not enough; heartfelt praise must be joined with understanding and connection with heaven. In congregational worship only hymns familiar to those who sing are to be used, selected under a proper appointed leader to take charge, with system and order as in every other part of the Lord's work. The best singers should lead the congregation and all should unite with them, making effort to sing in harmony and devoting time to practice so the talent is employed to the glory of God, for bungling singing is no credit to the truth and no honor to God. Singing must not divert the mind from hours of devotion, and if one must be neglected it must be the singing, for carrying music to extremes and making more of music than of prayer ruins souls, banishes seriousness, quenches desire for the Spirit of God, closes the heart that was about to open to Jesus, and such singing is an offense to God.

Heartfelt Devoted Worship

Singing with the spirit and with the understanding is genuine worship set against mere form, display, profession, or lip service. It requires the heart to be in harmony with the words sung, a sincere interest in the word of God, and reading His word with desire to understand its truths. Those who have no interest in His word cannot sing in this way, and their singing is only a form. Mere forms and lip service are worthless, for the state of the heart reveals the quality of the religion.

Singing done for show while the heart holds petty jealousy, envy, evil surmising and evil thinking, evil speaking, flirtation, coquetry, and undue familiarity breaks the rule of praying and singing with spirit and understanding. Such singing is worthless and has a demoralizing afterinfluence. Worship leaders are therefore not to follow the ways of the world by depending on worldly singers and theatrical display to awaken an interest. Music that is only a form cannot unite with the praise of heaven.

When people pray and sing in this way, heavenly musicians and angels take up the strain and join their song of thanksgiving. The angelic host joins those whose lips have been touched by the live coal from off the altar and pour forth song in the words of Psalms 121, 125, and 126. Praying with the spirit and with the understanding comes from being a thoroughgoing, converted Christian whose motives spring from deep heart-love for Christ. That love produces faith and unselfish interest in brethren, quenches the selfish desire to be first, and leaves no hatred in thought or heart.

That same love works by love to purify the soul, refreshes and invigorates spiritual life by its refining influence, shows by loyalty to brethren a sense of the value of souls, and joins zeal and staunch principle with devotion to what is pure, honest, just, and of good report. It makes the believer companionable and in close connection with the Life-giver, giving life for the life received, and growing more like Christ through continued trust. Those converted to God will pray more in this way, exercising a faith that works by love and purifies the soul, speaking comfortable words, lifting weights from tempted souls who are tempted by the devil, and refusing to become a tempter to others. This way of praying must be taught by the Lord and asked for as the disciples asked to be taught to pray.

It means entire surrender to Jesus, taking self in hand in His strength and grace, watching unto prayer, and cherishing a continual sense of what it means to follow Christ. It means beholding Jesus to become changed into His image, trusting the blood of Jesus Christ alone to cleanse from all moral defilement, and beseeching the throne of grace for faith which works by love and purifies the soul, since the converting power of God must transform the character or heaven will be lost. Singing that joins the spirit and the understanding comes through full conversion and surrender of the human will and way to God's will and way, habitually believing that Christ loves, learning from Him who is meek and lowly in heart, and finding rest for the soul. This gives calm confidence, new dignity of heart, and a clear sense of an ever-present, all-pervading Saviour, gives power to hold stability against changing earthly circumstances with feet on solid rock, and brings joy in the Saviour and inward confidence even under discouraging circumstances.

In that condition the heart speaks words of hope to the weary and desponding, instructs disheartened souls, loves to minister while contemplating God and heaven, and feels sacred awe in ministering in connection with the hand of God which opens only to do good. It is done in childlike simplicity of faith that welcomes Christ and is welcomed by Him, leaving no place for critical thoughts, refusing the work of Satan as accuser of the brethren who is near to torment the mind, and gathering up every ray of light to give to those who need help. Praying with the spirit and the understanding is fervent and effectual prayer after the example of Jesus, who resorted to lonely groves and mountains and devoted time after the business and cares of the day were ended to make His requests known to His Father. Such prayer is scarce, even scarcer than praying and watching, yet it is always in place, never wearies, and interests and refreshes all who have a love for devotion.

The verse joins spiritual devotion with practical understanding in following God's will, advancing His work, and doing missionary work. A parent who has taken up the God-given duty of caring for and disciplining the children and has done all within human power can then pray with the Spirit and with understanding, in faith, for God to do what human effort cannot accomplish. Workers can open God's Word to others and serve with devotion and understanding, trusting God to give increased understanding.