Maranatha!

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
1 Corinthians 16 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. (1 Corinthians 16:22-24, NASB)

 

 

IDEAS:

Paul writes the last verses of 1Corinthians in his own hand. Maybe this part was dicey enough that Paul wanted the church in Corinth to understand he really meant what was in the first 15 chapters. We are called to love like Christ Jesus… or be separated. 

 

Verse 22 holds some unusual text that harkens to Jewish roots and also to an early Christian church word.

 

 

FINDINGS:

The first word “accursed” originates from the Greek word anathema (in Hebrew it is herem). In the New Testament anathema is translated to mean banned or cursed, greatly reviled or loathed, denounced… accursed. In ancient synagogues there were three levels of disciplining a Jew within a congregation.

• First 30 days spent away from the community of the synagogue—a separation to come to reconciliation.
• Then if there is no reconciliation, another undetermined period of time is given to repent.
• Then only if no reconciliation and no repentance among the community of the synagogue, then the Jew was banished from the community of Jews. This was anathema. 

 

The accursed that Paul is speaking of is for those in the church proclaiming belief and proclaiming Christ, but not living nor loving in the way of Christ—casting off their said belief. This statement was for those of the church and not for those outside of the church. 

 

Adam Clarke, a Bible commentator from the early 1800s wrote, “The anathema of the apostle is denounced against him only who gives the anathema to Christ.”

 

Then, Paul immediately declares, “Maranatha.” This is an Aramaic word—the native tongue of Jesus. There is evidence that Maranatha was used in the very beginnings of the church and it is translated, “O {our} Lord come!” 

 

 

QUESTIONS:

Was Paul calling out to Jesus to come in the midst of this situation where one is accursed? Come Lord and make this right. Was it a plea? Was Paul calling out for mercy? Was he calling out to the Lord’s divine judgment? Was Paul making a one word statement that meant, “Hey you people, are you paying attention? Jesus Christ, our Lord has come and He is coming again! Wake UP! What are you thinking?”

 

Maranatha only appears once in our New Testament right here in verse 22. And it is Paul’s call out for us to pay attention. Paul is writing to all the you’s in Corinth and I believe his Love letter is to the current you’s of the world  and I know he’s talking to me too.

 

 

CALL TO ACTION:

A 1600s Scottish theologian, Samuel Rutherford wrote on how to grow in love to Jesus. I tried to get my heart feelings on paper, but every time I read this quote I felt like this is the call to my personal action and I just couldn’t make it any better. Please join me in striving to be “over head and ears in Christ’s sweetness and know the delights of spiritual love.”  

“Strive to make prayer, and reading, and holy conference, your delight; and when delight cometh in, you shall, little by little, find the sweetness of Christ, till at length your soul be over head and ears in Christ’s sweetness. Then shall you be taken up to the top of the mountain with the Lord, to know the delights of spiritual love, and the glory and excellency of a seen, revealed, felt, and embraced Christ; and then you shall not be able to loose yourself off from Christ, and to bind your soul to old lovers; then, and never till then, are all the paces, motions, and wheels of your soul in a right tune and spiritual temper.” S. Rutherford

 

PRAYER:

God, thank you for sending the ones that come before us. Whether they shine big neon lights with arrows pointing to your way or they gently extend grace to us like your precious whispers. Thank you. Forgive me Father when I decide to separate from You and choose to ignore your teaching and the sage wisdom of those that have come before me.

 

 

WHO AM I?

It seems to be that the simple things in life are the best examples of love. Can I borrow verse 23 and simply say, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.” <3 gayle norris