"Anathema Maranatha"

 

John 21:15-17  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord: thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord: thou knowest that I love thee: He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

It is written in (1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.). “Anathema means, curse.” “Maranatha means, the Lord cometh.” This verse, though it speaks of love, it is not written in John`s Epistles. Though it speaks of a curse, it is not written in the Epistle to the Galatians. Though it speaks of the Lord`s coming, we do not find it in the Epistle to the Thessalonians.

No! it occurs in this first Epistle to the Corinthians. And, not at the beginning, or in the middle, but at he end. And, right at the end, immediately before “The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In fact, the very last verse of the Epistle. What lesson does its position here have for us ? Surely the place where we find it, gives the verse a fullness of meaning, both by “interpretation” and “application,” which it would not possess if it occurred in any other part of Scripture.

It owes its chief importance, and all the solemnity of its lesson, entirely to the fact that we find it here, and no where else. It bids us, therefore, to look at the Epistle as a whole: there we see, on the very surface, that the Epistle is full of reproof for practical errors in life and walk.

(1). There is reproof for there divisions, envying, strife, and contentions, (1 Corinthians the 1st to 3rd chapter). Which are further particularized as including debates, envying, wrath, strife, backbiting, swelling, turmoil, (2 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:).

(2). There are errors in life, and sins of uncleanness, (1 Corinthians the 5th chapter), which are further particularized in (2 Corinthians 12:20-21 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.). As including “fornication,” and “lasciviousness.”

(3). There is the brother going to the law with the brother before the ungodly, (1 Corinthians the 6th chapter).

(4). There is the wounding of the weaker brother`s conscience, (1 Corinthians the 8th chapter).

(5). There is the questioning of Paul`s apostleship, ( 1 Corinthians the 9th chapter).

(6). There are errors is ritual, (1 Corinthians the 11th chapter).

(7). There are errors in the use of gifts, (1 Corinthians the 14th chapter).

(8). There are errors in doctrine, (1 Corinthians the 15th chapter).

But when it comes to the end of the Epistle, and all is viewed in the light of “Maranatha,” the Lord cometh, none of these things is mentioned. It does not say, “If any man be not moral in life,” “If any man be not correct in his ritual,” or “Orthodox in his creed:” but, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ.”

This fact speaks to us and tells us, that a man maybe perfectly moral, and yet have no love for Christ. He may be correct in his ritual, and orthodox in his creed, but he may have a heart as “stone,” and as “cold” as ice, towards the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is not that these errors are made light of, God forbid: but, that if a man have no error, and yet have no love, he will be accursed when the Lord cometh. In light of that day, “love” will be the “test,” and “loyalty” will be the “true” token of “acceptable service,” (John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.).

The test is not the skillfulness of the hand, or the wisdom of the head, but the loyalty of the heart, (Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.).

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