S.Scripture | If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha. 1 Corinthians 16:22
O.Observation | The word “accursed” is literally pronounced “anathema” in the original language (Rom. 3:14; Gal. 1:8-9). The literal translation maybe “devoted to evil.” The word wasn’t simply a cursing of someone, but likely was attached to the excommunication and the banning of someone from the church. The Greek word “anathema” used here, is also used to translate the Hebrew word “Herem.” Herem is used for what was removed from the possession of men and devoted to God’s wrath. See Deuteronomy 7:27, 13:17; Joshua 7:1, 12.
As an apostle, Paul is likely frustrated with the sin and error he has just confronted in the church. Which maybe why he sets forth such a strong standard of measurement within the church for discipline with an absolute truth, before giving the customary closing blessing to his letter.
Let us remember with such a standard of “anathema,” God is the author of the idea of a church ban for sin and a lack of a love for our Lord. This is not just Paul speaking. (Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Tim. 1:20; Gal. 6:1-5)
“Love the Lord” here is not the normal and high form of love called “agape” love. Instead this is “philo” love in the original language. In other words, when someone lacks even the lower form of love for Jesus, he is “accursed” or put under a church ban. Agape love is the deep and committed love God has for His people in His covenantal promises. It is the love that a true believer has for God, in response to being loved by Him (1 John 4:19). This kind of love is a strong motive for true and living faith. If we love Him, we desire to live in a way that pleases Him and we shrink back from the things that do not please Him according to His revealed Word (John 14:15).
The word “maranatha” is two words in the original writing of 1 Corinthians. “Marana” means “our Lord” and “atha” means “come.” This is the plea, “our Lord come!” Such is the plea of the church amidst sin and error, both of others and yet mostly in our own battle with the flesh. It is interesting that the normal language of 1 Corinthians is Greek, yet here we find an Aramaic expression (Aramaic is in the language family of Hebrew, which is the language the Old Testament was written in). This is very interesting because Greek would have been the predominate language of the church in Corinth. Few, if any, would have known Aramaic there. With no explanation of the phrase, all of this implies that “maran-atha” was a commonly used expression of desire used within the early church (see Rev. 22:20 and the Didache 10,6).
A.Application | Do I honor and pursue church accountability and discipline according to God’s plan and not man’s? Do I shrink back from God’s “ban” and “handing over to Satan” those who refuse to repent of sin and error within the church (1 Cor. 5:12; 1 Tim. 1:20)? Am I prepared to respond with grace and a desire to live a holy life for my Lord if someone in the church confronts my sin? Do I ask the church for such accountability, out of my love for my Lord?
Does my life pursuits and my affections rest on my Master and Lord? Is He my Master that leads my decisions and my moment by moment living? Do I long for the day He returns? Do I live in a way that will will please my Lord the day He returns, the day of my judgement (2 Cor. 5:9–10)?
P.Prayer | Father, you alone are worthy of every thought, word and deed of my life. Let the measuring rod of loving my Lord which Paul set forth be a delight for me, not a cause of fear. Let my love for you be evident in the obedience it produces to Your ways in Your Holy Word. Let my life not conform to man’s way’s according to man’s wisdom. Let me live only for your glory, because I love you, because you have first loved me. Amen
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