Matthew 5:23-26

 

 

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Seemon on the Mount by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890)

Click to enlarge
"Sermon on the Mount"
(Bloch)

 

Matthew 5:23 "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: ean oun prospheres (2SPAS) to doron sou epi to thusiasterion kakei mnesthes (2SAPS) oti o adelphos sou echei (3SPAI) ti kata sou,

Amplified:  So if when you are offering your gift at the altar you there remember that your brother has any [grievance] against you (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
KJV: Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
NLT: "So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you (
NLT - Tyndale House)
Philips: So that if, while you are offering your gift at the altar, you should remember that your brother has something against you, you must leave your gift there before the altar and go away. (
New Testament in Modern English)
Wuest: Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar of whole burnt-offerings and there you remember that your brother has something against you (
Wuest: Expanded Translation: Erdmans)

Young's Literal: 'If, therefore, thou mayest bring thy gift to the altar, and there mayest remember that thy brother hath anything against thee,

REFERENCES

Albert Barnes
Brian Bell
Chip Bell
John Calvin
Thomas Constable
Bob Deffinbaugh
David Guzik
Matthew Henry
IVP Commentary
Jamieson, F. B
S Lewis Johnson
John Lightfoot
John MacArthur
J Vernon McGee
Phil Newton
A W Pink
A W Pink
John Piper
A T Robertson
Gil Rugh
J C Ryle
J C Ryle
Chuck Smith
C H Spurgeon
Marvin Vincent
Steve Zeisler
Precept Ministries
Notes
Our Daily Bread

Matthew 5
Matthew 5:17-26
Matthew 5:21-26 If Looks Could Kill
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Matthew 5:17-48 Fatal Failures of Religion Legalism
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Matthew 5:21-26: Who is a Murderer?
Matthew 145 Mp3 Audios - Thru the Bible
Matthew 5:21-26 Righteousness and Relationships
Matthew 5:21-26: The Law and Murder  
Matthew 5:21-26: The Law and Murder

Matthew 5:21-26: Getting Right with God

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Matthew 5:21-26 The Heart of the Matter
Matthew 5 Commentary
Matthew 5:38-48 Expository Thoughts
Matthew 186 Sermons
Matthew 5.1-12 The Beatitudes
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Matthew 5:17-26: The Fulfilling of the Law

Inductive Study on Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5:21-48
Matthew 5:21-26, Matthew 5:24, Matthew 5:24, Matthew 5:26

THEREFORE IF YOU ARE PRESENTING YOUR OFFERING AT THE ALTAR (Mt 8:4; 23:19; Deuteronomy 16:16,17; 1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 1:10-17; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21-24)

The setting is worship in the Temple in Jerusalem (or church in our day).

Offering (1435) (prosphero from prós = to, toward + phéro = bring - see Offering, Offerings) means to carry or bring something into the presence of someone usually implying a transfer of something to that person. Here it refers to an offering that can include gifts, prayers, or sacrifices.

Altar (2379) (thusiasterion from thusia = that which is offered as a sacrifice - see Altar) refers to any type of altar or object where gifts may be placed and ritual observances carried out in honor of supernatural beings. In the NT thusiasterion is employed to refer to a number of different types of altars, including the altar for burnt offerings in the Temple, the altar of incense, the altar which Abraham built, and the heavenly altar mentioned in the book of Revelation.

In the present context "the altar" refers to the one in the inner court of the Temple in Jerusalem. There amidst a background of solemn worship, the worshiper experiences recollection of a brother with something against him (see Mark 11:25) and Jesus says this should  prompt immediate efforts to be reconciled for only then is formal worship acceptable. 

One wonders how many in church each Sunday would be well advised to pay heed to Jesus' instruction in this passage? What would our worship services look like if this principle were diligently practiced (under grace not law)?

The principle is obedience begets genuine worship as Samuel recorded in his address to the disobedient King Saul who had offered to the Lord sacrifices that were to have been destroyed...

And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)

In Psalm 51 apparently motivated by David's sins of adultery and murder records a similar train of thought...

For Thou dost not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; Thou art not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:16-17) (Spurgeon's comments - Verse 16; Verse 17) Spurgeon on verse 17 - The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. All sacrifices are presented to thee in one, by the man whose broken heart presents the Saviour's merit to thee. When the heart mourns for sin, thou art better pleased than when the bullock bleeds beneath the axe. "A broken heart" is an expression implying deep sorrow, embittering the very life; it carries in it the idea of all but killing anguish in that region which is so vital as to be the very source of life. So excellent is a spirit humbled and mourning for sin, that it is not only a sacrifice, but it has a plurality of excellences, and is preeminently God's sacrifices. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. A heart crushed is a fragrant heart. Men contemn those who are contemptible in their own eyes, but the Lord seeth not as man seeth. He despises what men esteem, and values that which they despise. Never yet has God spurned a lowly, weeping penitent, and never will he while God is love, and while Jesus is called the man who receiveth sinners. Bullocks and rams he desires not, but contrite hearts he seeks after; yea, but one of them is better to him than all the varied offerings of the old Jewish sanctuary.

How are you doing in this area? Is your worship perfunctory? hypocritical? devoid of obedience and a brokenness over your sin?

AND THERE REMEMBER THAT YOUR BROTHER HAS SOMETHING AGAINST YOU (Genesis 41:9; 42:21,22; 50:15-17; Leviticus 6:2-6; 1 Kings 2:44; Lamentations 3:20; Ezekiel 16:63; Luke 19:8)

Remember (3403) (mnaomai) means to recall information from memory. Why would one "remember"? Undoubtedly the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit plays the key roll in prompting such a recall. And when you remember act on that truth. Don’t wait for your angry brother or sister to take the first step. You take it, and take it quickly before things get worse!

Brother (80) (adelphos from a = denoting unity + delphus = womb) refers to one from the same womb, and in this case is used by Jesus more generally to refer to one of the same nature, for all men are born into Adam. So here Jesus refers to a fellow man as a brother

Jesus is calling for the offender to take the initiative in this process. That is, even if we hold nothing against him, if he is angry with or hates us, we should do everything in our power to be reconciled to him. We might have expected Jesus to focus primarily on the offended party, since they are the most likely to feel anger towards another. Instead, in these verses it is the offender who initiates the process of reconciliation. Elsewhere Jesus urges the offended party to make the first move (Mt 18:15). Both share an obligation to work for resolution when there has been a conflict. Ideally, the two would meet en route to one another and settle their differences “on the way.”

How important is it to deal with enmity, disagreements, animosity, or anger? Reconciliation is so important that it takes priority over everything else. It even takes precedence over worship. God would rather see us resolve our differences than receive our offerings!

Let's get practical for a moment. Do you know someone who is angry with you? Is there someone who has offended you? How can you take the initiative in each case to reconcile with that person? Before attempting to reconcile, take some time to think through your strategy. For example, reconciliation may be better attempted face to face rather than over the phone. You may even want to write out what you will say in advance. Note that there is no way to guarantee how the other person will respond, but you can be certain of God’s help as you “make every effort” to be at peace with all men.

Luke gives us an excellent example of a new citizen of the Kingdom of heaven who put this into practice...

And Zaccheus (a chief tax gatherer) stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:8-10)

The Preacher's Commentary has the following illustration of reconciliation (albeit it deals with anger in the one who remembers)...

At a communion service in the South Pacific Islands, a man kneeling at the altar to receive the emblems suddenly got up and moved to the back of the auditorium with an agitated expression. Later he rejoined the communicants and participated in the sacrament. When asked, following the service, about his action, he revealed that he had seen the man kneeling at the other end of the altar rail who had killed his father. He was so angry in his spirit that he could not partake of the emblems until God enabled him to experience a forgiving spirit. Just so, Jesus elevates reconciliation with one’s brother to a greater importance than religious rites. And the ministry of reconciliation was ultimately expressed by the Master who, while we were enemies, died for us. (Augsburger, M. S., & Ogilvie, L. J. Vol. 24: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 24: Matthew. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc) (Ed note: see the serious warning regarding taking communion in an unworthy manner in 1Cor 11:27-34 )

Today in the Word has the following devotional on Jesus' teaching in Mt 5:23-24...

Writer Shannon Woodward relates this recent experience in a bookstore. A little boy came running into the store and rushed up to his father who was calmly browsing the children's books. The boy had a request to make, but before he could finish, his father exploded and angrily told him to go back to the family van. A few minutes later an older girl came into the store and tried to talk to the father. But in a voice that turned every head in the store, he screamed at her to go outside and stay put. As the girl left red-faced, the man calmly resumed his browsing.
Woodward watched sadly, amazed at the way this father erupted with anger and then browsed as if nothing had happened. Such scenes are painful to witness, yet if we are honest with ourselves we would admit this is often the way we approach our worship of God.

We may come into God's presence, ready to worship Him, yet we come knowing that things are not right ""outside,"" where family or friends are feeling the effects of our disrupted relationships with them.

God wants us to remove this hindrance before we bring Him our praise and our gifts--a necessary step of preparation for worship that Jesus addressed in the Sermon on the Mount... Applying this to our worship, Jesus turned the situation around from what we might expect (Matt. 5). The problem here is not what others have done to offend us, but what we might have done to cause offense to a brother or a sister.

Why did Jesus state the case this way? Probably because we are a lot quicker to forget our own offenses than we are to forget the offenses other people commit against us. The altar Jesus was talking about was located in the inner portion of the temple, where solemn worship took place (v. 23).

 

Matthew 5:24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: aphes (2SAAM) ekei to doron sou emprosthen tou thusiasteriou, kai hupage (2SPAM) proton diallagethi (2SAPM) to adelphos sou, kai tote elthon (AAPMSN) prosphere (2SPAM) to doron sou.

Amplified: Leave your gift at the altar and go. First make peace with your brother, and then come back and present your gift.  (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
KJV: Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

NLT: leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. (NLT - Tyndale House)

Philips: you must leave your gift there before the altar and go away. Make your peace with your brother first, then come and offer your gift. (New Testament in Modern English)
Wuest: leave there your gift before the altar of whole burnt-offerings and be going away. First be reconciled to your brother, and then, having come, be offering your gift. (
Wuest: Expanded Translation: Erdmans)

Young's Literal: leave there thy gift before the altar, and go -- first be reconciled to thy brother, and then having come bring thy gift.

LEAVE YOUR OFFERING THERE BEFORE THE ALTAR AND GO: aphes (2SAAM) ekei to doron sou emprosthen tou thusiasteriou kai hupage (2SPAM) (Mt 18:15-17; Job 42:8; Proverbs 25:9; Mark 9:50; Romans 12:17,18; 1 Corinthians 6:7,8; 1 Timothy 2:8; James 3:13-18; 5:16; 1 Peter 3:7,8)

Spurgeon comments that...

It is said that, in Hindostan, there is a complete divorce of religion from morality, so that a man may be supposed to be eminently religious even while living in the utmost filthiness and vice; but it must never be so among us. We must never imagine that God can accept an offering from us while we harbor any enmity in our hearts. Perhaps, after reading this passage, you say, “If I had anything against my brother, I would go to him at once, and seek to be reconciled to him.” That would be quite right; but you must go further than that, for Christ says, “If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee.” It is much more easy to go to the man who has wronged you than to the one whom you have wronged. Yet the second is evidently the clearer duty, and should be attended to at once: neither can we expect the Lord to attend to us unless we attend to this duty.

Leave (863) (aphiemi) let go (interesting picture "Let go of your offering").

Offering (1435 before altar go first reconciled then come and present offering) (doron) a gift offered to God.

Before (1715) (emprosthen) in front of.

Jesus' point is that anger and hatred affect our relationship to God. As long as there is internal sin, outward acts of worship are not acceptable to God. Reconciliation must precede worship because unresolved conflict has priority and must be settled. Settle the breach between you and your brother before you try to settle the breach between you and God. Not to do that is to be a hypocrite by asking for forgiveness without repenting.

Mark it down beloved. If you bring anger to the altar, you cannot worship God, so get rid of the anger quickly. Do not be deceived. Is there someone God's Spirit is bringing to your mind to reconcile with so that you might then worship Him in spirit and in truth? The Father desires and seeks true worshipers (John 4:23). Don't put off until tomorrow what you should deal with today. And remember your obligation is only as far as it is possible (the other party may make it totally impossible) for you to be at peace with all men (see Romans 12:14-17; 12:18-21). A clear, clean conscience  is a wonderful thing.

FIRST BE RECONCILED TO YOUR BROTHER AND THEN COME AND PRESENT YOUR OFFERING:  proton diallageqi (2SAPM) to adelphos sou, kai tote elthon (AAPMSN) prosphere (2SPAM) to doron sou (Mt 23:23; 1 Corinthians 11:28)

First (4413) (proton) means first in time, place, order or importance. Here Jesus speaks of the priority, and the necessity that reconciliation of an animosity should take over worship. 

Be reconciled (1259) (diallasso from diá = denoting transition + allásso = to change - see Reconcilation or Reconcile) means to change one's feelings towards another and so to become reconciled. It means to be restored to normal relations or harmony with someone. This could apply to a enmity, animosity or a quarrel in which the fault may be two-sided or one-sided. The context must show which side the active enmity is on, but in this case it is the brother who is somehow offended.

Jesus teaches that we should take every reasonable step to promote an effect opposite of murder (whether it is with or without guns or knives). In this case, instead of murdering by hand or mouth, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven are those who should seek with all their power to establish right relationships with their brothers.

Brothers is used in the sense not of the Christian brotherhood but in the sense that all mankind is related through Adam's lineage ("the brotherhood of mankind") and all are to be treated as those made in the image of God.

Present (4374) (prosphero from pros = before + phero = bear) to bear before and so to bring unto.

John MacArthur wisely comments that

Obviously we cannot change another person’s heart or attitude, but our desire and effort should be to close the breach as much as is possible from our side and to hold no anger ourselves even if the other person does. Regardless of who is responsible for the break in relationship-and often there is guilt on both sides-we should determine to make a reconciliation before we come before God to worship. True worship is not enhanced by better music, better prayers, better architecture, or even better preaching. True worship is enhanced by better relationships between those who come to worship. Worship may be improved by our staying away from church until we have made things right with those with whom we know our relationship is strained or broken. When there is animosity or sin of any sort in our heart there cannot be integrity in our worship. (MacArthur, J: Matthew 1-7 Macarthur New Testament Commentary Chicago: Moody Press) (Bolding added)

Sinclair Ferguson draws an illustration...

Picture a man in church. He is about to express his devotion to the Lord in worship and in his offering. But he has not been enjoying fellowship with his brother. There is disharmony in the relationship. Jesus says the man should leave his offering, be reconciled to his brother, and then return to worship God with a clear conscience and full heart. Is Jesus saying that the only important thing in worship is right relationships with our fellow men? Hardly! He recognises that our relationship with God is primary, but we always appear before God as those who are related, rightly or wrongly, to our fellow men. What we are before God involves how we are related to others (cf 1John 1:6-7). And if we are at enmity with others, how can we come into the Lord's presence with clean hands and a pure heart (cf see note Matthew 5:8)? It is monstrous to think that he will find our hypocritical offering acceptable. Obedience is better than sacrifice (1Sa 15:22). As Peter shows, this principle extends to the home and family: husbands are to treat their wives with respect and as heirs of the gracious gift of life so that nothing will hinder their prayers (see note 1 Peter 3:7). The principle is clear: right relationships with others are part of the meaning of the commandment not to murder. They are essential if our righteousness is to go down deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees.  (Ferguson, Sinclair: Sermon on the Mount :Banner of Truth) (Bolding added)

Max Lucado quips...

As far as I know, this is the only time God tells you to slip out of church early. Apparently, he’d rather have you give your olive branch than your tithe. If you are worshiping and remember that your mom is hacked-off at you for forgetting her birthday, then get off the pew and find a phone. Maybe she’ll forgive you; maybe she won’t. But at least you can return to your pew with a clean conscience. (Lucado, M.  When God Whispers Your Name. Page 127. Dallas: Word Pub).

G Campbell Morgan writes that...

God seeks and values the gifts we bring Him—gifts of praise, thanksgiving, service, and material offerings. In all such giving at the altar we enter into the highest experiences of fellowship. But the gift is acceptable to God in the measure to which the one who offers it is in fellowship with Him in character and conduct; and the test of this is in our relationships with our fellow men. We are thus charged to postpone giving to God until right relationships are established with others. Could the neglect of this be the explanation of the barrenness of our worship?

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F B Meyer has the following devotional thoughts entitled "First, Reconciliation" focusing on Mt 5:23-24...

THERE IS a marked difference between memory and recollection.

Memory resembles a great box or chest into which a man casts his letters, accounts, and MSS.; recollection is the readiness, be it less or more, with which he can lay his hand on what he requires. We know that it is somewhere in our possession, we remember to have seen and turned it over, but search as we may we cannot find or recall it.

But there is a moment of quickened recollection when we stand before God: "When thou bringest thy gift to the altar and rememberest." As the Divine searchlight plays upon our past life it reveals many things which had passed from our mind. Conscience is a keen quickener of our powers of recollection.

What has your brother against you? This--that you flamed out against him in passion, with bitter, angry words, in hatred and contempt; or this--that you have been sullen and sulky, scarcely answering his advances, meeting his salutations with grudging courtesy. Perhaps you have done him a positive wrong, and have taken from him his only covering, or have forborne to help him when he stood in sore need (Ex 22:26-27;  23:4-9).

We are bidden to get right with man, as the first step to acceptance with God--" first be reconciled to thy brother." Humility is necessary in every approach to God, and nothing so humbles our pride as to confess our faults to our brethren. Truth is necessary to all right dealings with God, and nothing will so promote truth in our inward parts as to be transparent and simple in our dealings with our fellows. Sincerity in confession of sin is an essential beginning of peace with God, but how can we be sure that our confession is sincere unless it costs us something more than words. "'First, be reconciled with thy brother"--not only with the brother of human flesh--but with our great Brother in the Glory (Gen 1:17-21;
Hebrews 2:11 [note]). Then comet Offer thyself, as thy gift; He will accept thee, and thy gifts.

PRAYER Give unto us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, broken and contrite hearts. Help us to do all that ought to be done to make amends, and grant unto our brother the willingness to meet us with forgiveness and peace. So shall we have peace with Thee, our Elder Brother, against whom we have grievously sinned. AMEN. (Our Daily Walk)

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Today in the Word has the following devotional thoughts on Mt 5:23-24...

When D. L. Moody was four years old, his father died, leaving a large, impoverished family. The eldest son ran away from home, but each night his mother put a light in the window, hoping for his return. Mr. Moody recalled that when his older brother did come home, he was barely recognizable behind a heavy beard. It was only as he began to cry that Mrs. Moody realized it was her son and invited him in. ""No, mother,"" he said, ""I will not come in until I hear first that you have forgiven me."" Mrs. Moody threw her arms around her son and brought him indoors. Moody's older brother was clearly in the wrong and he knew it, which made his mother's gift of forgiveness and reconciliation a special one. We as believers have the gift of re-conciliation to offer others, and Jesus urges us to give it freely. In fact, Jesus commands us to initiate reconciliation whether we are in the right or in the wrong. In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus doesn't define who is the guilty party or who is responsible for the broken relationship. The point is not to assign blame, but to make the situation right. The same is true in the courtroom scene Jesus outlined in verses 25-26. He didn't say the person being taken to court will definitely be found guilty, although that seems to be the likely outcome if the case goes to trial. It doesn't matter who's right or who's wrong--again, the point is to ""settle matters quickly.""

Taking the first step in re-conciliation is our responsibility as believers. When we fail to do so, we often try to justify ourselves by saying something like, ""I'm not mad at her, she's mad at me. It's her problem. She needs to deal with it."" But Jesus turns that kind of logic upside-down. God wants us to do everything we can to remove barriers and offenses between us and other Christians. Otherwise, our acts of worship are hollow to Him. That ought to be motivation enough to seek peace!  Let's admit it. These are tough commands to follow. Why? Because it's difficult for us to set aside the issue of blame. When we feel we are innocent, most of us want justice. It's only when we are in the wrong that we want mercy.

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Our Daily Bread has the following devotionals - These are used by permission of Radio Bible Class (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Going Straight- How far would you travel to put things right with a brother who hadn't spoken to you in 10 years? Would you go 300 miles from Iowa to Wisconsin? On a riding lawn mower?

Unable to drive a car and despising bus travel, Alvin Straight did exactly that in the intriguing film The Straight Story. It is the true-life drama of a 73-year-old man who decided it was time to end the silence, stop the hating, and break down the wall of anger he and his brother had built between them.

As I watched the film in a packed theater, where the audience was silent from beginning to end, I thought of all the broken relationships that must have surfaced in the minds of people sitting there in the darkness. I also pondered the words of Jesus about setting things right with those from whom we've been estranged. He said, "If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23-24).

Is there a relative, a friend, or a brother in Christ with whom you need to make things right? Then why not go straight to that person and do it today? —D C McCasland

Lord, let me feel the pain of a wounded soul
And seek to heal that wounded one I pray;
Yes, I would take the reconciling role,
And bring an end to pain and strife today. —Hess

An offense against your neighbor builds a fence between you and God.

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$7.23 Plus Pride- As I was studying the Old Testament law about making restitution for theft and property loss, I began to wonder how it applied to me. Immediately the words Bill's pump came to mind. Months before, I had borrowed my neighbor's pump to inflate a bicycle tire. It broke while I was using it. But I'm ashamed to admit that I returned it without saying anything to him.

It was obvious that God wanted me to confess my wrong to Bill and buy him a new pump. But my rationalizations were swift: It was old, and it would have broken anyway. It would be embarrassing to reveal my failure and show what a weak Christian I am.

My excuses sounded hollow. I knew the Lord wanted me to make it right. So I bought a pump and went over to Bill's house, but he was out of town. At church the next morning, I started to drop my offering in the plate and remembered, "First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Mt. 5:24). The money went back in my pocket.

When Bill returned, I told him what I'd done, apologized, and gave him the new pump. He graciously understood. It cost $7.23 plus pride--a small price to restore a relationship with a neighbor and a clear conscience with God. --D C McCasland

Show us, Lord, where we have failed
And sinned against a brother;
Give us courage to confess
Our faults to one another. --Sper

The only way to make things right is to admit that you've been wrong.

 

Matthew 5:25 "Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the