1Corinthians 12:18-26 But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 

‘But now has God set the members every one of them in the body’ – The first of two times here (12:18, 28).

‘Pleased him’ – If Christians would seek to please God in whatever part they are to have in the congregation or body of Christ there would be no confusion or strife about any office.

‘Those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.’ The apostle no doubt refers to the inward parts, as the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, and other ungraceful parts of the body, which seem to us to be more delicate and feeble. Hence, these parts are not only covered, but are surrounded and protected by the outward parts upon which we openly bestow much honour. Upon the proper performance of these inward parts life itself depends.

‘We think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour.’ Those members of the body which we think are not so honourable, we bestow special care upon, and those members of the body that are unpresentable we treat with greater care and attention than we do our features which do not require as much attention.

‘Uncomely’ [Greek: aschemon] shapeless; unseemly; shameful. Upon these parts of the body we bestow more abundant elegance and grace.

‘Comely’ [Greek: euschemon] members of good bearing; the graceful ones; the beautiful parts that have no special need of honour or attention.

‘But God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.’ God has mingled and compounded the body together, giving more special dignity to the inferior parts; that there should be no independent and unnecessary part to the body, and that every part should function perfectly for the good of the whole (1Cor. 12:24-26).