Matthew 5:23-26

Matthew 5:23-26

Therefore, if you should bring your gift upon the presence of the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, let your gift remain there before the altar and first go and be reconciled to your brother.  And then at that time after coming bring your gift.  Be in agreement with your accusers quickly, even whenever you are with him on the road, lest the accuser should hand you over to the judge, and the judge to one who serves him, and you will be thrown into prison.  Amen I say to you, you should surely never come out from there until you should pay back the very last penny.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In the beginning analogy, Jesus talks about a person who is bringing his gift.  This is no doubt some sacrifice to God as an atonement for his sin.  However, we must remember that under the Jewish understanding it was necessary for atonement to be preceded by confession and repentance before atonement could be transferred into forgiveness.  This is Jesus’ point.  If all I ever do is come before God and say to Him, “God, I’m sorry for all the wrong the I’ve done, here is the sacrifice that you require,” then what have I actually done other than begrudgingly cost myself time and resources?  However, if I go to the person whom I’ve offended and make it right, then my sacrifice before God will be meaningful.  After all, God is a God of relationship.  He is far more concerned with my repentance and attempt to make things right with my neighbors than my ability to meet the financial burden of sacrifice.  Atonement with repentance is always more significant than an act of atonement where no repentance has occurred.

Is it easy to turn to God after a sin and say that you are sorry?  Why is it much more difficult to go to those whom you may have offended and offer up a repentant word prior to going before God?  Which one is more likely to restore relationship as God would have it?

Second Thought:

With respect to the second piece of advice that Jesus gives, I believe it is two-fold.  I believe part of what Jesus is saying here is that when we can work out a solution after an offense has occurred it will always be more favorable than if the letter of the law has to be applied.  In most circumstances, when an offense occurs it can repaired much more quickly and easily when the repair is determined by those who are involved.  When the official bureaucratic and legal process gets involved things get formal and complicated.  If we have relationship with the people whom we offend, we should be able to make it right without needing the help of a third party who knows neither of us.  If we are living in relationship with friends and neighbors, we should be able to make most things right between us.

Do you try and make things right with the people around you when you make a mistake?  Do the people in your life treat you the same?  Why is it easier to make things right between friends without having to get official people involved?

Third Thought:

However, I think Jesus is giving us perspective, too.  I think Jesus is telling us to fix things right away rather than let them pile up.  If we fix things as they go wrong, we will manage our problems without things spiraling out of control.  However, if we let things go until we have done so much wrong that a person feels no recourse except to get official involved – then things will have snowballed beyond our control.  Jesus is teaching us to manage our faults as they come.  They are far easier to manage this way.

Do you do a good job making things right as they happen or do you tend to let things snowball and only deal with them when the problem is big?  Which is easier in the long-term?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 5:27-30