1 Corinthians 13:3

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, etc.] Of which the Jews give us instances; they say f275, that R. Ishcab stood, µyyn[l wyskn lk qyljhw, “and distributed all his goods to the poor”; and a little after they say the same of King Monbaz, that he stood and gave away, or dispersed, “all his goods to the poor”; and elsewhere f276 they say of R. Eliezer ben Judah, that the collectors of alms ran away from him, because he would have given them wl çyç hm lk, “all that he had”; and of another, they say f277, that he took all that he had in his house, and went out to divide it among the poor; but of what avail was all this, when what these men did, they did not from a principle of…”

“bestow . . . goods . . . poor--literally, "dole out in food" all my goods; one of the highest functions of the "helps" (Co1 12:28). give . . . body to be burned--literally, "to such a degree as that I should be burned." As the three youths did (Dan 3:28), "yielded their bodies" (compare Co2 12:15). These are most noble exemplifications of love in giving and in suffering. Yet they may be without love; in which case the "goods" and "body" are given, but not the soul, which is the sphere of love. Without the soul God rejects all else, and so rejects the man, who is therefore "profited" nothing (Mat 16:26; Luk 9:23-25). Men will fight for Christianity, and die for Christianity, but not live in…”

“And though I bestow - The Greek word used here ψωμίσω psōmisō, from ψάω psaō, to break off) meant properly to break off, and distribute in small portions; to feed by morsels; and may be applicable here to distributing one’s property in small portions. Charity or alms to the poor, was usually distributed at one’s gate Luke 16:20, or in some public place. Of course, if property was distributed in this manner, many more would be benefitted than if all were given to one person. There would be many more to be thankful, and to celebrate one’s praises. This was regarded as a great virtue; and was often performed in a most ostentatious manner. It was a gratification to wealthy men who desired…”

“And though I - Deliberately, piece by piece. Give all my goods to feed the poor, yea, though I deliver up my body to be burned - Rather than I would renounce my religion. And have not the love - Hereafter described. It profiteth me nothing - Without this, whatever I speak, whatever I have, whatever I know, whatever I do, whatever I suffer, is nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:4”

“13:3 sacrificed my body, I could boast about it: Some manuscripts read sacrificed my body to be burned; it would have been easy for a copyist to change the text accidentally, because in Greek the two readings differ only by one letter. It is unclear which reading is to be preferred; however, the manuscripts supporting the reading I could boast are generally better. • I would have gained nothing: Even the most impressive sacrificial acts mean nothing if not motivated by love.”

“though I bestow: Mat 6:1-4, Mat 23:5; Luk 18:22, Luk 18:28, Luk 19:8, Luk 21:3, Luk 21:4; Joh 12:43; Gal 5:26; Phi 1:15-18 though I give: Dan 3:16-28; Mat 7:22, Mat 7:23; Joh 13:37, Joh 15:13; Act 21:13; Phi 1:20, Phi 1:21, Phi 2:3 profiteth: Isa 57:12; Jer 7:8; Joh 6:63; Ti1 4:8; Heb 13:9; Jam 2:14-17 1 Corinthians 13:4”