1 Corinthians 16:21-22 - Homiletics

A negative crime and positive punishment.

"If any man love not," etc. The words contain two things.

I. A NEGATIVE CRIME . "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ," etc. We make three remarks on this state of mind in relation to Christ.

1. It is unreasonable. There is everything in him to call out the highest love. There are three kinds of love to which we are susceptible, and which are incumbent on us— gratitude, esteem, and benevolence. The first requires a manifestation of kindness; the second, of moral excellence; the third, a purpose for the common good. Christ manifests all these, and therefore deserves our highest love.

2. It is ascertainable. We can soon ascertain whether we love Christ or not. There are infallible criteria. For example, the chief object of love will always be

3. It is deplorable. This love is the only true regulative power of the soul. Where this is not, all the powers of our nature are misemployed, and. all is confusion.

II. A POSITIVE PUNISHMENT . "Let him be Anathema Maran-atha." These words intimate two things concerning the punishment.

1. Its nature. "Let him be Anathema." The word expresses some terrible amount of suffering. It is one of Paul's strong words to express a terrible evil. Excommunication from all that is pure and good and happy is undoubtedly involved. The soul cut off from Christ, its Centre, Root, Fountain, Life, is utterly destroyed.

2. Its certainty. "Maran-atha," which means, "The Lord will come." This word is probably introduced by Paul in order to convey the certainty of the destruction of those who "love not the Lord Jesus Christ." Paul had written the other part of this letter by an amanuensis, but to write these terrible words he takes up the pen himself. "The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand." He felt the utmost recoil of heart for those who "love not the Lord Jesus Christ," and had the most overwhelming idea of the misery to which such will be exposed. Men are accursed, not merely because they hate Christ, rebel against his authority, and profane his ordinances, but because they do not love him.