Reconcile before Worship
Scripture Passage: Matthew 5:21-26 (NASB)
21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 23 Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 25 Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last quadrans.
SUMMARY
Jesus tells the crowds in His Sermon on the Mount that it is not enough just to follow the literal commandment not to murder. If you are angry at your brother or call your brother a “fool,” you are guilty enough to go to hell. Jesus tells the crowds that before presenting an offering at the altar, first reconcile with your brother and resolve your anger against him, who Jesus calls your “accuser.” Otherwise you will go before the judge and will be thrown into prison.
REFLECTION
Jesus is telling me about my need to resolve my anger against my brother (or sister). Jesus says that the brother that I’m mad at is my “accuser.” So I’m the one who’s committed the crime, not my brother, not the person I’m mad at. That is a total change for me. When I’m angry at someone, I always think of myself as being justified. I’m angry at someone because of X (they disrespected me, they ignored me, they hurt me in some way). So when I’m angry at someone, I always feel like I’m the victim. But Jesus is saying - they are the victim, not me. Not only that, but my anger is a large enough sin to send me to hell.
Jesus also says that before I present my offering at the altar, I should first reconcile with my brother. Why? Because God demands obedience, not sacrifice. What is the point of my appearing pious, spiritual at church, at the altar, when my heart is rotten and filled with diseased and sinful emotions and thoughts?
APPLICATION
I’ve written before about my struggle with anger. In addition to reminding me that selfish anger is one of the worst sins, I think God is also telling me about my need to humble myself before others. I have two opposing sides: the side of me that I present at church, willing to serve, helpful, nice. And the side of me that I show only in private – irritated, impatient, quick to anger, with my head buried in my phone. Unless I’m willing to be honest with myself and my brothers and sisters about the real me, and address the damage I cause others through my sinful nature, whatever sacrifice I give at the altar is meaningless. I need to boast less and pray much more, honestly and openly with God about my dark and rotten heart. He’s the only one who can change me, but He can – I know it because He has done it before.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for this reminder of the eternal, horrible consequences of my sin. My anger, my irritation, my impatience, my lack of love towards others including my own family, my selfishness, are so serious that they would send me to hell. Even though Your Son died to save me, my sinful nature still has eternal consequences. I repent for being so careful, trying so hard to develop an outer image while not dealing with the deep sins rooted inside my heart. Help me to look inside myself, to be honest and open with You and with my brothers and sisters about my true nature. Most of all, Lord give me the courage and humility to do what I must do to repair my relationships around me, to show true change, not just words that I say in the moment. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
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