If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Begin by reviewing the first two verses of chapter 13.
Now take today's verse, passage by passage if necessary and repeat, repeat, repeat. There's no magical shortcut here, memory work is simple repetition. Redeem the time throughout your day, you'll be amazed how much you can memorize.
In a nutshell this verse tells us that love is superior to sacrifice - whether it be material sacrifice or even martyrdom - if it is done with any motivation other than love, I gain nothing.
Calvin's commentary says it quite strongly....
The main truth in the passage is this -- that as love is the only rule of our actions, and the only means of regulating the right use of the gifts of God, nothing, in the absence of it, is approved of by God, however magnificent it may be in the estimation of men. For where it is wanting, the beauty of all virtues is mere tinsel -- is empty sound -- is not worth a straw -- nay more, is offensive and disgusting.
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