1 Corinthians 12:21-23 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And the eye In its commanding station, and possessed as it is of light and discernment; cannot say to the hand Endowed with neither of these qualities, and the mere instrument of action; I have no need of thee For by the hand the whole body is maintained and fed, and the eye itself preserved and defended. Nor again the head Elevated as it is, and so admirably furnished with all the nerves and organs planted in it, cannot say to the feet The most distant and extreme parts, mean as their form and office seems; I have no need of you Since by them the head and all the other parts of the body are supported, and are removed from place to place. “The apostle mentions the two principal members of the body, the eye and the head, and affirms that they need the service of the inferior members, to teach such as hold the most honourable offices in the church not to despise those who are placed in the lowest stations: for as in the body, the hand needs the direction of the eye, and the eye the assistance of the hands, so in the church they who follow the active occupations of life, need the direction of the teachers. On the other hand, the teachers need to be supported by the labour of the active members.” Nay, those members which seem to be more feeble Because unable to endure external injury, such as the brain, the lungs, the heart, and bowels; or the veins, arteries, and other minute channels in the body; are more abundantly necessary For without them the animal functions can by no means be discharged, nor the body preserved in life and health. And likewise those members which we think to be less honourable Or graceful, on account of their place and use; upon these we bestow Greek, περιτιθεμεν, these we surround with more abundant honour By carefully covering them. And our uncomely parts have By virtue of the dress we put upon them; more abundant comeliness Than most of the rest. It is as if he had said, The face, on which the image of God is particularly stamped, we leave uncovered; but as for those parts which decency or custom teaches us to conceal, we contrive not only to cover, but also, as far as we conveniently can, to adorn by covering. “This observation, concerning the pains which we take in adorning or concealing the weak and uncomely members of our body, the apostle makes to teach the higher members of the church to advance the honour of the whole body, by concealing the weakness and imperfections of the lowest, and by setting off their gifts and graces, whatever they may be, to the best advantage, for the reason mentioned 1 Corinthians 12:25. And when such attention is paid to the inferior, by the superior members of the church, the inferior, laying aside all envy, should willingly suffer the superior members to recommend themselves to the esteem of the whole body, by the lustre and usefulness of their more excellent gifts.”