Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5 ESV
Understanding these verses requires us to understand the context of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. They were deeply divided (1 Corinthians 1:10-11) and they were eager to know more about spiritual people (1 Corinthians 12:1-3). In the previous chapter (1 Corinthians 13:8-12), Paul outlines that the gifts are temporary and contrasts them with love, which he directs the Corinthians to abide in (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Paul is reiterating his point that the Corinthians should pursue love, but he writes they also should be desirous of spiritual gifts. That is to say, don't neglect spiritual gifts or treat them as injurious to the church just because they're not love - but focus on love and then spiritual gifts, especially to prophesy. He then proceeds to outline in the following verses why they should prefer prophecy:
For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
1 Corinthians 14:2-3 ESV
In the words of Paul, speaking in tongues, whether they are tongues of men or angelic tongues - neither is beneficial to the church for the purpose of upbuilding, encouragement or consolation. In fact, if the audience does not understand what is said they are a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. The contrast is between somebody that speaks to nobody (1 Corinthians 14:2) and somebody that speaks to the church (1 Corinthians 14:3).
This leads Paul to his big finale in 1 Corinthians 14:5:
Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
1 Corinthians 14:5 ESV
Paul has already highlighted that the gifts of tongues is not for everyone (1 Corinthians 12:30). He is not commanding that they all speak in tongues, as that would be a contradiction to what he has already written. Instead, a better understanding would be that he is not trying to disuade them from pursuing the gift of tongues. Yet, more importantly they should not be disuaded from prophecy. This resonates well with his first verse:
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
1 Corinthians 14:1 ESV
Now, in more explicit terms, the apostle Paul writes that the one whom prophesies is greater than the one that speaks in tongues. Since tongues is useless for edification by itself, prophecy is favoured. However, when coupled with the gift of interpretation of tongues even the gift of tongues can be used for edification of the church.
To summarise; this verse is not commanding believers to pursue spiritual gifts, to speak in mystical languages, or to foretell the future. Instead, it is encouraging believers to pursue love and build the church through God's divine revelation in Christ and in the scriptures.
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