Reconciliation

[Classik]

I wonder if People do this:

NKJV, Mattew5

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift

My friend always emphasizes on verse 24. I keep wondering what Christ really meant by this verse. How many of us do this?
It seems to suggest there is something wrong with such an offering, unless you make peace with that fellow.

 

[Mike]

I always try to make it a practice to get my heart right when I arrive and sit down at church. I shake off the busy morning or day I've had, and ask the Lord to settle my heart to hear Him. I also ask Him for His Help in settling anything I harbor against anyone, and I put my heart in a condition of forgiveness.

But I do this whenever I pray to Him. I've always understood this verse to mean whenever I go to Him in prayer, whether in church or not. The altar, being a place where they would make sacrifices, I view my life as a sacrifice. If I'm coming to Him in prayer, I believe Matthew 5:24 is telling me I need to eliminate the ill-will toward anyone from my heart, or else how can I honestly come to him.

Growing up, I was always taught this to literally mean do not take communion unless you have forgiven others. But I've come to feel this is too narrow and that it is an edict to apply to our lives overall. It's almost like He would be saying it's alright to hold a grudge, but just don't come to church with it.

 

[Classik]

I always try to make it a practice to get my heart right when I arrive and sit down at church. I shake off the busy morning or day I've had, and ask the Lord to settle my heart to hear Him. I also ask Him for His Help in settling anything I harbor against anyone, and I put my heart in a condition of forgiveness.

But I do this whenever I pray to Him. I've always understood this verse to mean whenever I go to Him in prayer, whether in church or not. The altar, being a place where they would make sacrifices, I view my life as a sacrifice. If I'm coming to Him in prayer, I believe Matthew 5:24 is telling me I need to eliminate the ill-will toward anyone from my heart, or else how can I honestly come to him.

Growing up, I was always taught this to literally mean do not take communion unless you have forgiven others. But I've come to feel this is too narrow and that it is an edict to apply to our lives overall. It's almost like He would be saying it's alright to hold a grudge, but just don't come to church with it.

Powerful and interesting! I keep wondering how possible it is to reconcile with ALL when THEY offend us. Would I have to travel several miles in order to make peace with him/her? It is strange. After taking a distant journey I Could then offer my offering? It looks difficult. A chinese would then have to travel to America, take for example (assuming you don't his or her cell phone number).

I do not mean we should avoid making peace with People - including distant friends.

I like your interpretation. It is something that Should have to do with God (most likely).

 

[craigmn3]

I wonder if People do this:

NKJV

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift

My friend always emphasizes on verse 24. I keep wondering what Christ really meant by this verse. How many of us do this?
It seems to suggest there is something wrong with such an offering, unless you make peace with that fellow.

In Matthew 5....they were still bringing animals to the altar for atonement.

In this Jesus is pointing out that you cannot get right with God, until you get right with those you have offended (and later in Matthew 6) those who have offended you.

We no longer sacrifice animals but the message is the same. If you did the dirty on someone, seek to atone.....for the person's sake

 

[Classik]

In Matthew 5....they were still bringing animals to the altar for atonement.

In this Jesus is pointing out that you cannot get right with God, until you get right with those you have offended (and later in Matthew 6) those who have offended you.

We no longer sacrifice animals but the message is the same. If you did the dirty on someone, seek to atone.....for the person's sake

It's not gonna be easy. we keep offending People each day! There is something strange about the verses:

NKJV

, Mattew5

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,



24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, andthen come and offer your gift

It is a strange case. your brother has something against you, and Christ demands that we look for that brother and make peace with him.
I'd try and make peace with that brother - as long as I remember I offended him or he offended me.

A question arises, how long could we wait?
What do you think?
Mike's explanation seems to make it simpler.

 

[craigmn3]

I think we can catch a clue with the following words


"and there remember that your brother has something against you"

Remembering.....is the key

Coming to the altar is a time when get quiet and listen to God. If you are approaching God and He is reminding you of a slight.....it is important

It is not every slight, if we had to do that I would probabaly be in serious trouble.

It is the ones the Lord is convicting you---pay attention

 

[Classik]

It is not every slight, if we had to do that I would probabaly be in serious trouble.

It is the ones the Lord is convicting you---pay attention

This makes it better.

 

[Classik]

It's like new years help us reconcile with our enemies. :D We want to be friendly with all.

Someone just told me: 'It's a new year...don't be mean'

 

[for_his_glory]

Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Mar 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mar 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

This verse always comes to my mind if I have aught with anyone because I know what my temper is like and I can chew ya a new one in a heart beat if you tick me off, but God has tempered that in me, but I do slip at times and apologize to that person and ask Gods forgiveness. I like to think I get along with everyone, but there have been those who have wronged me and I have forgiven them, but also know I have to walk away from them and pray for them.

 

[Fedusenko]

This verse always comes to my mind if I have aught with anyone because I know what my temper is like and I can chew ya a new one in a heart beat if you tick me off, but God has tempered that in me, but I do slip at times and apologize to that person and ask Gods forgiveness. I like to think I get along with everyone, but there have been those who have wronged me and I have forgiven them, but also know I have to walk away from them and pray for them.

Just using your story for example. It is not enough to simply apologize, but make it right for them. There are some that you can not make it right, obviously.

 

[Classik]

This is the scary part:

23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift

Your brother has something against youand not You having something against him


Someone wrongs me - and I owe him an apology. Not just you both having something against each other.

We need God's grace and :help

 

[Classik]

However, if we truly love God - we can make it.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift

My friend always emphasizes on verse 24. I keep wondering what Christ really meant by this verse.

"To obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22 NIV1984)

3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. (Proverbs 21:3 NIV1984)

6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6 NIV1984)

33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.†(Mark 12:33 NIV1984)

How many of us do this?

In a church that, in general, is taught to emphasize making sacrifices of service and worship to please God instead of walking in the obedience of godly character, I'd say very few.

It seems to suggest there is something wrong with such an offering, unless you make peace with that fellow.

That is definitely what it means. We learn from the Israelites that when we are unclean the sacrifice of our service and worship to him is defiled by our uncleanness and makes that sacrifice unacceptable to God.

There are several scriptures that show us the truth of this, but maybe this passage in Malachi best illustrates how the sacrifice of our service and worship is unacceptable and defiled when we do not obey God in how we are to be treating people, the example here being the relationship between a man and his wife:

13You flood the LORD’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. 14 You ask, “Why?†It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. (Malachi 2:13-14 NIV1984)

And how when we are purified of uncleanness our offerings are made in righteousness and are acceptable to God:

3 He (the Lord) will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD... (Malachi 3:3-4 NIV1984)


There are other very interesting scriptures that teach this very profound truth that God will not accept the sacrifice of our service and worship that is defiled because we are unclean in regard to how we treat other people.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

This is the scary part:

Your brother has something against youand not You having something against him


Someone wrongs me - and I owe him an apology.

Maybe, maybe not. I think the point is we can get a more accurate and honest assessment of our own culpability in a situation by considering how the other person might perceive the conflict. We seem to be way too self righteous when we only look at conflict from our own point of view, and that keeps us from taking the steps to reconciliation needed to be at peace with others. But honestly considering the other's point of view can help us understand where we may be wrong and lead us to make the necessary amends.

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Romans 12:18 NIV1984)

Looking at conflict from the other person's POV helps us know what element of peace in a relationship depends on us and what doesn't.

 

[Classik]

This is really good, Jet.

I used to think it is possible to stay away from troubles completely
Even Moses' meekness and servility wasn't enough.

Even your success in life, your good health etc can pose a threat to the lives of others. Before you know it they become very jealous and begin to hate you. (Cain and Abel)

Some people are quite terrible!


I remember when I was learning to play the bass guitar. I was doing very well. All of a sudden one of us became very uncomfortable with my success. I was hated by this fellow. What did I do wrong? Nothing!:dunno I was just being successful. This fellow's hatred towards me was so obvious, bold - could be cut with a knife. The fellow did all to frustrate my effort: this fellow lied against me, took what belonged to me - killed my peace and joy completely. The fellow was NEVER remorseful.


I Thank God, today we are friends again.


And what if I don't know someone has something against me? Is my offering defiled? Or would I say: 'The Holy Spirit would inform us'?

Some issues are quite difficult to handle

Thanks again, Jethro