Aramaic Word Study – Lord, Lord – Mari, Mari –  Mem Resh Yod    Mem Resh Yod

Matthew 7:21-23: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ (22) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Many years ago, I was well into ministry to make a name for myself. I would prophesy in God’s name, I even prayed to cast out demons in the name of Jesus and I did many wonderful things in His name.  But had I found myself standing before Jesus at the gates of heaven I know I would have found myself saying; “Lord, Lord, had I not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name and did great and wonderful things in your name.”  I know He would have said: “I never knew you, depart from me, you who worked iniquity.” Despite doing all these things I was still a worker of iniquity.

Somehow, we get the idea sin is sin and never consider that there are many other things we do that are displeasing to Jesus.  Sin is just one thing that displeases God. In Hebrew the word sin is chatah which is an archer’s term for missing the mark.  Just not reaching God’s standard.  But there are more things we can do that are unholy and a displeasure to God. There are abominations or to’eva in Hebrew which is something distasteful, disgusting. And then there are iniquities as well as some others.

Those who prophesy in God’s name, cast out devils in His name and do great and mighty things in His name will one day face God who tell them: “I never knew you.” These are those who work iniquity.  Now Webster defines iniquity as grossly unfair behavior.  It is also defined as wicked or immoral behavior. Some say sin is breaking the law and iniquity is being without the law.  That is just too simple.  The word in both Hebrew and Aramaic is ‘avon which in the first century Aramaic, the time of Jesus, was used for one who is given oversight and have assumed responsibilities.  If you are a church leader, pastor, deacon, teacher, worship leader or perform any role of leadership you are eligible to commit an iniquity. It is used for a leader who takes advantage of those under his watch care. 

That is why despite all my good works of prophesy, casting out demons and doing great and mighty things God would say; “I never knew you, depart from me.”  You see I was a worker of iniquity, I was using people placed under my care for my own advantage, to make a name for myself, earn a paycheck in a nice cushy job and to further my career. 

Yet, I am not alone here. Iniquity is running rampant in God’s church today as many leaders are compromising with the world over things which the Bible clearly calls to’eva – abominations. These leaders justify their compromise by saying such things as the Bible is no longer relevant, seminary graduates who serve as ministers in churches teach that the Bible is outdated, that it is a good tool but must be used in light of other things as science an reason. Some actually will say the Bible is not the inspired, inerrant Word of God.  They will teach that we must grow with the times which means that anything they feel is outdated in the Bible is to be ignored.  We are after all an enlightened people, we are a more intelligent than people in olden times, we know better than our fathers as they were ignorant, irrational people. 

Well, I have my PhD in Archaeology and in my research I find history is filled with intelligent and rational people who submitted themselves to God.  There are many brilliant and rational Jewish leaders who would not commit an iniquity by compromising the Torah and have died to defend the Torah or laws of God. The very first war in recorded history that was fought for ideological reasons was by the Jews who were called the Maccabees who fought and died against the Greeks who sought to get them to compromise their belief in one God. Oh, they could still have worshipped God and lived but only if they would acknowledge that the gods worshipped by the Greeks were also real and true gods. After all the Greeks were enlightened, intelligent people not like those backward Jews who believed in only one God and followed a book called Torah, how foolish these people were. All they had to do was just allow some of the Greek religious culture to infiltrate the pure Jewish faith and they would see for themselves just how foolish their beliefs were and they would, by the say,  live. They refused, they fought and they died but God gave them a great victory.

Today the church faces the same threat.  All the church needs to do is be inclusive, let their congregation be infiltrated with some people who practice what these pastors know in their hearts is an abomination to God. Just get to know them and their beliefs and these pastors will see the light as many others have. But it is reason and logic not their tool. They will use fear of being censured, boycotted, attacked and even arrested as haters who use hate speech by declaring that we all are sinners in need of the blood of Jesus they will allow compromise.  Anyone of any intelligence and education can easily see how ridiculous such a belief is. 

Such leaders who will and do compromise, will stand before God like I would have done some thirty years ago and cried out: “Lord, Lord”  In Aramaic this is mari, mari which is a repetition to denote surprise, shock.  “What, you have to be kidding, you mean we are to be disowned, after all our good works, I can’t believe this, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out devils in your name done great and might things your in your name?”  But the Lord, to their great shock, is going to say: “I never knew you, depart from me you workers of iniquity.”  

Hi there! Thank you for reading this Daily Word Study. Can I ask a favor? Share this Daily Word Study with your friends on Facebook and Twitter by clicking one of the icons below.

Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!