ANATHEMA {ACCURSED}

MONDAY, 21ST NOVEMBER, 2022.

 

Topic: ANATHEMA {ACCURSED}

MEMORIZE: “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” 1Co 16:22

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Corinthians 12:3

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. {accursed: or, anathema}

EXPOSITION: 

Anything laid up or suspended; hence anything laid up in a temple or set apart as sacred. In this sense the form of the word is anathema, once in plural used in the Greek New Testament, in Luke 21:5, where it is rendered "gifts." In the Septuagint. the form anathema is generally used as the rendering of the Hebrew word herem, derived from a verb which means (1.) to consecrate or devote; and (2.) to exterminate. Any object so devoted to the Lord could not be redeemed (Num 18:14; Lev 27:28, Lev 27:29); and hence the idea of exterminating connected with the word. 

The Hebrew verb (haram) is frequently used of the extermination of idolatrous nations. It had a wide range of application. The anathema or herem was a person or thing irrevocably devoted to God (Lev 27:21, Lev 27:28); and "none devoted shall be ransomed. He shall surely be put to death" (Lev 27:29). The word therefore carried the idea of devoted to destruction (Num 21:2-3; Joshua 6:17); and hence generally it meant a thing accursed. In Deuteronomy 7:26 an idol is called a herem - anathema, a thing accursed. 

In the New Testament this word always implies execration. In some cases an individual denounces an anathema on himself unless certain conditions are fulfilled (Act 23:12, Act 23:14, Act 23:21). "To call Jesus accursed" [anathema] (Co1 12:3) is to pronounce him execrated or accursed. Apostle Paul says, If anyone preached another gospel, "let him be accursed" (Gal 1:8, Gal 1:9); i.e., let his conduct in so doing be accounted accursed. In Rom 9:3, the expression "accursed" (anathema) from Christ, i.e., excluded from fellowship or alliance with Christ, has occasioned much difficulty. The apostle here does not speak of his wish as a possible thing. It is simply a vehement expression of feeling, showing how strong was his desire for the salvation of his people. The anathema in Co1 16:22 denotes simply that they who love not the Lord are rightly objects of loathing and execration to all holy beings; they are guilty of a crime that merits the severest condemnation; they are exposed to the just sentence of "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord."

PRAYER POINT: 

i. Lord, help me not to lay hand on what will make me an accursed before you in Jesus name.

ii. Lord, let your death and resurrection be enough for my total redemption from curse and being accursed in Jesus name.

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DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  Acts 16-19.